Penny Benjamin is a character in the "Top Gun" universe who is introduced more fully in Top Gun: Maverick and is played by Jennifer Connelly. She is portrayed as a renewed love interest and girlfriend of CAPT Pete "Maverick" Mitchell. Although Penny does not appear on screen in the original 1986 Top Gun film, she is mentioned in passing as "the admiral's daughter" involved in one of Maverick's past escapades, which highlights Maverick's rebellious and womanizing reputation at the time
. In Top Gun: Maverick , Penny is depicted as a strong, emotionally mature woman who owns a bar and is a single mother. Her character fills the role of Maverick's love interest, taking the place of Kelly McGillis's Charlie from the original film. Penny's presence adds depth to Maverick's personal life, showing a more grounded and complex relationship compared to his earlier flings. The film suggests that Maverick and Penny have maintained an on-again, off-again relationship over the years, and she helps him confront the consequences of his past choices, including his strained relationship with Goose's son, Rooster
. Overall, Penny Benjamin serves as a meaningful connection to Maverick's past and a key emotional anchor in the sequel, enriching the story with continuity and maturity.
