Elvis Presley’s former spouse Priscilla mentioned the legendary rock star had been the love of her life, regardless of finally leaving him, as a movie about their turbulent relationship hit the Venice Film Festival.

“Priscilla”, directed by Sofia Coppola, is predicated on her 1985 autobiography, “Elvis and Me”, depicting her roller-coaster life with one of the crucial well-known figures of the twentieth century. “It wasn’t that I didn’t love him. He was the love of my life, but it was the lifestyle that was so difficult for me,” Priscilla informed reporters in Venice forward of the world premiere of the film, which stars Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi.

Priscilla Beaulieu met Elvis Presley in 1959 when she was simply 14 and he was deeply homesick, stationed with the U.S. military in West Germany. “Elvis poured his heart out to me in Germany, his fears and his hopes, the loss of his mother, which he never ever got over,” Priscilla mentioned. “People think it was the sex. Not at all. I never had sex with him. He was very kind, very loving, but he respected the fact that I was only 14 years old.”

Elvis returned to the United States shortly after, however the two remained in contact and in 1963 he invited her to come back and dwell with him in Memphis, the place she completed college. They acquired married in 1967, had a child daughter, Lisa Marie, in 1968, and divorced in 1973, 4 years earlier than Elvis died of coronary heart failure, aged simply 42. “We still remained very, very close,” Priscilla mentioned.

The movie affords maybe the darkest display portrayal but of Elvis as he relentlessly manipulates Priscilla, verbally abusing her and at occasions threatening her earlier than searching for to make amends. “It is very difficult to sit and watch a film about you and about your life and about your love,” mentioned Priscilla, 78, pausing some time as she struggled to beat her feelings. “I think Sophia did an amazing job. She did her homework.”

Coppola mentioned she had leaned closely on Priscilla as she put the movie collectively. “I really tried to make the film from her point of view so we could go along on the journey with her,” she informed reporters. Spaeny mentioned she had additionally turned to Priscilla for assist as she ready to deliver the usually susceptible character alive on the large display.

“She was very generous with her time and she was very kind to me and supportive. And I think if I didn’t have that, I would have had a much harder time,” the U.S. actress mentioned. “Priscilla” is one in all 23 motion pictures competing for the Golden Lion award on the Venice pageant, which runs till Sept. 9.

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