Rebecca De Mornay Gushes Over Tom Cruise 40 Years After Risky Business Romance

Hollywood veteran Rebecca De Mornay recently opened up about her past romance with Tom Cruise, her co-star in the iconic 1983 film Risky Business, sharing heartfelt admiration for the superstar nearly four decades later. The pair met on set in 1982 and dated for almost three years, marking the start of their breakout careers.

Now 65, De Mornay didn’t hold back her pride in Cruise’s meteoric rise. She described the 63-year-old as a 'major chord'—a bold, resonant force in American culture—while seeing herself as more of a 'minor chord,' subtle and complex. 'He’s like, I am "Top Gun," and that’s what America wanted, and he’s fulfilled it,' she said, marveling at how Cruise has captured the zeitgeist with blockbusters like Top Gun and the Mission: Impossible series. Reflecting on their early days filming in the suburbs of Chicago, she added, 'We started this together, and look what he did with it.'

De Mornay also reminisced about the whirlwind of fame that followed Risky Business, where Cruise played a high schooler entangled with her character, a prostitute named Lana. The role earned Cruise his first Golden Globe nomination and cemented his path to stardom. For De Mornay, the sudden spotlight at 24 was both thrilling and disorienting, especially as she navigated being labeled a sex symbol. Determined not to be typecast, she took on diverse roles, like a gritty railway worker in 1985’s Runaway Train, proving her depth as an actress.

Over the years, she’s been selective with projects, prioritizing roles that showcase strength for women while balancing life as a mother of two. Her latest work includes the thriller Saint Claire, where she stars alongside Bella Thorne in a story about a female serial killer inspired by Joan of Arc—a script she found brilliantly unique.

Through it all, De Mornay’s respect for Cruise shines as a testament to their shared beginnings and his relentless drive to become a Hollywood titan. Their story, born from a teen comedy, remains a fascinating chapter in Tinseltown history.