Rebecca De Mornay Celebrates Tom Cruise's Legacy: A Rare Insight into Their 'Risky Business' Era
EXCLUSIVE: Rebecca De Mornay Spills Tea on Tom Cruise's Rise to Stardom and Her Own Journey to Saint Claire!
In a candid chat with TheScholarlyNote.com, the 65-year-old actress dished about her former flame, Tom Cruise, who has been making waves in Europe with rumored girlfriend Ana de Armas. It's been over four decades since they starred together in the iconic comedy Risky Business (1983), which catapulted both their careers to stratospheric heights.
"I'm really proud of him," De Mornay gushed about Cruise's meteoric rise to stardom. "He's like 'Top Gun' – and that's what America wanted, and so he fulfilled it." The NCIS star continued, praising her former beau for his uncanny ability to tap into the zeitgeist. "He is a brilliant, brilliant interpreter of what the zeitgeist is."
De Mornay, who dated Cruise for three years, recalled their humble beginnings in Chicago while filming Risky Business. She expressed pride in knowing him when they were just starting out and witnessing his dedication to achieving his goals. "We started this together, and look what he did with it!"
But De Mornay's own journey has been a different story. In an interview with The Independent in 2024, she confessed that she had no clear plan for her career after Risky Business. She struggled to navigate the industry without being typecast as "the sexy woman." Her mother's passing three years later left her feeling lost and unmoored.
"It was like I was flying by the seat of my pants," De Mornay admitted, reflecting on that tumultuous period. However, she found a new sense of purpose with her latest role in Saint Claire, where she plays a former actress and grandmother to Bella Thorne's character.
The independent film, which explores themes of maternal protection and female empowerment, resonated deeply with the 65-year-old actress. "It was guerrilla feminist filmmaking!" she exclaimed. "It's experimental. It's hallucinatory. And Clare's not a victim – I love that message!"
De Mornay emphasized her desire to support this innovative project, which has garnered attention for its bold storytelling and strong female lead. When asked if she saw any parallels between the film's themes and current events – including the ongoing scandal surrounding Jeffrey Epstein's alleged client list – De Mornay was taken aback.
"I never even thought of that," she admitted. "It's freaky that it would come into it... Like, I didn't see that coming when I read it." Despite the unexpected relevance, De Mornay remains committed to Saint Claire's message of female strength and protection.
Saint Claire is now available for streaming on Apple TV and Amazon Video. As De Mornay looks back on her remarkable career, she's proud of the impact Risky Business had on both her and Cruise's lives. She's thrilled to see her former co-star continue to thrive in Hollywood, even as he navigates the challenges of his personal life.
"I'm really, really proud of knowing him from when we were in the suburbs of Chicago [filming Risky Business], and knowing what he wanted and where it is now," De Mornay concluded. With her latest role in Saint Claire, she's proving that she, too, has staying power in the entertainment industry.
Stay tuned for more updates on Rebecca De Mornay's career and the buzz surrounding Saint Claire!
