Although her “Top Gun” co-stars in the 1986 film have a “need for speed,” Kelly McGillis said she wanted something slower.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight on Friday, McGillis, who played Tom Cruise’s love interest Charlie in the film, revealed that she was not invited to participate in the 2020 sequel to “Top Gun.” USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Paramount Pictures and Cruise for comment and has asked McGillis for further comment.
“You know what, I don’t know how to answer that because, first of all, it hasn’t happened,” the 62-year-old said when asked if fans would see her at any promotional events for the upcoming film “Top Gun: Maverick.” “Secondly, if and when it did happen, I would have to assess where I am, what I’m doing, what’s going on… I can’t predict what I would or wouldn’t do in the future. I have no idea because I don’t know where I’m going to be.”
According to ET, McGillis said she hasn’t even seen the trailer for the sequel.
More: Tom Cruise surprises Comic-Con audience with epic first “Top Gun: Maverick” trailer
“Films are a strange thing. I’m not really in touch with anyone,” she said. “I think I’ve spoken to a few people occasionally, but the truth is that films are a very strange working situation because a lot of people come together from all parts of the world.”
Although she was not involved in the sequel, McGillis wishes Jennifer Connelly, who will star alongside Cruise in the 2020 film, all the best and says she is “so glad she got this chance.”
“I’m happy for her,” she added.
While fans of the original film may be disappointed that McGillis will not be reprising her role, the Accused actress said her priorities have shifted away from acting.
“I think my priorities in life changed,” she said. “It wasn’t a big decision I made to leave, it was just that other things became more important. I love acting, I love what I do, I love doing theater, but I don’t know. For me, my relationships with other people became much more important than my relationship with fame.”
“Top Gun 2”: Everything we know about ‘Maverick’ after Tom Cruise released the first trailer
According to McGillis, acting made it difficult for her to develop self-confidence. Now, McGillis says, she is “in transition, into a different phase of life.”
“It was a big challenge for me to develop a sense of self, an identity or real self-worth outside of what I was doing for a living,” said McGillis, who has two daughters with ex-husband Fred Tillman. “And it just didn’t become a priority; what became a priority first was raising my daughters and being the best sober mother I could be.”
Related: “Top Gun 2”: Everything we know about “Maverick”, now postponed to June 2020
Although her big-screen escapades in the fighter pilot franchise may be over, McGillis added that she hopes her next adventures keep her grounded.
“I’m a homebody. I’m really rooted in my home life… I can’t remember the last time I worked,” she said. “I feel really blessed that I don’t have to work, you know? But I have the opportunity to work, so I’m really blessed in that regard. Not many people have that opportunity later in life, so I feel very lucky.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kelly McGillis on turning down ‘Top Gun: Maverick’: I wasn’t asked
