Jennifer Connelly lauds Top Gun: Maverick Tom Cruise cast as 'an amazing actor

Jennifer Connelly told the news that "it was great to see Tom Cruise's career celebration at the Cannes Film Festival amid the premiere of Top Gun: Maverick."

The 51-year-old actress of The Top Gun: Maverick spoke to news at a screening of their upcoming action film in New York on Monday, where she attended the event with her co-star Jay Ellis.

Connelly said the recent 2022 Cannes Film Festival, which saw the premiere of Maverick and was attended by a large cast, was an "epic" and "so beautiful" experience that he was "honored" to be a part of it.

It's also a "beautiful tribute to Tom and his career," Connelly said. "The engine at the start of the film is impressive and very exciting, and he's a great actor, so it's perfect and fun to see the recognition and see how he sees it."

Connelly told news that "I had a perfect time at the Cannes premiere and screening," adding, "It's great that people seem to be enjoying all the screenings I've been to so far. People seem to be having a blast." Ellis, 40, told news that Cruz, 59, "wanted all of us to attend Cannes," which he remembers as "so beautiful" and a "dream" of an event.

"One of the things I think we all take away from [Tom's] photos is making sure the audience is with you - like, 'Always remember the audience when you're doing something.' $16, $14, whatever it costs to see a movie. For example, it's your job to entertain them," he added.

"This is the thought," continued Ellis. "Like 'My job is to entertain you, you spend money to see me in movies; I'll make you go out for fun.'"

"And then privately, he kept saying, 'Take it all, just sit in it, take it all, tuck it in, put it in the back of your head, and make sure you attend with your peers.' "He's just a perfect movie star, a great actor."

"And I think we almost take him for granted because he's a movie star," said Buono.