In the original “Top Gun,” Penny Benjamin is first mentioned by Maverick’s friend, Goose (Anthony Edwards), the father of Miles Teller’s character, Rooster, in the sequel. Their commander, Stinger (James Tolkan), reprimands Maverick for his “history of high-speed passes over five air control towers and one admiral’s daughter.” Later, Goose’s wife, Carole, played by Meg Ryan, says to Maverick, “He told me all about the time you went ballistic with Penny Benjamin.”
In the video above, you can see an on-set interview with Jennifer Connelly (courtesy of FilmIsNow), in which she explains a little more about her character’s history with Maverick and her hobby of sailboating. Right off the top, she says:
“Penny Benjamin is actually mentioned in the first film. She’s someone that has had a kind of on-again, off-again relationship with Maverick over the years. It started the first time when they were quite young. And you get the sense that they sort of come together, they have this sort of fiery romance, and then it falls apart. But then they keep coming back to each other. They have some things in common in that she’s a racer herself. She races sailboats. But when we meet them in this film, they’re at different points in their lives.”
In “Top Gun: Maverick,” Tom Cruise’s character seems to have lost that lovin’ feeling for his other old flame, Charlie Blackwood, played by Kelly McGillis. Ryan isn’t back, either, which may betray a certain double standard when it comes to women’s age in Hollywood versus that of men like Cruise and the returning Val Kilmer. However, it’s nice to know Connelly’s character, Penny Benjamin, has her own off-screen history in the “Top Gun” franchise, at least.
“Top Gun: Maverick” is in theaters on May 27, 2022.
