On the set of Top Gun: Maverick, realism wasn’t a buzzword—it was a mandate. And for Jennifer Connelly, that mandate turned a supposedly harmless scene into one of the most nerve-racking moments of her career.
Connelly, who plays Penny Benjamin, has openly admitted she has a deep fear of flying. When she signed on to the film, she was relieved to learn that her character was mostly grounded—sailing boats, running a bar, staying far from jet engines and cockpits. So when she was told that one brief aviation scene would involve nothing more than “taxiing” on a runway, she agreed.
What she didn’t know was who would be piloting the plane.
The “Safe” Scene That Wasn’t
The aircraft waiting on the tarmac wasn’t a prop or simulator. It was a genuine World War II fighter: a North American P-51 Mustang, owned and piloted by none other than Tom Cruise himself. Cruise has been a licensed pilot since the 1990s and is famous for insisting on real machines, real stunts, and real reactions.
Directed by Joseph Kosinski, the scene was meant to capture a quiet, romantic moment between Maverick and Penny as the plane rolled along the runway. But once the canopy closed and the engine roared to life, Connelly sensed something was off.
As the aircraft began moving, Cruise casually turned to her and asked a question that immediately spiked her anxiety: Had she ever done aerobatics before?
Before she could fully object, Cruise reassured her—calmly, confidently—that it would be “very graceful” and “very elegant.” Moments later, the Mustang lifted off the ground.
A Real Reaction at 10,000 Feet
What followed wasn’t in the script. Cruise performed full aerobatic maneuvers, including barrel rolls, high above the desert. Connelly’s surprise—and fear—were genuine. Cameras kept rolling as the plane soared, capturing expressions that required no acting whatsoever.
Later, Connelly revealed that she initially thought something had gone wrong when flames burst from the exhaust, only to learn mid-air that this was completely normal for a P-51. The flight reportedly lasted several hours, beginning at dawn, and by the end, her terror slowly gave way to awe.
That transformation is visible on screen.
A Tom Cruise Signature Move
During the film’s press tour, including an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Connelly described the experience as both terrifying and oddly empowering. Cruise hadn’t been reckless—he was meticulous—but he had absolutely pushed her past her comfort zone.
The result? One of the most authentic moments in the film.
By turning a “safe” taxiing scene into an unexpected flight, Cruise didn’t just capture realism—he forced it. For Connelly, the World War II fighter plane became more than a prop. It became the unlikely vehicle that helped her confront a lifelong fear.
And that slightly stunned, breathless look on her face as the plane twists through the sky?
That wasn’t Penny Benjamin acting.
That was Jennifer Connelly, for real.