Elvis Presley’s ex-wife Priscilla has spoken candidly about her roller-coaster relationship with the rock ‘n’ roll legend and shared her thoughts on an “incredible” new biopic that explores his relationship with his former manager.
Priscilla, 77, who was married to Elvis for six years from 1967 to 1973, spoke about the Baz Luhrmann-directed film in an interview with Good Morning America on Friday, as she praised actor Austin Butler for helping the fleeting situation of her caught ex-husband. temper so good.
The film explores Elvis’ complex relationship with his former manager, Colonel Tom Parker – played by Tom Hanks – and the extraordinary impact the former carnival worker had on the singer’s life.
According to Priscilla, who recorded the interview outside of Graceland, the home she once shared with her ex-husband, Parker’s involvement in Elvis’ career and personal life took its toll on the singer — who she said would be “excited” if his Dutch-born manager prevented him from doing things he wanted to do.
“It wasn’t good at all,” she told GMA. “He would let us all know when he was upset and he would riot and, you know, swear.
Elvis Presley’s ex-wife Priscilla has spoken candidly about her relationship and marriage to the rock ‘n’ roll legend — including how she’s dealt with his volatile temper
Priscilla, now 77, married Elvis in 1967 and the couple were married for six years before separating. But despite their divorce, she told GMA that she “adored” the singer.
“Then he realized that Colonel was messing up his life in terms of music choices…
“I saw his temper in every way and knew not to upset him, that’s for sure. I had to be a little careful with him because he was going through a lot of different things at the time.
However, Priscilla insists she “adored” Elvis despite her ups and downs, saying: “I adored him. I don’t know anyone who didn’t adore Elvis. It was fun being with him.
She added that her relationship with Elvis was always filled with “love” — even as they went through their divorce.
“One good thing is that we’ve carried on our loving relationship through our divorce and all,” she continued.
Regarding Luhrmann’s retelling of the dynamic between the two men, Priscilla was full of praise, describing the biopic as “incredible” and raving about 30-year-old Butler’s portrayal of her ex-husband.
“Austin did a great job with his temper when he’s mad at Colonel,” she said, adding that Elvis “loved” the biopic.
The mother-of-one has been full of praise for Baz Luhrmann’s new biopic of Elvis – who is portrayed in the film (left) by actor Austin Butler – and said her ex-husband loved it.
She also praised the 30-year-old butler, who she said perfectly captured Elvis’ “temperament,” especially when it came to his complex relationship with ex-manager Colonel Tom Parker
“I’m sitting there looking at this movie and I’m like, ‘God, I wish he could see this,'” she said. “It was perfection. This is a film he would have really loved – to show who he was, what he aspired to, what his dreams were.”
Priscilla also gave her approval to actress Olivia DeJonge, 24, who portrayed her in the film and appeared alongside her for the GMA interview – although she admitted she found it “so strange” to bring herself to life on the big screen awaken
“I’m so lucky that she was sensitive and cared for her,” she shared. ‘I was positively surprised.’
This isn’t the first time Priscilla has opened up about the more difficult aspects of her relationship with Elvis, who she first met when she was just 14 and he was 24.
In March, the actress opened up about the former couple’s marriage while visiting a new exhibition, Elvis: Direct From Graceland, at Australia’s Bendigo Art Gallery, as she spoke about the “very difficult” early years of their union.
Priscilla spent eight years in a relationship with Elvis before they wed in Las Vegas in 1967 – having first met the music crush ten years her senior in Germany when he was serving in the army.
Recalling how her husband would “riot” when he was angry, Priscilla said she “knew not to upset him,” adding, “I had to be a little careful with him.”
Priscilla and Elvis had one child together, daughter Lisa Marie, who is now 54 years old
She admitted at the time that the years she spent with the King of Rock and Roll before they tied the knot had helped her prepare for what her life might be like after her marriage, but that this didn’t stop her from struggling to deal with the furious public scrutiny she faced.
‘The beginning [of the marriage] was very difficult, but I knew what was coming because I saw it at a very young age,” she said.
The Naked Gun star said the rumors that seemed to constantly follow around the Can’t Help Falling in Love With You hitmaker had been a struggle for her but she had been advised not to heed speculation and gossip.
“That’s when I started not reading newspapers anymore [magazines] in the grocery stores,” she said, adding, “It was hard to be accepted. But he always told me, “Don’t pay attention … don’t listen and don’t look at the tabloids. You know what the truth is, so be careful, but be aware.”
Priscilla was still a schoolgirl when she met Elvis, who had been drafted into the US Army and was stationed at a base in Germany, near where her family lived.
After he returned home to the US, they kept in touch via phone calls — before eventually convincing her parents to let her move to Memphis, Tennessee, full-time in 1963 to be with him.
The 77-year-old actress praised Olivia DeJonge, 24, who she portrays in the new Luhrmann-directed biopic and who appeared alongside her for the GMA interview
Priscilla said that Olivia came across as “sensitive and caring” in the film (pictured), adding that she was “pleasantly surprised” by the film
While she’s spoken of her deep desire to be with Elvis in the past, Priscilla now admits the merging of their very different lifestyles wasn’t without its complications, explaining that his party-hard ways and love of late nights are fading fast eased tolls on their schoolwork.
The mother-of-one, who had a daughter, Lisa Marie, now 54, with Elvis, recalled how the rock and roll legend took her late at night to private film screenings near his home in Graceland, where she often returned early in the morning.
Priscilla recalled leaving Graceland shortly after Johnny Carson’s late-night talk show began, saying, “We would go to the theater and sometimes come home at three, four or five in the morning.
“By the way, I was going to school at the time, so I went to bed and got up at 7:30 a.m. … I didn’t fare well with the grades.”
Contrasting with his glamorous persona, Priscilla also revealed that Elvis was a bookworm behind the scenes, often reading into the wee hours.
“We could get home at 2 a.m. or later, and he’d go straight to the books and start reading,” she said.
‘And he would read [out loud to me] and I would be so tired… and he would say, “You’re not listening to me,” and I would say [to myself]”Okay, keep your eyes open.”‘