Followers are lining up to see Elvis, the long-awaited musical biopic directed by Baz Luhrmann. The movie, which tells the story of iconic American singer Elvis Presley, stars Austin Butler as the King. But it surely options an awfully proficient supporting forged as effectively. This contains Olivia DeJonge, who portrays Presley’s spouse, Priscilla Presley.
Whereas it was a problem for DeJonge to play such an icon, the actor admitted in a latest interview with Vogue that she opted to deal with Presley’s humanity so as to create a convincing efficiency.
Olivia DeJonge discovered she received the position of Priscilla Presley when she least anticipated it
Casting Elvis was an intimidating course of for everybody concerned. Not solely did the actors have to deliver the essence of actual individuals to life, however that they had to get throughout the larger-than-life personalities they had been tasked to play. For DeJonge, the Elvis casting was particularly anxious. In the finish, discovering out she received the position was value the effort.
In a Vogue interview, DeJonge revealed she found she received the position of Priscilla Presley 4 months after first auditioning. The Australian actor met along with her agent to ask whether or not he heard any information on the position in Elvis.
At that second, her agent checked his telephone and stated, “Olivia, do not scream.” DeJonge discovered she obtained the half, revealing “it was crazy.”
Priscilla Presley needed Lana Del Rey to painting her in the ‘Elvis’ biopic
📽️🍿🎵 Baz Luhrmann’s ELVIS hits screens round Australia right now!
The @warnerbrosau movie options WA forged members Olivia DeJonge (co-starring as Priscilla Presley), Dacre Montgomery and Kate Mulvany, with Perth VFX home Double Barrel finishing over 250 VFX pictures for the movie. pic.twitter.com/CSBdLgN6Ja
— Screenwest (@Screenwest) June 23, 2022
After all, Priscilla Presley is just not solely Elvis Presley’s ex-wife however the curator of his property and picture too. For many years, Priscilla has been an outspoken advocate for her late ex-husband.
When Priscilla discovered {that a} brand-new biopic was in the works, she had a particular particular person in thoughts to play her as a younger girl. “I like Lana (Del Rey),” Presley stated. Nonetheless, after DeJonge was forged, Luhrmann spoke out to defend his alternative. The long-lasting director defined, “Olivia is capable of manifesting the complex depth and presence that has made Priscilla Presley an icon in her own right. She’s an extremely talented young actor and the perfect counterpoint to Austin’s Elvis.”
After all, Priscilla has been nothing if not effusive about the movie in latest weeks. She praised the work of everybody concerned and referred to as it a “brilliant” movie. So, it’s secure to say Priscilla is just not too upset about Del Rey’s lack of involvement.
How Olivia DeJonge helped her Priscilla Presley character change into a four-dimensional particular person
It might simply have change into overwhelming to play such a serious determine in music historical past. However DeJonge selected to deal with Priscilla’s human features.
“Given the nature of the story and the way that it’s been told, I really just wanted to make her grounded and real,” DeJonge instructed Vogue. She admitted she didn’t get an opportunity to converse to Priscilla herself earlier than filming commenced. “Baz actually inspired quite a lot of freedom to experiment. For me, it was nearly taking part in a woman that actually liked a boy… It was actually nearly taking part in any person supportive and lively.
DeJonge referred to as Priscilla a “four-dimensional” particular person — “not just this pretty picture to look at.” In the finish, DeJonge got here away with quite a lot of respect for Presley. She stated, “I think it’s also amazing what she did, you know, after he passed, and how she really took over the estate and kept everybody afloat, you know?”
Followers can watch DeJonge’s efficiency for themselves, in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, which is now in theaters.