Most of the actors filming the pilot scenes got sick during the filming due to flying around in actual VF-114 Aardvarks and VF-213 Black Lions. Apparently, Anthony Edwards, who played the role of Goose, was the only actor who didn’t throw up during filming.
The fighter jets were flown by military pilots who wanted to give the actors as real of an experience as possible, similar to the ones they face on a daily basis. However, there was one major difference between the military pilots and the actors and that was their ability to stomach the flights.
Cruise's Pivotal Role
In the film, Tom Cruise plays the role of Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, a young naval aviator aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. At just 24-years-old, Cruise became one of the biggest and most sought-after stars on the planet.
One year after the film's release, Tom Cruise married his first wife, actress Mimi Rogers. Mimi introduced him to Scientology.
A Young Anthony Edwards
Prior to being cast in "Top Gun", Anthony Edwards had already been making a name for himself in the Hollywood scene. Two years before the film hit theaters Edwards starred in the hit comedy, "Revenge of The Nerds". He had also previously co-starred in the TV series "It Takes Two", and had a guest appearance in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High".
It's safe to say that his role as LTJG Nick "Goose Bradshaw" gave him even more widespread recognition, especially among movie lovers. His character Goose is one of the most popular characters in the film who tragically loses his life in an aviation accident.
Kelly McGillis as Charlie
One year before "Top Gun" was released, Kelly McGillis had already catapulted to fame for her breakout role as an Amish mother alongside Harrison Ford in the 1985 film "Witness". For her performance in the film, she was nominated for a Golden Globe. It's no surprise that McGillis gave a stellar performance considering the acting training she had received, having attended school at Julliard and the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts.
Once she landed the role of Charlie, she was already a well-versed performer. One of the most important casting calls of "Top Gun" was finding the right female lead to act as the love interest of Tom Cruise’s Maverick.
She Was the Best
As soon as director Tony Scott saw Kelly McGillis’s audition, he knew that he had found his “Charlie.” However, the executives had other ideas, as they were looking for someone younger and, in their words, “more fashionable.”
Despite their demands, Scott didn’t budge, and after some intense discussions with the studio, McGillis was finally awarded the part. Tony Scott seems to have made the right decision as the 5’8″ blonde stunner stole the hearts of viewers after playing the role.