Ann-Margret, who turned 81 on the 28th April '22, spoke recently of happy times with Elvis Presley on the Viva Las Vegas movie set and how she'd never seen him perform live before the shoot.
Elvis Presley first met Ann-Margret before filming began on his 1964 movie Viva Las Vegas. The film put the two stars together, starting an on-screen romance. But behind the scenes, their passion burned even hotter. Elvis and Ann-Margret enjoyed a love affair that continued for more than a year - all while he was still with Priscilla Presley - but it was not meant to last.
The Swedish-American actress took Hollywood by storm in the early 1960s, starring opposite Elvis Presley in Viva Las Vegas. Ann-Margret turns 80-years-old today and was recently honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 24th Family Film Awards. At the event, she opened up about singing and dancing with The King of Rock and Roll in one of his best-loved movies.(Express)
After Viva Las Vegas had been released in cinemas a newspaper falsely reported that Elvis and Ann-Margret had become secretly engaged. This report, of course, enraged Priscilla, forcing Elvis to cut off all ties with Ann-Margret and double down on his relationship with his young partner.
Elvis and Priscilla had been publicly together at this point for almost a decade. So Elvis decided to quash the Ann-Margret rumours by proposing to Priscilla. A short time later, on May 1, 1967, Elvis and Priscilla were married in Las Vegas. Ann-Margret moved on as well. A week after Elvis' wedding, on May 8, 1967, she married Roger Smith, an American TV producer.
But Elvis wasn't done with Ann-Margret yet.
Speaking with Fox News, Ann-Margret was asked what makes her smile about her time on 1964’s Viva Las Vegas with Elvis.
The 80-year-old replied: “Just thinking about Viva Las Vegas, or anytime someone mentions it, I smile.
“It was one of the happiest times of my life. George Sidney, who directed Bye Bye Birdie, also directed Viva Las Vegas. And believe it or not, I had never seen EP perform.”
Ann-Margret continued: “I know that’s hard to believe but I hadn’t! I really got to see it when we were rehearsing, singing and dancing with each other.
“But we moved very much the same. And he loved his mother [Gladys, who died in 1958].
“I loved my mother and father. I had a great time. We were friends ‘till the end. I had a great time.”
Following Elvis Presley’s death on August 16, 1977, she travelled to Graceland to attend the funeral the following day.
Ann-Margret continued: “I know that’s hard to believe but I hadn’t! I really got to see it when we were rehearsing,
“But we moved very much the same. And he loved his mother [Gladys, who died in 1958].
“I loved my mother and father. I had a great time. We were friends ‘till the end. I had a great time.”
Following Elvis Presley’s death on August 16, 1977, she travelled to Graceland to attend the funeral the following day.
“But no. I did the best that I could at the time and then it’s over.
“You always think, ‘I hope it works. I hope people are entertained.’ But sometimes it doesn’t work. But you keep at it if you really love it.”
Interestingly, her and Elvis’ Viva Las Vegas set mischief ended up in the final cut of the movie.
According to The King’s cousin Billy Smith, who was there during the shoot: “[George Sidney] was wild about Ann-Margret, just totally obsessed with her
