Tom Cruise poses with a Fan while shopping in Paris, France 04/26/06

Tom Cruise pulled out of a press conference in Paris - to go shopping for baby clothes.

The star - who was in the French capital on Wednesday (04.26.06) to promote 'Mission Impossible III' - became a biological father last week when fiancée Katie Holmes gave birth to their first daughter, Suri.

However, despite feeling the need for some retail therapy, Cruise didn't disappoint the thousands of fans who'd turned up to see at the film's premiere.

He arrived by helicopter at La Defense - a high-rise complex in the west of the city - for the red carpet screening and his trademark meet and greet with fans.

Earlier, at the press conference, Cruise's co-star, Michelle Monaghan told journalists what it was like kissing the 43-year-old icon.

She revealed: "Just in general to kiss Tom Cruise is an experience of a lifetime.

"I highly recommend it. I said to Katie, 'I understand why you keep him around'."

Meanwhile Katie Holmes is changing her first name to just Kate.

Tom said:“Katie is a young girl’s name. Her name is Kate now she’s a child-bearing woman.”