At 80 years old, Tom Selleck remains an enduring icon of Hollywood charm, a man whose trademark mustache and easy confidence have defined masculinity for generations. For decades, he has graced the screen with a presence that is both commanding and approachable, a rare combination that has made him a legend. But behind the stoic roles and the cool exterior of characters like Magnum P.I. lies a man with a deep and profound respect for his craft—and for the people who helped shape it. In a recent, remarkably candid interview, Selleck pulled back the curtain, sharing a piece of his heart that has long been kept private. When playfully prodded about which of his beautiful co-stars still cross his mind, he didn’t just dodge the question; he answered it with a thoughtful honesty that reveals the true measure of the man.

He named six women. Six actresses whose talent, professionalism, and spirit left an indelible mark on his career and his memory. This wasn’t a list of conquests or unrequited affections, but a tribute to the power of on-screen chemistry and the magic that happens when true professionals connect. “You don’t forget magic when you’ve been lucky enough to stand next to it,” Selleck confessed, a twinkle in his eye. His list is a journey through Hollywood history, a testament to the women who were not just beautiful faces, but formidable talents who made every scene, and Selleck himself, better.

1. Courteney Cox: The Generous Spark on a Runaway Train

When Tom Selleck joined the cast of Friends for a guest arc as Dr. Richard Burke, the show was already a cultural phenomenon, a “runaway train” as he called it. Stepping onto that set could have been intimidating for anyone, but Selleck remembers Courteney Cox, who played Monica Geller, as the anchor who made him feel instantly at home. “Courtney made me feel like I’d been there from day one,” he recalled with a laugh.

He described her as “scary fast,” a comedic partner with the timing of a jazz musician, always ready with a comeback that could leave you breathless. But it was her generosity on camera that truly set her apart. In the fast-paced world of sitcoms, where the goal is often to land the next joke, Cox was focused on making the scene breathe. “Courtney was always thinking about the scene, how to make it real,” Selleck explained. “She gives you space to find the moment. That’s rare.” Their on-screen romance, an older man with a younger woman, could have easily become a gimmick, but Cox’s honest portrayal gave it weight and connection. “She built that chemistry,” Selleck stated, giving her full credit. “I just showed up and tried not to ruin it.”

2. Katharine Ross: The Quiet Power in the Dust

Long before the coffee shop couches of Friends, Selleck was carving his niche in dusty Westerns. It was on the set of the 1982 film The Shadow Riders that he worked with Katharine Ross, an actress who brought a unique and steady grace to the rugged genre. “She had this natural poise,” Selleck remembered. “You could drop her into a dusty saloon scene and she’d still look like she belonged at a gallery opening.”

But her elegance was matched by an unshakable toughness. While others wilted under the harsh conditions of a Western shoot, Ross remained composed, her cool grace a constant on set. What Selleck admired most, however, was her ability to truly listen. “In a scene, she’s not waiting for her turn to talk. She’s there, present, connected,” he said. This profound connection turned acting into a dance, a shared rhythm where subtlety became the most powerful tool. He learned from her that the quietest moments could often be the strongest, and that true presence speaks louder than any dialogue. For Selleck, every moment with Katharine Ross was a masterclass in understated power.

3. Jane Seymour: The Elegant Chess Master

In the 1984 crime caper Lassiter, Tom Selleck found himself in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse with Jane Seymour. And according to him, she was the one setting all the traps. “There’s elegance with a capital E,” he said with a low whistle. “She didn’t play the mouse. She was the one setting the traps.”

He described walking onto the set feeling like the leading man, only to have Seymour disarm him completely with a single look, leaving him struggling to remember his lines. Her screen presence was that powerful. But it was her combination of warmth and intelligence that made their on-screen tension so palpable. “Every scene between us felt like a chess game, and she was always three moves ahead,” he recalled. Between takes, she was a joy—laughing with the crew and telling stories—but the moment the cameras rolled, she transformed, flipping a switch into a character that was both charming and dangerous. It was this dynamic that created a memorable on-screen connection, a moment in his career where everything just clicked.

4. Raquel Welch: The Unforgettable Force of Nature

When Raquel Welch’s name came up, Selleck’s grin was immediate and knowing. “Now there was someone who knew exactly who she was the moment she walked on set,” he said. In his early days, he was just “the tall guy from TV,” but she was already a global icon. Working with her was a lesson in presence and professionalism.

“She’d walk into a scene and suddenly the air got thicker,” he remembered. “Everyone… paid attention.” While the world saw the glamour, Selleck saw a sharp, intelligent professional who understood the camera, the lighting, and the rhythm of a scene better than anyone. He recounted a time he suggested a line change, only to be gently but firmly put in his place. “Sweetheart, I’ve been doing this a little longer than you,” she told him, before nailing the scene in a single take. It was a lesson he never forgot: sometimes, you just need to be quiet and watch a master at work. “She was magnetic,” Selleck concluded. “The kind of focus you still think about even decades later.”

5. Goldie Hawn: The Sunshine He Never Worked With

In a surprising twist, one of the names on Selleck’s list is a woman he never actually shared the screen with: Goldie Hawn. “That’s one of Hollywood’s great missed opportunities, if you ask me,” he declared with a wide grin, calling her “trouble wrapped in sunshine.” His admiration for her is purely that of a fan and a peer who recognized a rare and brilliant talent.

He spoke of her infectious laugh, a sound he described as “champagne and chaos,” capable of making actors forget their lines. Selleck watched her films like Private Benjamin and Overboard and marveled at her ability to make comedy look effortless, the hardest trick in acting. “She made comedy look effortless, which is the hardest trick of all,” he said. He imagined that if they had ever worked together, the set would have been a delightful disaster of “too much laughter, too many ruined takes.” For Selleck, Goldie Hawn represents a pure, unadulterated joy that is all too rare in the business.

6. Meryl Streep: The North Star

The final name on his list was spoken with a different kind of tone—one of quiet, profound reverence. Meryl Streep. “Now that’s the North Star right there,” he said, exhaling thoughtfully. Like Goldie Hawn, he has never had the chance to work with her, but he considers her the benchmark against which all actors are measured.

“Every actor who’s been lucky enough to says the same thing: she changes you,” he explained. Selleck has watched her films in awe, constantly asking himself, “How the hell does she do that?” He marvels at her ability to completely disappear into a role, where the craft becomes invisible and only the truth remains. To him, her performances are not just acting; they are grace. The chance to do even one scene with her would be a career-defining moment. “Standing across from Meryl Streep,” he mused, “that’s the kind of moment you’d carry for the rest of your life.” She is the legend who reminds him, and the world, why acting is an art form.