Kelly McGillis, who played the bombshell love interest in the original Top Gun movie opposite Tom Cruise, has confirmed she won’t be part of the sequel.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, the 62-year-old revealed she was not asked to be part of the upcoming film, Top Gun: Maverick, but she’s not too upset about the snub, claiming she’s “too old” and “too fat” to reprise her role in the sequel.
“Oh my god no. They did not, nor do I think they would ever. 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,” she candidly explained.
“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.”
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McGillis, whose blockbuster career has slowed down over the years, added that she is “glad” for American actress Jennifer Connelly, who will be starring opposite Cruise as the new movie’s love interest.
Cruise reprises his role as pilot Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell in the film, which also features Val Kilmer, Miles Teller, Ed Harris and Jon Hamm. The sequel takes place 34 years after the events of the original film and pits Maverick as the new flight instructor at Top Gun, in which is guides Bradley (played by Teller), Goose’s son.
Meanwhile, McGillis, who has appeared in a string of well-known films throughout the years such as Witness (1985) starring Harrison Ford and The Accused (1988), said she doesn’t really keep in touch with anybody from the original Top Gun cast.
“I don’t really keep in touch with anybody,” she said. “I think I’ve spoken to a couple of people occasionally, but the truth is, movies are very odd work situations because you have a lot of people who come together from all different parts of the world.”
The Golden Globe nominee also revealed she has not yet seen the new trailer, nor is she in any rush to see the film.
“I’m not racing to the [theatre] and I’m not racing away from the [theatre],” she said. “It’s not on my little list of things that I would like to get done.”
McGillis played astrophysicist and training school instructor Charlie Blackwood in the 1986 original film.