stars. Her performance also drew attention to the chemistry between its two leads.
Years later, their co-star Curtis Armstrong discussed that connection in his 2017 memoir, Revenge of the Nerd. Armstrong alleged that Cruise and De Mornay began an affair during filming while she was dating actor Harry Dean Stanton.
That account was Armstrong’s claim. The Daily Mail also noted that De Mornay and Cruise were seen together at a screening of The Breakfast Club in 1985, after Risky Business had been released.
Although the film remained a defining early credit for both actors, De Mornay went on to establish herself beyond that breakthrough.
A chilling turn in ‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’
Nearly a decade later, De Mornay took on another of her best-known characters in the 1992 thriller The Hand That Rocks the Cradle.
She played Mrs. Mott, a woman who adopts the identity of nanny Peyton Flanders while pursuing revenge against a family.
The story follows her efforts to infiltrate the household of Claire, played by Annabella Sciorra, whose allegations against Mrs. Mott’s physician husband had helped expose his misconduct.
De Mornay’s character conceals her intentions behind the appearance of a caring employee, making her growing threat central to the film.
The thriller became a major hit, and her performance remained one of the most recognizable parts of her career.
The role offered a very different showcase from Risky Business, placing her at the center of a suspense story built around deception and revenge.
A career spanning films and television
The Santa Rosa, California, native’s other 1980s credits included The Trip to Bountiful, alongside Geraldine Page and John Heard, and Runaway Train, featuring Jon Voight and Eric Roberts.
Her later work included the 2005 comedy Wedding Crashers and an appearance in the Marvel television series Jessica Jones.
Those projects form part of a career extending across both film and television, with her most prominent performances arriving during the 1980s and 1990s.
Her life away from the screen
De Mornay married writer Bruce Wagner in 1986. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1990.
She was later briefly engaged to singer Leonard Cohen and subsequently had a relationship with sportscaster Patrick O’Neal.
De Mornay and O’Neal share two daughters, Sophia, 29, and Veronica, 25.
Her latest Los Angeles appearance brings attention back to an actress whose best-known characters remain familiar decades after their films first reached audiences — from the confident Lana to the seemingly helpful nanny hiding a dangerous purpose.
