Actress Kelly McGillis’ Appearance Has Changed Drastically Since 'Top Gun' Put Her On The Map Nearly 4 Decades Ago

Sep 08, 2023 by apost team

The “Top Gun” franchise has been widely successful since it was first released. The first installment sparked a cultural wave that had the Navy welcoming a 500% increase in recruits in 1986, the same year the movie was released. A sequel was released in 2022, 36 years after the first movie, to wide acclaim, and while fans were excited about the new release, many also observed that a major character was absent from the sequel.

Kelly McGillis was the renowned love interest of Tom Cruise’s character, Pete Mitchell, who became the Maverick of the academy and captured the hearts of many people worldwide. The actress was loved not only for her looks but also for her brains. The movie shot McGillis to worldwide renown, although she had previously been in other hit movies before that time. 

“It changed my life a lot,” McGillis told Yahoo about the film's influence on her. “I was recognizable — because before that (was) "Witness" (1985, also starring Harrison Ford) and I don’t run around in a prayer cap and an Amish dress. People couldn't really recognize me as easily. It made me a household name and I think it afforded me to be able to go do a lot of things,” she added.

Meanwhile, the actress’ casting in the film was by pure chance. She was supposed to do another film with Paramount that didn’t work out, and instead, she got offered the script for the hit franchise. 

“I think I had a two-picture deal with Paramount,” McGillis told the Los Angeles Times. “I was scheduled to do another movie and that one fell through. So they called me up with ‘Top Gun’ and I thought it was a fun script. I felt it was a Western in the sky. I had no clue how visually impeccable it would be.”

McGillis also had a lot of fun on the set of “Top Gun.” She revealed that she hung out with the guys and even lived with them, except for Cruise and Val Kilmer.

“We had a lot of partying going on after work,” she disclosed. The “Witness” actress added that some of the cast even got in trouble in nearby Mexico, near where most of the movie was shot in San Diego, California, and compared the experience to being away at camp.

McGillis also had a wonderful time working with her co-star, Cruise. 

“I think Tom is terrific. He's the sweetest guy," she gushed over the actor. "He is very genuine and sincere and respectful. And I just loved working with Tom. I think he is wonderful."

Meanwhile, being a star didn’t shield McGillis from negative experiences. She was once raped at gunpoint in 1982 by two young men, one of who was a 15-year-old boy. She also experienced a break-in attack in her home in 2016 by a woman who accused the actress of stalking her. The woman, Laurence Marie Dorn, had a child with her during the break-in. She allegedly assaulted McGillis and was held on several counts of assault, battery and burglary, according to WCBD News.

The attack happened after McGillis had retreated from public life to raise her daughters and care for her health after being diagnosed with alpha one antitrypsin disorder.

“I think just my priorities in life changed,” she told ET. “It wasn't like a major decision that I made to leave, it was just that other things became more important. I love acting, I love what I do, I love doing theater, but I don't know. To me, my relationships to other people became far more important than my relationship to fame.”

apost.com

McGillis also revealed that she never desired to be in the spotlight, and being a part of “Top Gun” exposed her to fame so that she could no longer trust people and was intimidated. She made appearances in other movies like “Made in Heaven,” 1988’s “House on Carroll Street,” and “The Accused,” but none of them gave her career the impact “Top Gun” did.

In an interview posted on YouTube on July 28, 2019, the mom of two confirmed to ET that she hadn’t been contacted for a role in the upcoming sequel to “Top Gun” and was upfront about what she thought could be the reason. 

“I mean, I’m old and I’m fat, and I look age-appropriate for what my age is, and that is not what that whole scene is about,” she said.

“You hear women of my age talk about this all the time,” she told LA Times. “I think this industry is not particularly kind to women who are over 50. I am not into the coloring of my hair, doing the Botox and getting a face lift. I want to grow up to be a character actress.” 

The actress, who was regarded as a sex symbol in the '80s, has been criticized for her looks nowadays and also compared to Cruise but she doesn't care.

“I’d much rather feel absolutely secure in my skin and who and what I am at my age, as opposed to placing a value on all that other stuff,” she said. 

Meanwhile, McGillis also opened up about actress Jennifer Connelly, who replaced her as Cruise’s love interest in the sequel, “Top Gun: Maverick.” McGillis disclosed that although she didn’t know Connelly, she was happy for her. 

“I'm glad for her,” she said.

What do you think of Kelly McGillis’ decision to not be swayed by the beauty standards in Hollywood? Does her stance inspire you? Let us know — and be sure to pass this on to friends and fans of the “Top Gun” star.