Will Smith defends his pal Tom Cruise in a new interview with USA Today.

He said the criticism Cruise, 45, has received for his Scientology faith has been “painful for me to see. I’ve met very few people committed to goodness the way Tom is.”

The Hancock star, 39 — who was rumored to have converted to Scientology after speaking out about the controversial religion — was raised Baptist and said he remains Christian.

“We disagree on a lot of things,” added Smith, who attended Nelson Mandella’s 90th birthday in London on Wednesday. “But even with different faiths and different beliefs, at the end of the day, goodness is goodness.”

He said that their friendship thrives on rivalry.

They currently compete to see who can sign autographs longer.

“It’s hard to beat that dude,” Smith said. “He has another gear. He did two-and-a-half hours in France for Mission: Impossible on the red carpet. Now when I go to France, people will say, ‘You know, Tom was out here for two-and-a-half hours.’”

He also opened up about raising his children Willow, 7, and Jaden, 9 (whom he had with wife Jada Pinkett) and son Trey, 15, (from a previous marriage).

“The kids can do anything they want, as long as Daddy thinks it’s funny,” he says. “And artistically, that’s where you need to be, too. You have to find the humor in things.”

The same rule applies to tabloid rumors about his life.

“You have to let that roll off you,” he said. “There’s a natural narcotic my brain must pump, because negativity doesn’t last. It’s strange to play a guy like Hancock, who can’t find something to feel good about. That’s the opposite of who I am.” (Source: US Magazine)