Tom Cruise has popped the question.

 

Speaking in Paris Friday morning, with actress Katie Holmes by his side, Cruise told reporters about the proposal only a few hours after it happened: "Yes, I proposed to her... it was early this morning at the Eiffel Tower, so I haven't slept at all."

 

Cruise, who turns 43 next month, and Holmes, who is 26, made the announcement at a news conference. The young actress apparently said "Yes." She was sporting an outsized ring.

 

They're both on high profile promotion tours for big budget movies, but Cruise and Holmes said their announcement is no publicity stunt and their affection is not just acting, CBS News correspondent Richard Roth reports.

 

Cruise is in Paris promoting his latest film, "War of the Worlds," based on the H.G. Wells novel, which premieres Friday in Paris and next Thursday in New York.

 

Holmes also has business in the City of Lights - her latest, "Batman Begins," opened this week in Paris and most other parts of the world, including the U.S.

 

The two have been an item - publicly, at least - for only a few months, since being spotted in April in Rome kissing, a scene the paparazzi were only too happy to capture on film.

 

After their romance became public in Italy, Cruise set tongues wagging in Hollywood and elsewhere with an hour-long appearance on the May 23 "Oprah" show, during which he jumped on and off of couches and knelt on the floor professing his love for his new girlfriend.

 

Marriage speculation about the two also wound up on the cover of the June issue of US Weekly, a story which had Cruise's spokesperson - his sister, Lee Anne De Vette - saying only that he is "just really, really happy."

 

Not all of the press that Cruise has gotten lately has been positive.

 

In a recent series of television interviews on "Access Hollywood," Cruise spoke at length about his passion for Scientology and criticized Brooke Shields for taking anti-depressants. Scientology considers modern psychiatry and its medications to be harmful.

 

After the criticism, Shields - who has a book out on her battle with postpartum depression - has suggested the leading man keep his opinions to himself.

 

"Tom Cruise's comments are irresponsible and dangerous," said Shields. "Tom should stick to saving the world from aliens and let women who are experiencing postpartum depression decide what treatment options are best for them."

 

Cruise's last relationship, with actress Penelope Cruz, ended last year. He's been married and divorced twice - first to actress Mimi Rogers and then to actress Nicole Kidman.

 

Holmes, who is best known for TV's "Dawson's Creek," was engaged to actor Chris Klein (whose credits include the "American Pie" movies) but broke off the relationship in March after dating him for five years.

What's the over/under on this thing?

lol! she's converting to Scientology