Priscilla Presley has reiterated that there was no intimate relationship with her ex-husband, Elvis Presley, when they first met when she was just 14 years old.
Addressing the media at the Venice Film Festival on Monday, the 78-year-old actress became emotional ahead of the premiere of “Priscilla,” a film based on her book “Elvis and Me” from 1985.
In a video shared by TMZ, Presley revealed that her parents struggled to comprehend why Elvis showed interest in her.
She described herself as a compassionate listener who provided comfort to the superstar, emphasizing their deep emotional connection.
“I was the person who really sat there to listen and to comfort him.
That was really our connection.
Even though I was 14, I was actually a little bit older in life, not in numbers, and that was the attraction,” Presley expressed.
Dismissing speculations of a physical relationship, Presley clarified, “People think, ‘Oh, it was s=x, it was this.' Not at all.
I never had s=x with him.
He was very kind, very soft, very loving.
But he also respected the fact I was only 14 years old.
We were more in mind and thought and that was our relationship.”
The encounter between Priscilla Presley and Elvis Presley occurred at a gathering in Germany when she was 14 and he was 24.
During the press conference, Presley affirmed that she kept their relationship discreet and did not divulge details to her peers at school.
Their wedding took place when she turned 21 in 1967, with Presley disclosing in her memoir that she maintained her virginity until then.
Despite separating due to lifestyle differences, Presley emphasized the enduring closeness between her and Elvis even post their divorce in 1973.
Elvis passed away from a heart attack in 1977 at his residence in Memphis, Tennessee, at the age of 42, leaving behind their daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, who tragically passed away earlier this year from surgery complications.
Scheduled for release on October 27, “Priscilla” features Cailee Spaeny portraying Priscilla and Jacob Elordi as Elvis, garnering a standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival that moved Presley to tears.
In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Presley admitted feeling anxious about the film's public reception but expressed trust in director Sofia Coppola, acknowledging their shared understanding despite different life experiences.
Coppola, hailing from a renowned filmmaking lineage, resonated with Presley, fostering a sense of confidence in the cinematic portrayal of her story.
Regarding recent disputes over her granddaughter Riley Keough's inheritance following the passing of Lisa Marie, Presley denied any animosity, indicating a harmonious familial relationship amidst legal complexities surrounding the estate and Graceland ownership.
