The ’80s marked the rise of both Heather Locklear and Tom Cruise as they ventured toward stardom. While Heather captivated audiences as the feisty Sammy Jo on the iconic nighttime soap Dynasty, Tom was riding the wave of success from Risky Business and on the brink of becoming a household name with Top Gun.
At a recent event, Heather, now 63, reminisced about their initial encounter during a film audition—one that Tom didn’t perform well in! She humorously recalled thinking, “Oh my gosh, I’m terrible.
He’s even worse!” They both left without landing roles, and despite being only a few months older than Tom, she considered him a “little baby.” Heather was also impressed by his polite demeanor when he attended a gathering at her house with Sean Penn, recalling their respectful “Yes, ma’am” responses.
She described Tom as a “little baby,” impressed by his polite demeanor at a gathering with Sean Penn
Eventually, they decided to go on an official date. “We went out dancing to Club Lingerie at that time,” Heather shared, noting that Tom even showed off his Risky Business dance moves! “He was really cute,” she admitted, adding that he treated her with kindness.
An insider revealed to In Touch that the date was likely orchestrated to garner publicity for Tom. “He was rather shy and awkward back then,” the source explained, suggesting that his team may have wanted him to be seen with women to spark conversations about him.
Regardless of the intent, Heather felt no romantic spark from the future Scientologist, stating that he “didn’t quite cut it” in that department. Instead, she gravitated towards more rebellious partners, like her first husband, Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, and her second husband, Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi fame. According to the insider, “Tom was so proper, so clean-cut; Heather thought he was a bit of a geek.” She was drawn to men with a bit of an edge.
