Kelly McGillis says she wasn't asked to be in 'Top Gun' sequel: 'I'm old and I'm fat'
The recently dropped trailer for Top Gun: Maverick saw a 57-year-old Tom Cruise recreating some of the original 1986 film’s iconic scenes, right down to slipping on his character’s leather bomber jacket. Indeed, little has seemingly changed for Pete “Maverick” Mitchell — with the exception of his love life.
In a candid interview with Entertainment Tonight, Kelly McGillis — who played Charlie Blackwood, Maverick’s instructor, lover and Everly Brothers serenadee in Top Gun — confirmed that she wasn’t asked to return for the sequel.
“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,” the 62-year-old actress, who also starred in Witness and The Accused told the outlet in a phone interview. “But ... 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 added that she is “glad” for Jennifer Connelly, who will be taking Cruise’s breath away this go-round.
The mom of two added that she took time off from Hollywood to raise a family, get sober and focus on her health, noting that she was diagnosed with the alpha one antitrypsin disorder a few years ago. She also divorced her second husband, Fred Tillman, in 2002. In 2009, she publicly came out as a lesbian, entering into a civil union with partner Melanie Leis in 2010. The couple have since split.
“It didn’t become a priority,” she said of her film career.
“It wasn’t like a major decision that I made to leave, it was just that other things became more important,” she added later. “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.”
McGillis also shared that she doesn’t “really keep in touch” with the Top Gun crew, and is unsure if she would take part in events promoting the film and its sequel. She also shared that she has yet to watch the new trailer.
"I am a home person. I'm really rooted in my home life. I can't remember the last time I worked," she said. "I feel really blessed that I don't have to work, you know? But I get the option to work, so I'm really blessed in that way. Not many people get that option later in life, so I feel very lucky."
According to IMDB, her most recent screen credit was the 2018 TV movie, Maternal Secrets.
Her absence from the upcoming film, due to be released in 2020, has some accusing filmmakers of having a double standard.
Let’s talk about the fact that 57 year old Tom Cruise and 59 year old Val Kilmer are reuniting in the “Top Gun Maverick” reboot and 63 year old Kelly Mcgillis and 57 year old Meg Ryan aren’t invited. #ActingYourAgeCampaign
— Nicky Clark (@MrsNickyClark) July 29, 2019
So I guess Top Gun: Maverick will not be pairing the youthful 57-year-old Tom Cruise with the geriatric 62-year-old Kelly McGillis because Hollywood?
— Chris O'Brien (@obrien) July 19, 2019
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