Tom Cruise has been presented with the US navy’s highest civilian award, for “boosting the force’s recruitment of pilots” thanks to his performance in Top Gun.

The Hollywood star, who played Lieutenant Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in the hit film, was presented with the Distinguished Public Service Award – given for acts of heroism or support – at a ceremony held at the Longcross Film Studios in Chertsey, Surrey.

US navy secretary Carlos Del Toro said the original action film, about…