Tom Cruise obviously works very hard at staying in shape and training for the stunts. It's not like he just shows up and says his lines like most actors.
I would say Tom Cruise is probably the biggest male movie star for exactly what you say. His performances have a degree of authenticity to them that is unique. When you see the stunts, you're often seeing him, and this gives his films a unique thrill and feel.
That said, Top Gun had some pretty incredible makeup and/or CGI for his face. The lighting in that movie was also phenomenal. The result was an almost uncanny valley look to him where he looked simultaneously old and young all at once. I was especially thrown off by the pre-movie screener he produced that thanked the audience for seeing the film in theatres. He looked a solid 5-10 years older in that screener compared to Top Gun, which was filmed mostly in 2019.
Yes, he definitely doesn't follow the convention approach like other leading actors. You might even call him a "maverick" for having a strong independent opinion on how to make and showcase movies.
That said, Top Gun had some pretty incredible makeup and/or CGI for his face. The lighting in that movie was also phenomenal. The result was an almost uncanny valley look to him where he looked simultaneously old and young all at once. I was especially thrown off by the pre-movie screener he produced that thanked the audience for seeing the film in theatres. He looked a solid 5-10 years older in that screener compared to Top Gun, which was filmed mostly in 2019.