Ms. Connelly, when the first Top Gun movie hit theaters in 1986, you were a teenager.

Do you remember?

I can't remember exactly when and where I saw the film.

But I remember very well that I saw him.

He's pretty much burned into my memory.

Because of the spectacular flight scenes, of course.

And because of Tom Cruise in his leather jacket on the motorcycle.

It was an iconic film and I'm not surprised that the memory of it makes so many nostalgic.

Just like Tom Cruise, who is eight years older than you, you were already in front of the camera back then.

Your paths must have crossed often, right?

You'd think so, but actually we never met before working on Top Gun: Maverick.

Of course I would have worked with him back then without batting an eyelid.

Today, however, especially with this project, I said yes straight away.

Cruise has been reported time and time again for what a workaholic he is.

Highly professional, but also downright obsessed with his job.

I can absolutely subscribe to that.

I've never met anyone like him.

His skill seems to know no bounds, and the same goes for his discipline.

He is involved in every single aspect of the work on the set and always has an eye on every little detail, not just his own tasks.

When he's not sleeping, he devotes every minute to his film.

It sounds a bit tiring though.

Or can he have fun too?

I think work is the greatest fun of all for him.

Nothing beats his passion for filmmaking!

Do you actually look at 40 years of world fame and a career like his with envy?

Or are you rather happy that your everyday life is different?

I don't really make such comparisons.

No two careers are the same and I have a lot of admiration for all of my colleagues.

And for myself, I'm happy and content with what I've achieved so far and how it's going.

As simple as that.

Would you be missing something if you stopped playing and filming?

I would definitely miss the job in the long run.

I love being an actress and I'm really happy to have an outlet for my creativity.

But actually I'm also very happy that I can determine the rhythm I work at myself and that I'm able to take long breaks and be with my family.

My husband is also an actor, and because of the children we always try to coordinate with each other so that we never shoot at the same time.

Family and job have to be at least balanced for me.

Speaking of which, your husband Paul Bettany, he made his directorial debut a few years ago on the homeless drama Shelter, and you starred in it.

Could you imagine it the other way around?

In fact yes.

I've been thinking about directing for a while.

So far only very theoretically, without actually working on a specific project.

But I think that's a job I'd like to take on one day.

And which could also suit me.

My daughter Agnes, our youngest, is now eleven years old.

It won't be that long before she'll be out of the house.

Then I have more space for larger projects - and could also work with Paul without any problems.