Jennifer Connelly And Jay Ellis Praise Tom Cruise For His 'Remarkable' Career

At the recent screening of "Top Gun: Maverick" in New York, actress Jennifer Connelly spoke with People on the red carpet and praised her co-star Tom Cruise. The 51-Year-old actress said it "was beautiful to see" Cruise's long career being celebrated at the Cannes Film Festival premiere of the movie.

Connelly isn't the only cast member from "Top Gun: Maverick" to compliment Cruise and his career. Actor Jay Ellis also said the festival screening was like a dream and shared some of his lessons from working with Cruise.

Actress Cara Buono also spoke about how she was a fan of the original 1986 "Top Gun" film and how remarkable it is to see how Cruise's career has grown in the years since. Read on to find out more.

During her talk with People, Connelly spoke about the recently held Cannes Film Festival, at which "Top Gun: Maverick" premiered, and said the event "was epic and such a wonderful experience." She also said she felt honored to be a part of the film and attend the premiere.

The "A Beautiful Mind" actress said the premiere was also "a beautiful tribute to Tom and his career. The reel at the beginning of the film, it was so impressive and so moving and he's really an extraordinary actor, so that was really beautiful, and was beautiful to see the acknowledgment, and watch him see it."

She also said that "it felt really celebratory being at the Cannes premiere and screening" and that "it was wonderful that people seemed to enjoy it, all the screenings that I've been to so far. People have seemed to have had a great time."

Ellis also spoke to People and shared that Cruise was insistent that all the cast be present at the Cannes premiere. He also said that the festival premiere was "so beautiful" and "a dream" of an event.

The 40-year-old actor also said, "One of the things that I think we all took from filming with [Tom] is making sure the audience is with you — like, 'Always remember the audience when you're making something.' Someone paid $16, $14, whatever it is, to come to see your movie. Like, it is your job to entertain them."

According to Ellis, Cruise has the mindset to entertain people who watch his movies consistently. The "Insecure" actor said, "That is literally his mindset. Like, 'My job is to entertain you, you spent your money to come see me in a movie, I'm gonna make sure you walk away entertained.'"

He continued, "And then personally, the one thing that he kept saying was, 'Take it all in, just sit in it, take it all in, store it, put it in the back of your head and just make sure you're present and with your castmates.' And I think every single one of us did it."

Several other actors and actresses were present at the film's screening, including "Stranger Things" actress Cara Buono, who also spoke to People. Buono was asked if she was a fan of the original "Top Gun" from 1986 as a child, and she said, "Who wasn't?!"

She also said, "But think about Tom Cruise's career, and it's just really remarkable. Like, he just is a consummate movie star, such a great actor. And I think we almost take it for granted because he is such a movie star."

Although "Top Gun: Maverick" is not yet out in cinemas, there are already many positive reviews of the movie from the screening and premiere. At the recent festival premiere, Cruise received a standing ovation that lasted several minutes. Many are also calling the film one of the best of his career.