Jennifer Connelly, the former Hollywood prodigy known for maintaining a low-profile marriage, is set to star alongside 80s icon Tom Cruise in the upcoming film Top Gun: Maverick, at the age of 51.
Despite her enduring success in the film industry spanning over four decades, Connelly emphasizes in every interview that her career path was not entirely her own choice. Reflecting on her early start in the industry, she acknowledges that it was her mother who initially guided her career, attending castings and making decisions on her behalf. Only as she grew older did she gain independence.
Connelly openly discusses the challenges she faced as a child prodigy in Hollywood, shedding light on the industry's harsh treatment of young talents. She recalls tense and objectifying experiences, acknowledging that she felt exposed and s----lized during her childhood.
While Connelly cherishes enriching experiences, such as working with Sergio Leone in Once Upon a Time in America and sharing the screen with David Bowie in Labyrinth, she also acknowledges less favorable moments. In the erotic film Zona Caliente, she performed her first nude scene at the age of 19, an experience she would rather forget.
Despite the exposure and challenges, Connelly found solace in her studies during her youth, particularly during her time at Yale. Now, three decades later, she returns to the big screen as a renowned actress with roles in cult films like Requiem for a Dream and A Beautiful Mind, the latter earning her an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best Actress.
In Top Gun: Maverick, Connelly portrays Penny Benjamin, the owner of a bar frequented by Air Force pilots, and she captures the heart of Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, played by Tom Cruise. Despite being icons of the 80s and 90s, this marks the first collaboration between Connelly and Cruise, whom she describes as "extraordinary and disciplined."
The on-screen reunion sparked some controversy, with questions arising about the absence of Kelly McGillis, who played a significant role in the first Top Gun. Director Joseph Kosinski clarified that the casting decisions were based on the narrative and the introduction of new characters rather than constant backward-looking.
Connelly, known for her private life with three children and a marriage to actor Paul Bettany since 2003, has not commented on the exclusion of her colleague. However, she has spoken about the pressure Hollywood exerts on stars, especially women, to defy aging. Confident in herself, Connelly dismisses the notion that age affects her, emphasizing the focus on the intricacies of characters' lives rather than superficial aspects.
In a recent conversation with Variety, Connelly highlighted the tender relationship portrayed in Top Gun: Maverick between her character and Cruise's, challenging Hollywood norms by embracing scenes that are typically reserved for younger actors.
