Gina Gershon (63) Admits She Almost Broke Tom Cruise’s (63) Nose While Filming

Gina Gershon recently shared some lighthearted yet painful memories of working with Tom Cruise on the set of the 1988 classic Cocktail. Speaking on a recent episode of Page Six Radio, the actress described her former costar as a complete professional and a true gentleman during their time together.

The film followed the story of a New York bartender who moves to Jamaica for a new adventure, and it featured one of the most famous soundtracks of the decade. Gershon noted that the romantic scenes they shared were actually her very first on-screen love scenes.

She remembered feeling very safe because of how protective and sweet Cruise was throughout the entire process. “I have to say he was very protective and very sweet and such a gentleman,” she told the radio hosts. However, one specific creative choice for a scene led to a moment that neither actor is likely to forget.

The actress had suggested that the scene should start with Cruise’s character hiding under the blankets. While they were trying to make the moment work, Cruise accidentally tickled her, which triggered a very strong physical reaction.

Gershon explained that she had told him specifically not to do that because of a childhood history of being pinned down and tickled by her older brother. Despite her warning, the tickling happened, and Gershon’s reflexes immediately took over. “I had literally a knee-jerk reaction.

I was traumatized by the tickle,” she admitted. In the heat of the moment, she accidentally kicked the movie star right in the face. “I kicked him in the nose. I didn’t mean to. I just kneed him. And I was like, ‘Oh my god, I just broke his nose. Oh my,’” she recalled.

Fortunately, Cruise was incredibly understanding about the accidental injury and took full responsibility for the mishap. “He was like, ‘No, no, no. My fault. My bad. You warned me,” Gershon said, noting that he tried to make her feel better despite being in obvious pain.

Even back then, he showed the same resilience that has allowed him to perform his own dangerous stunts for decades. Since those early days, both actors have gone on to have massive careers in Hollywood. Gershon became a household name with roles in cult hits like Showgirls and the high-concept thriller Face/Off.

More recently, she has been keeping busy with several new projects. She appeared as the wealthy ship owner’s wife, Lenore, in the ABC medical drama Doctor Odyssey and has been in several films, like High Rollers and Breed of Greed.

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