Tom Cruise says landing the role of Navy pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in “Top Gun” was “life-changing.”
The 59-year-old Hollywood star had always dreamed of being a pilot or an actor growing up, and when he was able to combine the two careers in one movie, it was a big thrill for him.
He said HELLO! magazine: “All I ever wanted to be was a pilot or an actor, so ‘Top Gun’
was a great moment in so many ways, including my passion for aviation.
“It changed my life.
“I got to fly in an F-14 jet, which was a dream come true, and play a character I loved in Maverick.”
For the latest film in the hit series, “Top Gun: Maverick”, Tom had to do more airplane stunts than ever before.
He said: “The P-51 Mustang you see in the movie is actually my plane, so I was able to fly in those sequences.
“I was also able to be a lot more into the jet fighter this time around, which was exciting.
“It was something I had been working on.”
The sequel to the 1986 action drama comes with an epic soundtrack from Oscar-winning actress Lady Gaga in “Hold My Hand.”
On how the pop megastar came to record the song, Tom said: “I had seen one of Lady Gaga’s shows in Las Vegas and was amazed, so I called her for him. ask if she could help us.
“She sent the song and it was perfect.
“It really is the heartbeat of the score.”
