An ex-Scientologist has spilled the beans on how Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes met and fell in love. Marc Headley told Britain’s News of the World that after Tom split from Penelope Cruz in 2004 he confided in his BFF and church leader, David Miscavige, that he was having trouble meeting women. So his buddy hooked him up by sending out a casting call for an “audition” for young, pretty actresses in their twenties.

While a few female Scientologists were rounded up — Traffic’s Erika Christensen and CSI: Miami’s Sofia Milos — they were all rejected as Tom focused his attention on bigger stars. “They went for Jennifer Garner, Scarlett Johansson and Jessica Alba, in that order,” Marc says. “Jennifer and Jessica didn’t bite but Scarlett took the bait and came in for an audition. When she arrived and found out it was the Scientology Center in Hollywood, she freaked out and didn’t do a tape…”

Katie Holmes only came into play because she had previously talked about having a crush on Tom when she was younger. Talk about ‘be careful what you wish for’!

“They got her to L.A. and introduced her to Tom. The moment he meets her, he’s enthralled with her and he told Miscavige later, “I knew immediately she was the one,” Marc says.