Rebecca De Mornay Praises Ex and Risky Business Costar Tom Cruise: “Really Proud of Him”
Rebecca De Mornay Praises Ex and Risky Business Costar Tom Cruise: “Really Proud of Him”
More than 40 years after sharing the screen and a brief romance, Rebecca De Mornay has spoken warmly about her Risky Business costar—and former boyfriend—Tom Cruise.
The 65-year-old actress, who starred alongside Cruise in the 1983 breakout film, expressed pride in the 63-year-old superstar’s remarkable career during a recent interview with Page Six, published July 19. “I’m really proud of him,” De Mornay said simply, adding, “I’m really, really proud of him.”
Risky Business marked a seminal moment for both actors. Cruise played Joel Goodsen, a high schooler left home alone who embarks on a wild adventure, while De Mornay portrayed Lana, a prostitute he encounters. The film launched Cruise’s career, earning him his first Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and setting the stage for blockbuster franchises like Mission: Impossible and Top Gun.
Reflecting on their relationship and dynamic, De Mornay compared Cruise to a “major chord” and herself as a “minor chord,” emphasizing his role as a cultural force. “He is a brilliant, brilliant interpreter of what the zeitgeist is,” she said. “I’m really, really proud of knowing him from when we were in the suburbs of Chicago [filming Risky Business] and knowing what he wanted and where it is now.”
“We started this together and look what he did with it,” she added, highlighting the impressive trajectory Cruise has forged since their early days.
De Mornay herself has had a successful career with notable films like The Hand That Rocks the Cradle and The Slugger’s Wife. Her latest project, the thriller Saint Claire—which stars Bella Thorne, Ryan Phillippe, and Frank Whaley—is now available in select theaters and on demand.
The mutual respect shared by the former couple serves as a testament to their enduring connection and the lasting impact of their landmark collaboration decades ago.
