It’s possible to burn love! Austin ButlerHe is making headlines because of his performance in Elvis, but there’s another breakout star in the movie: Olivia DeJongeWho plays? Priscilla Presley.
The Australia native, 24, appears as the late singer’s wife, to whom he was married from 1967 to 1973. DeJonge has plenty of film and TV roles under her belt, but she was still nervous at the prospect of playing a real person who was very famous — and is still living.
“Honestly, I remember feeling very intimidated when I got the role, but if you strip it down, she was 21 or 22,” the You should be on guardActress told British VogueInterview published Wednesday, June 22. “I’ve been in love before, so I can understand what that’s like. It was really just about playing somebody supportive and full of life.”
Elvis died in August 1977 at age 42, but Priscilla, now 77, has expressed her admiration for both Butler and DeJonge’s performances in the film. “It is a true story told brilliantly and creatively that only Baz, in his unique artistic way, could have delivered,” the DallasAn alum tweeted this April. “Austin Butler, who played Elvis is outstanding. Halfway through, Jerry [Schilling] and I looked at each other and said ‘WOW!!! Bravo to him.’ He knew he had big shoes to fill. He was very nervous for this role. I can only imagine.”
In an Instagram post one month later, she revealed that her and Elvis’ daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, “loved” the film when she saw it. “I relived every moment in this film,” Priscilla wrote. “It took me a few days to overcome the emotions as it did with Lisa. Beautifully done Baz [Luhrmann], Tom [Hanks], Austin and Olivia.”
DeJonge, on the other hand, was thrilled to collaborate with Luhrmann, 59 (a fellow Australian and director for one of her favourite movies: the 1996 adaptation). Romeo + JulietStarring Leonardo DiCaprioAnd Claire Danes. “One of the best ever made,” the VisitActress told The AU ReviewWednesday. “I actually studied that film in 9th grade. It’s a funny little circle. It was funny, and I wrote an essay about it. I should find that essay, and show it off to him. He can grade it out of 10.”
The StaircaseStar also enjoyed the chance to work with Romeo + Juliet‘s costume designer, Catherine MartinLuhrmann’s spouse, Catherine Martin, collaborates frequently with him on his films. “Catherine Martin, Baz’s wife and partner, is incredible,” DeJonge gushed to British VogueOscar winner, 57. “I mean, stepping into these costumes, that wig and make-up every day, it really made the rest of the job quite easy, because it was so incredibly immersive.”
Continue scrolling to learn five things about DeJonge.
