Introduction:
Few people in the world knew Elvis Presley as intimately as Priscilla Presley did. Their marriage began in 1967 and lasted six years, but the bond they shared did not simply disappear when their marriage ended. In a revealing conversation about Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, Priscilla offered a deeply personal perspective on the man behind the legendary image—and made clear that, despite the passage of time, her affection and admiration for him remain.
Priscilla admitted that she was initially nervous about seeing the film. She had no idea how director Baz Luhrmann would portray Elvis or how her own character would be represented. After eventually watching a private screening with Jerry Schilling, one of Elvis’s longtime associates, however, her concerns quickly disappeared.
She was particularly impressed by Austin Butler’s performance as Elvis. According to Priscilla, Butler captured not only Elvis’s famous movements and appearance, but also his smirk, walk, attitude, temper, and unmistakable presence. She described the experience as almost like watching Elvis return to life. For someone who had known him privately, such praise carried extraordinary weight.
Priscilla also appreciated Olivia DeJonge’s portrayal of herself. She felt the performance captured the sensitivity she had always tried to show toward Elvis, particularly during the complicated years when he was searching for direction in his career and personal life.
Yet perhaps the most touching part of Priscilla’s reflections was not about the movie at all. It was about Elvis himself.
She remembered him as a deeply passionate and curious man who cared about America, followed current events, read extensively, and maintained friendships across racial and cultural boundaries. Priscilla strongly rejected the idea that Elvis was prejudiced, recalling his genuine admiration for Black musicians and the music that had influenced him throughout his life.
When asked whether Elvis had been the great love of her life, Priscilla answered simply: yes.
Interestingly, she also explained that their relationship became more relaxed after their divorce. Elvis would sometimes visit her home late at night, occasionally arriving at two or three in the morning simply to talk. He brought books, read to her, and spent time with their daughter, Lisa Marie. Away from the pressures of marriage and celebrity, Priscilla remembered those moments as peaceful and deeply human.
She even recalled watching Elvis rehearse “It’s Now or Never,” repeatedly attempting to reach the notes exactly as he wanted. His determination to perfect his performance revealed the perfectionist side of a man who never seemed satisfied with simply being good.
Priscilla acknowledged that Elvis desperately wanted a serious film career and longed for dramatic roles that would allow him to demonstrate his full ability. She believed the restrictive Hollywood contracts of the time prevented him from reaching that ambition.
Still, history ultimately gave Elvis something few entertainers ever achieve: immortality through music.
Years after his death, Priscilla’s words remain striking because they are not simply those of a former wife. They are the reflections of someone who witnessed the extraordinary performer and the private man. Her story reminds us that behind the legend of Elvis Presley was a human being who loved deeply, dreamed boldly, struggled privately, and tried relentlessly to become the best version of himself.
And perhaps that is why, decades later, Priscilla can still speak about Elvis with such warmth. Their marriage ended, but the memories—and the love—never truly did.