Priscilla Presley has managed to build her own identity separate from her famous ex-husband, rock legend Elvis Presley — and now she’s reflecting on the projects she believes contributed to that.
During a solo panel at Rhode Island Comic Con on Friday, Nov. 1, the actress and businesswoman opened up about various aspects of her life, including her late ex-husband Elvis. In the middle of the Q+A portion of the session, a fan asked Priscilla about the many projects she’s continued to work on after her divorce from the “Jailhouse Rock” singer, which she feels best represents her “as Priscilla, not as Elvis’ ex.”
“I think the movies that I’ve done. I just mean, basically, it was my choice,” Priscilla, 79, said before naming specific projects. “Films that I loved and, I mean, Naked Guns. To be on Dallas it was great.”
“It really freed me up a bit to be myself,” she added.
Elvis and Priscilla Presley’s Relationship: A Look Back
Priscilla’s career as an actress led to her playing Jane Spencer in the A naked gun film trilogy and Jenna Wade in the Dallas. She also had roles in big projects like Melrose Place, Spin City and Agent Elvis.
Outside of acting, she is the co-founder and former president of Elvis Presley Enterprises.
Priscilla Presley at a photo call for the movie “Priscilla” at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on September 4, 2023 in Venice, Italy.
Stefania D’Alessandro/WireImage
Elsewhere during the panel, Priscilla spoke about the legacy her ex-husband – who died on August 16, 1977, aged 42 – built during his own career, even sharing her thoughts on her favorite period of his music.
“I think the first one, when he first started, I think he picked those songs himself, but he wasn’t so much under the control of the colonel,” she said, referring to the control Col. Thomas Andrew Parker had over Elvis’ career as his manager. “He was quite free to be himself, even in the first films. He loved what he was doing. [Everything changed] just as the colonel began to come and choose what he thought he should do.”
Also, on the subject of people covering Elvis’ music, Priscilla said, “I don’t mind.”
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Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley on their wedding day, May 1, 1967.
Smith/Gado/Getty Collection
“It’s certainly not Elvis, but I think his name sticks with younger people, and I know a lot of people who have taken their kids to see the cover, what’s it called? Impersonators. And these little kids love it,” she added. “I didn’t like it at first. Then I saw what was happening with these kids, young kids dressed up like Elvis. Five-year-olds. I think it keeps him in the picture, alive and so I don’t mind.”
Priscilla Presley shares Elvis stories at Hawaii Theater’s 102nd birthday celebration
Priscilla met the king of rock & roll when she was 14 years old, while he was 24. However, they did not get married until May 1, 1967 in Las Vegas when she was 21 years old.
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They had one child together, daughter Lisa Marie Presley, in February 1968 before divorcing in 1973. Lisa died in January 2023 at the age of 54. (Priscilla also shares son Navarone Garibaldi with ex Marco Garibaldi.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education