Kelly McGillis has come a long way since her Top Gun days.
The actress, now 64, graced screens as Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Blackwood, the onscreen love interest of Tom Cruise’s Captain Peter ‘Maverick’ Mitchell in the 1986 cult classic.
She is also among a number of stars from the original film that have not returned for the recently released sequel, Top Gun: Maverick.
While Cruise and his co-star Val Kilmer are reprising their roles as Maverick and Iceman respectfully, cast members including Meg Ryan, Michael Ironside and Tom Skerritt are all missing from the sequel.
So, what is Kelly McGillis up to today?
(Image: Getty Images)
Since her breakout role in Top Gun, Kelly McGillis has enjoyed a modest acting career.
In 2020, she appeared in the true crime miniseries Dirty John.
Speaking in 2019, Kelly herself revealed that she hadn’t been asked back for Top Gun: Maverick.
She also confirmed that she would have snubbed the offer to return had she been given the opportunity to do so.
(Image: Getty Images)
Asked about the sequel in 2019, the actress said: “Oh my God no they did not [ask me to come back], and 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 the whole scene is about.
“To me, 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.”
Kelly’s character Charlie’s absence has also been explained by Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski.
(Image: CBS via Getty Images)
Speaking about the fates of Kelly and Meg Ryan’s respective characters, Kosinki previously told Insider: “Those weren’t stories that we were throwing around.
“I didn’t want every storyline to always be looking backwards. It was important to introduce some new characters.”
Kosinski has taken over directorial duties from original Top Gun director Tony Scott.
The filmmaker sadly passed away from suicide in 2012.
Top Gun: Maverick is out now.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
