Rebecca de Mornay continues to hold Tom Cruise in high regard more than four decades after they starred together in “Risky Business.”
The 65-year-old actress expressed her admiration for her former co-stars in an interview set to air on Saturday, July 19. “I’m really proud of him,” De Mornay shared while promoting her new thriller, “St. Claire.” “Truly, I’m really, really proud of him.”
Released in 1983, “Risky Business” was a pivotal film for both De Mornay and Cruise.
The film follows high school student Joel Goodsen, played by Cruise, who finds himself in a complicated situation involving a prostitute named Lana, portrayed by De Mornay, while his parents are away.
After they met on the set of a classic film back in 1982, De Mornay and Cruise dated for nearly three years.
In the interview, she compared Cruise to a “major chord,” while describing herself as a “minor chord.” She reflected, “He said, ‘I’m Top Gun, and that’s what America really wanted,’ and he made it happen. He’s a remarkable interpreter of what he believes in.”
“I always knew him back when we were both in the suburbs of Chicago,” she added. “I’m so proud of seeing what he has achieved.”
Following the breakout success of “Risky Business,” Cruise went on to star in iconic franchises like “Mission: Impossible” and “Top Gun,” along with memorable films such as “Jerry Maguire” and “Eyes Wide Shut.”
As for De Mornay, her recent projects include “The Cradle Will Rock” and “The Slugger’s Wife.” Her latest film, “St. Claire,” also features Bella Thorne and Ryan Phillippe and is noted as her grittiest work to date.
In “St. Claire,” Thorne portrays a serial killer who murders a man for his misbehavior, a script that left a strong impression on De Mornay. “It’s pretty rare to read a script about a female serial killer obsessed with Joan of Arc. I wanted to be part of this project,” she commented.
At the same time, De Mornay’s praise comes amid speculation about Cruise dating actress Ana de Armas.
They were seen enjoying each other’s company in London in April. Rumors of their romance emerged early this year, especially after they spent time together on a yacht in Menorca, Spain.
However, a source close to the 37-year-old “Knives Out” star suggests she’s currently single and focused on a project she’s working on with Cruise. “Tom is incredibly hardworking, and she’s thrilled to collaborate with him,” an insider disclosed. “She describes it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
“Tom is an amazing leader,” the source added. “She couldn’t say enough good things about him.”
