Gina Gershon (63) Admits Filming Moment Nearly Left Tom Cruise (63) Injured

Gina Gershon is looking back at her time filming Cocktail with Tom Cruise, and one moment still stands out for all the wrong reasons. During a recent interview on Page Six Radio, she shared a story about how a simple scene almost turned into a real injury.

She explained that working with Cruise was actually a great experience overall. The 1988 film, which follows a bartender starting over in Jamaica, included some of her first romantic scenes on screen.

Gershon said she felt comfortable during filming because of how Cruise treated her. “I have to say he was very protective and very sweet and such a gentleman,” she said during the interview.

Things took a turn during one scene that involved a playful idea. Gershon suggested starting the moment with Cruise’s character hiding under the covers. While filming, he ended up tickling her, even though she had warned him not to. She shared that she has a strong reaction to being tickled because of childhood memories with her brother.

Once it happened, her body reacted instantly. “I had literally a knee-jerk reaction. I was traumatized by the tickle,” she said. Without thinking, she kicked out and ended up hitting Cruise right in the face.

She remembered panicking right away. “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,’” she recalled. Luckily, Cruise didn’t get upset. Instead, he took the blame and tried to calm her down.

“He was like, ‘No, no, no. My fault. My bad. You warned me,’” Gershon said, adding that he handled the situation with kindness even though it clearly hurt. The story gave fans a glimpse into how Cruise handled unexpected moments early in his career.

Gershon pointed out that even back then, he stayed calm and professional, something he’s still known for today. Since filming Cocktail, both actors have gone on to build long careers.

Gershon later appeared in films like Showgirls and Face Off, and continues to work steadily in television and movies. She recently appeared in the ABC drama Doctor Odyssey and has been part of projects like High Rollers and Breed of Greed.

Her story may be funny now, but it’s also a reminder that even the most carefully planned scenes can go wrong in an instant.

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