There’s always been an obsession among the paparazzi and the public about celebrity power couples. But few relationships caught the public eye like Elvis Presley and Ann Margret Olsson’s.
Elvis Presley was without a doubt the undisputed King of Rock and Roll. But his musical talent wasn’t the only thing that contributed to his popularity. Elvis also had incredible sex appeal, which routinely he used to swoon the ladies. But the relationship he was perhaps best known for was his marriage to Priscilla Presley.
But his relationship with Ann Margret is what many people still remember to this day. Now in her eighties, Ann Margret has become more vocal about her relationship with Elvis Presley. Fans can now finally know more about their short-lived relationship that’s still spoken about – years later!
Let’s look into how Ann Margret truly felt about Elvis Presley…
ANN MARGRET
Ann Margret Olsson was born on April 28, 1941, in Stockholm, Sweden. She spent the first few years of her childhood in Valsjöbyn – a small town near the Arctic Circle. Later, she and her family would emigrate to the United States.
On the day she arrived, in November 1946, her father took her to Radio City Music Hall – which must have sparked her interest in performing. She became an American citizen in 1949.
As a child, her mother took her to dancing and singing lessons. As a teenager, she would perform on shows such as Ted Mack’s Amateur Hour. She also began acting in school plays which led to her interest in pursuing acting as a full-time career.
Her professional music career began in the early 1960s. In 1961, she began recording songs for RCA Victor. Her debut album was entitled And Here She Is: Ann-Margret. The album was a hit, and her music career took off.
It was during this decade that another singer, Elvis Presley, was taking the world by storm. To capitalize on Elvis’s popularity, record producers asked Ann Margret to record many of Elvis’s most popular songs – including Heartbreak Hotel. She was even told to sing her songs in a similar style to Elvis.
During this decade, her professional acting career also began. Her cinema debut was in the 1961 film Pocketful of Miracles, directed by Frank Capra – a remake of his 1933 movie Lady for a Day. The film was a huge success, and Ann Margret won a Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Female Newcomer.
This film was followed-up by the 1962 film State Fair and the 1963 film Bye Bye Birdie, which made her a household name.
But life would really change for Ann Margret after appearing in a 1964 romantic comedy film called Viva Las Vegas…
Before we tell you more about Ann Margret’s true feelings toward Elvis Presley, please like this video and subscribe to our channel for more current news and interesting stories covering some of your favorite hollywood stars, films and television shows. Now, back to the video…
_______________________________________________________________________
VIVA LAS VEGAS
In Viva Las Vegas, a race car driver named Lucky Jackson decides to take up a job as a waiter to help buy a new engine for his car. He eventually meets and falls in love with a beautiful girl named Rusty Martin.
Lucky Jackson was played by Elvis Presley and Rusty Martin was played by Ann Margret. The two had great on-screen chemistry, and no doubt, Lucky and Rusty became one of the most talked-about couples in movie history.
But this romance went beyond the screen. While working on Viva Las Vegas – Elvis Presley and Ann Margret began a relationship. Their relationship ended shortly after filming ended. Nevertheless, their affair would become one of the most discussed relationships in the history of celebrity couples!
In fact, decades later, in 2005, Rose McGowan would portray Ann Margret in the miniseries Elvis. The miniseries focused on Elvis Presley’s life and career and included segments on his relationship with Ann Margret.
One would think that such a short-lived relationship would be forgotten about eventually. One would think that such a short-lived relationship would hardly need to be the subject of a television series.
But Ann Margret loved Elvis Presley and was happy that she had a relationship with him. Now, almost 60 years later, Ann Margret is confirming her true feelings toward Elvis Presley…
_______________________________________________________________________
HOW THEY FELL IN LOVE
Ann Margret felt a spark when she met Elvis Presley and he clearly felt the same. She would later remark in a New York Times interview:
“We both felt a current, electricity that went straight through us. It would become a force we couldn’t control.”
Ann Margret also recalled that she wasn’t thinking of Elvis’ then-girlfriend Priscilla – whom he would later marry. Priscilla wasn’t there on set and the relationship didn’t seem to hinder either Ann Margret or Elvis from expressing their feelings from each other.
For a year, the two would meet whenever they could. They would also call each other and write love letters to each other.
Nevertheless, Elvis was committed to Priscilla and had the intention of marrying her. He eventually broke up with Ann Margret after telling her that he was going to marry Priscilla. She respected his wishes, and the two broke up amicably.
Despite them not continuing their romantic relationship, the two remained friends. Whenever Ann Margret had a live musical performance, Elvis would send her flowers to congratulate her.
In August 1977, she didn’t receive flowers from Elvis after a performance. Shortly after, she learned that Elvis had died. Elvis Presley had died on August 16, 1977. His cause of death was due to heart disease – no doubt brought about from the consumption of prescription drugs.
His death was a shock to fans all over the world. The King of Rock and Roll had left the building. To this day, Elvis Presley is seen as a great singer and one of America’s foremost sex symbols.
____________________________________________________________________________
ANN MARGRET’s TRUE FEELINGS
What does Ann Margret think about her relationship with Elvis Presley today? Does she still think about the two of them together?
The public and the media alike don’t let her forget about the relationship. But even if we move on from the relationship, Ann Margret still remembers her love affair and friendship with Elvis many years later.
Ann Margret eventually married her manager Roger Smith in 1967 who was also an actor in his own right. They remained married until Roger’s death in 2017. She felt that she married the right man but never regretted her relationship with Elvis Presley.
In her book, Ann-Margret: My Story, she referred to Elvis as being her “soulmate” and also stated that Elvis actually wished that the two of them could stay together. Though their relationship only lasted for 1 year, she stated that they were deeply in love and that their relationship was one of the most meaningful of her life.
Priscilla Presley did eventually find out about Elvis’s affair with Ann Margret. This did anger him and the two finally divorced in 1973. Roger Smith would also get uncomfortable whenever Ann Margret recalled her relationship with Elvis. Clearly, she couldn’t forget about him. Now in her eighties, it’s likely that she’ll continue to fondly remember her time with Elvis.
She’s now more open to discussing her relationship with Elvis and how she truly felt about him. Fans can now confirm that their relationship, though short-lived, was full of love and affection. While they went their separate ways, it’s clear that there was true love between them.
WHAT’s ANN MARGRET UP TO TODAY?
So, what’s Ann Margret up to today, and what was her life like after she split up with Elvis Presley?
Her music and acting career continued well after they broke up. Her acting career especially brought her to prominence. She soon became a lead actress in major films such as Once A Thief, The Cincinnati Kid, Made In Paris, and The Swinger.
But the film that really took off was the 1971 film Carnal Knowledge in which she acted alongside Jack Nicholson – who had just become a major star and nominated as best supporting Actress Academy Award.
With this film, her popularity increased even more. Except this time, she was now taken seriously as an actress – rather than as a Hollywood bombshell. The film was a departure to the innocent romantic comedies such as Viva Las Vegas but also a divergence from sex comedies such as The Swinger.
She continued to get offered supporting and lead roles in major films while In 1975, she once again was nominated for an Academy Award – this time for Best Actress for her role in Ken Russell’s film Tommy. Her later roles included work in films as varied as Grumpy Old Men, Any Given Sunday, Taxi, The Break-Up, and Old Dogs. Her latest release is the 2021 film Queen Bees – in which she stars alongside James Caan, Ellen Burstyn, Loretta Devine, and Christopher Lloyd.
She also had a few notable roles on television. Ann Margret’s voiced a fictitious version of herself in The Flintstones – with a character named “Ann Margrock!” She also appeared as herself in an episode of Here’s Lucy alongside Lucille Ball.
She played “Sally Jackson” in Alex Haley’s Queen and had minor roles in Law, and Order: Special Victims Unit, CSI, and Touched By an Angel.
And she’s showing no signs of slowing down. For many, Ann Margret is now seen as a veteran actress who made her mark through versatile roles in Hollywood films. But for others, they’ll always be talking about her true feelings towards Elvis Presley…
Are you a fan of Ann Margret and Elvis Presley?
Do you think she and Elvis should have remained together? Or do you think it was better for them to go their separate ways?
Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments.
If you liked this story, hit the ‘like’ button and be sure to Subscribe to FactsVerse for more great stories! Hit the bell icon to receive regular notifications!
We’ll see you in the next video!
