Michelle Monaghan looks back on her career and remembers a particular on-screen moment that made her particularly nervous: locking lips with one of the greatest action heroes of all time.
The actress recently sat down for an interview with Collider — by his side Family Package co-star Mark Wahlberg — and she talked about filming a steamy scene with Tom Cruise on her honeymoon with her husband, graphic artist and designer Peter White.
When asked which movie made her the most nervous the day before filming, Monaghan didn’t hesitate as she replied: “Mission: Impossible III, for sure. For sure. It was a great film for me.”
“I had just gotten married and I kind of skipped my honeymoon to start the movie right away,” she explained. “Then I remember going to work, and Tom and I had kind of an intimate scene, and of course, that was the first scene.”
“Then I came home from work and I was so nervous and my husband was like, ‘Don’t worry, you’re going to follow his lead. You’re going to have a good time. It’s going to be wonderful,'” she explained. “I come home at the end of the day, I open the hotel room and he’s like, ‘How was it?’ I was like, “Oh my God, that was amazing. He was so nice. It was awesome.” He says, “Is it cool that you made out with Tom Cruise on our honeymoon?” Because we’re just such fans.”
Reflecting on these unusual circumstances, Monaghan exclaimed, “It’s a testament to the man I married, who has just been totally supportive of me and is excited and enthusiastic about the opportunities.”
Monaghan and White met in 2000 and married in 2005. Together, they share a 15-year-old daughter, Willow, and a 10-year-old son, Tommy.
She recalled how White wasn’t jealous, but rather was “so proud” of her for following her dreams and succeeding.
“I worked hard to get this role, and it was just one of those things,” she said. “But I was very nervous, of course, the night before, and then I did an incredible shoot with JJ (Abrams) and Tom, and I have all the respect for them and for this franchise.”
“I can’t believe I shared this story, but it’s the truth,” she added with a laugh.
As for Wahlberg’s experience with nervousness, the actor said he would usually feel this anxious energy at the start of any shoot.
“I’ll have a dream where I forgot the lines, I don’t have my script, no one is there with my pages, that sort of thing,” he said. “But as soon as you finish that first photo, you’re always like, ‘Okay, let’s do it!’ As soon as you get the first shot.”
As for their current project, The Family Plan, Wahlberg plays Dan Morgan, a former world-class assassin who leaves this world to focus on his wife – played by Monaghan – and children, who don’t know his secret. When someone from his past returns to kill him and threaten the life he’s built for himself, he must take his unsuspecting family on vacation as an excuse to work things out.
Wahlberg and Monaghan recently spoke with ET about working together again as a married couple on screen – after previously doing so in the 2016 drama Patriots Day.
According to Wahlberg, he knew right away that Monaghan was the perfect actress for the role – with her talent for blending drama, comedy and action with wit and grace.
“I recommended her right away,” Wahlberg said. “I think there’s a fine line with action, comedy and then you know also (my character) being able to hide this secret from his wife and not make it seem like she’s just oblivious to everything. “
For Monaghan, working with Wahlberg again was an opportunity eagerly accepted.
“I’ve admired Mark’s work for a while and so when I read the script and had this opportunity, I jumped at it,” she said. “I love it.”
The Family Plan is now streaming on Apple TV+.
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