Relationship

Few relationships have been so famously turbulent, controversial, and well-studied as the one between Elvis Presley and Priscilla née Wagner. There was a 10-year age difference between them, a number that's part of a larger conversation about Presley's relationships. But Priscilla recently opened up about how Presley treated the fact that she was just 14 when they met and says he respected her age and boundaries. The topic returned to the forefront thanks to the new biopic Priscilla, starring Cailee Spaeny in the title roll and Jacob Elordi as the "Hound Dog" crooner. Directed by Sofia Coppola, it follows the famous relationship from Priscilla's eyes and has made for a very unprecedented and emotionally heavy viewing experience for Priscilla. Priscilla Presley discusses how Elvis Presley respected that she was 14 when they met Newlyweds PRISCILLA PRESLEY and ELVIS PRESLEY shortly after the marriage ceremony, 1967 / Everett Collection At a recent press conference, Priscilla opened up about the nature of her and Presley's relationship compared to what is discussed by outside sources, including Coppola's recent drama. "It was very difficult for my parents to understand that Elvis would be so interested in me and why. And I really do think because I was more of a listener," shared Priscilla. "Elvis would pour his heart out to me in every way in Germany: 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." RELATED: Priscilla Presley Thought Elvis Presley Was ‘Gross’ Before They Eventually Met "That was really our connection," she continued, insisting that Presley never took physical advantage of her. "Even though I was 14, I was actually a little bit older in life — not in numbers. That was the attraction. People think, ‘Oh, it was sex.’ No, it wasn’t. I never had sex with him. He was very kind, very soft, very loving, but he also respected the fact I was only 14 years old. We were more in line in thought, and that was our relationship." Priscilla Presley praises Sofia Coppola for doing her research Priscilla claims Elvis Presley respected her when they first met and she was 14 / Everett Collection Coppola's biopic has made for a surreal experience for Priscilla. "It’s very difficult to sit and watch a film about you, about your life, about your love," she admitted. At that point in the press conference, her eyes grew tearful and she took a moment to collect herself. "Sofia did an amazing job. She did her homework, we spoke a couple of times and I really put everything out for her that I could." In addition to extensive research, Coppola also used some introspection to depict Priscilla's experiences on-screen, especially at such a formative age. "I can go back to being that age and remember having a crush on an older guy and a rockstar," Coppola explained. "I just imagined myself in her point of view." Other reports about Presley's behavior have not been so positive / Oscar Abolafia/Everett Collection (elvispresley008) There have been many intense accounts about what Presley was like when in private with other women and girls. For her part, Priscilla has said, "I didn’t know why he put so much trust in me, but he did. And I never, ever, ever told anyone that I was seeing him, and that was another issue that he loved, is the fact that I never gave him up in any way. I never told anyone at school that I was seeing him. So, we built a relationship and then our relationship went on until I left." But even then, Priscilla called Presley the love of her life, taking issue first and foremost with the lifestyle he lived. But even after the split, "It was like we never left each other." Priscilla comes to theaters on October 27.