Who Played Penny in Top Gun: Maverick?
Jennifer Connelly played Penny Benjamin in Top Gun: Maverick (2022). She portrays Maverick’s longtime on‑and‑off love interest and the owner of a popular bar near the naval base.
The Character: Penny Benjamin
Penny Benjamin is introduced as a confident, independent single mother with a teenage daughter, Amelia. She runs a waterfront bar that serves as a hangout for Top Gun pilots and other military personnel. Though she doesn’t appear in the original 1986 film, the character is referenced there as the woman whose boat Maverick once rode without permission-getting him grounded in the process.
In the sequel, Penny steps into the emotional space once occupied by Charlotte “Charlie” Blackwood (Kelly McGillis) from the first movie, becoming Maverick’s mature, grounding romantic partner. Their history is hinted at throughout the film, giving their relationship weight without needing extensive exposition.
About Jennifer Connelly
Jennifer Connelly is an Academy Award–winning actress known for roles in A Beautiful Mind , Requiem for a Dream , and Hulk , among many others. Her casting brought star power and emotional depth to Top Gun: Maverick , with critics noting how her performance balanced warmth and independence alongside Tom Cruise’s Pete “Maverick” Mitchell.
Connelly wasn’t part of the original Top Gun cast-her career in film began in 1984, two years before the 1986 release-but her portrayal of Penny quickly became one of the sequel’s standout elements.
Quick Facts
- Character name: Penny Benjamin
- Portrayed by: Jennifer Connelly
- Film: Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
- Role: Bar owner; Maverick’s love interest; single mother to daughter Amelia
- Original film connection: Mentioned in Top Gun (1986) as the reason Maverick was once grounded, but not seen on screen until the sequel
Connelly’s performance helped anchor the film’s more personal moments, giving Maverick a relatable home life amid the high‑stakes aerial sequences that define the franchise.