Tom Cruise’s First Love Scene Was Anything But Ordinary: Gina Gershon Spills the Details

The set of the 1988 film Cocktail was a place of sparks flying both on-screen and off, particularly when it came to the love scenes between Tom Cruise and his co-star Gina Gershon. However, things weren’t as carefree as one might expect from a romance film—especially with Cruise’s first wife, Mimi Rogers, closely watching from the sidelines.

In a recent appearance on Watch What Happens Live, Gershon revealed that Rogers was often present on set while the intimate scenes were being filmed. “He had just gotten married, and his wife was very present,” Gershon recalled, adding that Rogers greeted her on set, saying, “Hi, nice to meet you.” Despite Rogers’ constant presence, Gershon and Cruise did their jobs professionally, with Gershon humorously noting, “But we did kiss as much as we could.”

Gershon, who was new to love scenes at the time, shared that it was a thrilling experience for her. “Every scene it was like, ‘Should we kiss in the scene? Oh yeah, I think we should kiss,'” she said, revealing that it was her first on-screen love scene. When asked by host Andy Cohen if Cruise “took care” of her during the filming, Gershon responded enthusiastically, “Totally,” noting how much of a gentleman Cruise was throughout the process.

However, there was one memorable moment that nearly took a turn for the worse. Gershon, who had warned Cruise that she was very ticklish, found herself in a compromising position during a scene where Cruise reached under the covers. “In one take, I have to say, I think he wanted a reaction, and he grabbed my stomach, and I kneed him right in the nose,” Gershon confessed. Despite the mishap, Cruise, ever the professional, reassured her. “No, no, you told me,” he said, before taking full responsibility. “It was my fault.”

The mutual respect between the two was clear, with Gershon describing Cruise as “protective” and “great” on set, making the experience a positive one despite the mishap.

Cruise and Rogers’ relationship began in 1985 when Cruise was 23 and Rogers was 29. They married two years later, after being introduced by mutual friends. Despite their early connection, the couple divorced in February 1990, just a few months before Cruise spoke fondly of Rogers in an interview with Rolling Stone. He expressed how their marriage had made him a better actor, explaining, “We live a lot of life together. We share everything. That’s the best thing about life. Otherwise, you go through it pretty sad and lonely and angry.”

Cruise’s affection for his then-wife was evident, as he added, “I care about my wife more than anything in the world. She’s my best friend. I just really like being with her, you know? I love her.” However, the marriage ultimately came to an end, marking the start of a new chapter for both Cruise and Rogers.

As for Gershon, she looks back on the Cocktail experience with fond memories, despite the awkwardness of the love scenes and Cruise’s wife’s ever-present watchful eye.