Tom Takes London, France

Tom Cruise skipped a “Mission: Impossible III” news conference in Paris to hit the boutiques in search of outfits for his new baby, organizers said.

Tom was expected to show up later at the Paris red carpet event for the movie. His fiancee, Katie Holmes, and week-old Suri stayed home while Tom went to Europe to promote his role as superagent Ethan Hunt.

At the news conference, “Mission: Impossible III” director J.J. Abrams playfully asked actress Michelle Monaghan what it was like to kiss Tom with Katie on the set.

“Was it weird?” he asked.

No way, she said.

“Just in general to kiss Tom Cruise is, you know … an experience of a lifetime,” she joked. “I highly recommend it … I said to Katie, I understand why you keep him around.”

The new baby girl, Suri, is the first child for Tom and Katie. Tom has a son and daughter from his marriage to ex-wife Nicole Kidman.

Prior to Paris, Tom spent more than two hours telling British fans about his delight at the birth of daughter Suri — and said he was backing England’s bid to capture soccer’s World Cup this summer.

Tom, 43, told reporters Tuesday he had called fiancee Katie Holmes, 27, “about a billion times” to check on the couple’s daughter, born last Tuesday in Los Angeles.

The actor, who was visiting London for the British premiere of his new film, “Mission: Impossible III,” spent more than two hours on the red carpet outside a London theater, greeting well-wishers.

Asked if he was missing his new child, he said, “How can you not, she’s beautiful,” and explained why the couple had chosen the name Suri.

“We thought it was a really nice, sweet name. A lyrical name,” Tom told reporters.

“I’m excellent at changing nappies. I love it,” he said, referring to diaper duties.

Cruise, who said England soccer captain David Beckham is a friend, said he will back the English national team when the soccer World Cup begins in June.

“I’ve got to support my buddy. I want to see them win. Wouldn’t it just be great for them,” he said.

Cruise said he had doubts about leaving his infant daughter to promote his new movie across Europe, but said Holmes had encouraged him to continue working.

“The pilots are on standby if I need to go back,” he said.