Priscilla Presley became emotional during the Venice Film Festival premiere of Sofia Coppola's new drama, Priscilla, which focuses on her relationship with the late Elvis Presley.
During a press conference after the premiere, she talked about the age difference between her and Elvis, revealing that he was always "respectful" of it. They first crossed paths in Germany in 1959 when Priscilla was just 14 years old and Elvis was 24, serving in the US Army while her stepfather was stationed in the Air Force there.
"It was very difficult for my parents to understand that Elvis would be so interested in me and I really do think because I was more of a listener," Presley said.
"Elvis would pour his heart out to me, his fears, his hopes, the loss of his mother, which he never ever got over, and I was the person who really really sat there to listen and to comfort him," she said. "I was a little bit older in life than in numbers and that was the attraction. And you know, people think, Oh, it was sex... Not at all. I never had sex with him. He was very kind, very soft, very loving. But he also respected the fact that I was only 14 years old. We were more in mind and thought. And that was our relationship."
Presley added it was "very difficult to sit and watch a film" about her life and love. "Sofia did an amazing job, she did her homework," she said. "And I really put everything out for her that I could."
Looking back on her relationship with the King of Rock 'n' Roll, she had nothing but positive things to say about him, insisting that it was his demanding performance schedule that ultimately did in their relationship. "It was the lifestyle that was so difficult for me, and I think any woman can relate to that," she said. "But it didn't mar our relationship, we still remained very close. And of course, we had our daughter, and I made sure that he saw her all the time. It was like we never left each other."
Based on Presley's 1985 memoir Elvis and Me, Priscilla hits theaters Oct. 27 and stars Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi as Priscilla and Elvis.
