FLYING high
Fairlady|September/October 2022
'By some beautiful twist of fate, I've landed in this vocation that demands that I feel and helps me to learn.' Some 20 years after Jennifer Connelly's Oscar acceptance speech, her words still ring true for her today.
CHARIS TORRANCE
FLYING high

Since making her acting debut at the age of 11, Jennifer Connelly has commanded our attention in every role she's taken on. Most recently, she starred in the most anticipated movie of 2022: Top Gun: Maverick, the hit sequel to the 1986 blockbuster. 'Everything about this movie has been kind of extraordinary,' she says. When the original premiered, she was 15, making a name for herself alongside David Bowie in Labyrinth. "The flying blew me away in Top Gun. Another thing that really stood out was just Tom Cruise in that jacket and on the motorcycle. It was iconic; it has nostalgic memories."

Set more than 30 years after the events of the first film, Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell returns to the Top Gun institute to train a group of graduates for a special mission. In the film, the 51-year-old-actress plays Penny Benjamin, a bar owner and single mother who'd had a relationship with Maverick in the past. Fans of the original film were understandably upset (to put it mildly) that Maverick's old flame Charlotte 'Charlie' Blackwood (Kelly McGillis) wasn't coming back, but Penny had actually been there all along - she's referenced in the original Top Gun as the daughter of an admiral that Maverick got into some sort of romantic hot water with.

'She has a real zest for life,' Jennifer says of her character. To prepare for the role, she took sailing lessons and even found herself airborne in a P-51 Mustang fighter plane with Tom. 'She has an adventurous spirit; there's a reason they keep cycling in and out of each other's lives.

'One of the things I love about making movies is spending time with characters who have very different lives and maybe make very different choices than I would make. I find that really interesting. With Penny, I like how optimistic and warm she is. I think she's a deeply kind person... somebody who wants to be happy and live a good life.'

Denne historien er fra September/October 2022-utgaven av Fairlady.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra September/October 2022-utgaven av Fairlady.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA FAIRLADYSe alt
'DESIRE IS NOT WHAT MATTERS'
Fairlady

'DESIRE IS NOT WHAT MATTERS'

Emily Nagoski wrote the book on women and desire - literally. And then her own sex life dried up. Here's what a prolonged sex drought (and a load of research) taught her about maintaining intimacy in a long-term relationship.

time-read
9 mins  |
July/August 2024
'We have to tell HARD STORIES'
Fairlady

'We have to tell HARD STORIES'

Theatre director and playwright Yaël Farber is spending time in South Africa after her critically acclaimed run of King Lear at the Almeida Theatre in London. We chatted to her about the importance of the pursuit of truth.

time-read
6 mins  |
July/August 2024
THE WHY, THE WHICH & the wardrobe
Fairlady

THE WHY, THE WHICH & the wardrobe

We really got into it this month! Read on for more on the allure of a loosey-goosey jumpsuit, vintage-hunting and jingle-jangling jewellery, the best places to find quality African design and short-girl styling tips.

time-read
10+ mins  |
July/August 2024
LIFT your GAME
Fairlady

LIFT your GAME

Thought weightlifting was just for bodybuilders and powerlifters? Not so. In fact, 'lifting heavy shit' may be the secret to longevity, hormone regulation and mood for women through perimenopause and beyond.

time-read
8 mins  |
July/August 2024
TREATMENT PLAN ON YOUR MARKS
Fairlady

TREATMENT PLAN ON YOUR MARKS

Armed with a six-month programme from Dr Nerina Wilkinson + Associates, Jennifer Morin set about tackling her sun damage and melasma.

time-read
8 mins  |
July/August 2024
PLAYING YOUR CARDS RIGHT
Fairlady

PLAYING YOUR CARDS RIGHT

Here's how to get the most out of loyalty cards.

time-read
5 mins  |
July/August 2024
BIG SKY Country
Fairlady

BIG SKY Country

Namibia. Twelve friends, five vehicles, 4000 km, thirteen days. Eight punctures, one angle grinder. One martial eagle, one full moon, one ghost town. Plenty of top-quality braais, maybe not quite enough oysters... and the best time ever.

time-read
9 mins  |
July/August 2024
IS YOUR HOME MAKING YOU SICK?
Fairlady

IS YOUR HOME MAKING YOU SICK?

Leaks, damp and poor ventilation in old or poorly built new homes are being fingered for a growing health concern: mould.

time-read
7 mins  |
July/August 2024
HOW TO REALLY GET TO KNOW SOMEONE
Fairlady

HOW TO REALLY GET TO KNOW SOMEONE

The Korean word 'nunchi' describes 'the ability to be sensitive to other people's moods and thoughts'. It's an underrated skill that we seem to have lost.

time-read
9 mins  |
July/August 2024
How to write a memoir
Fairlady

How to write a memoir

Whether you want to share your experiences and insights with the world, leave a legacy or track pivotal experiences for yourself, writing your memoir can be a grand and worthwhile adventure. Here's some advice on how and where to begin.

time-read
7 mins  |
July/August 2024