TV - Movies
How Jennifer
Connelly's Penny
Was Teased In The
Original Top Gun
By BROOKE KNAPPENBERGER
In “Top Gun: Maverick,” fans are introduced to brunette beauty Penny Benjamin (Jennifer Connelly), who owns a local bar and is the daughter of an admiral, is the new flame of Maverick (Tom Cruise). While Penny never appeared on-screen in the original "Top Gun," she's actually referred to multiple times, revealing she and Maverick (Tom Cruise) have a long, complicated history.
At one point, Maverick’s involvement with an admiral's daughter is discussed, and Goose's wife Carole (Meg Ryan) even says, "[Goose] told me all about the time you went ballistic with Penny Benjamin." Connelly gave some insight into the relationship stating, "It started the first time when they were quite young. [...] But then they keep coming back to each other.”
Fans of the first film will surely miss Maverick's original love interest, Charlie, played by Kelly McGillis, but the actor doesn't hold any hard feelings for Connelly, who replaced her. In fact, McGillis said she is "so glad [Connelly] got that opportunity."