> At a Glance
> – Cailee Spaeny transforms into Priscilla Presley across 13 years in Priscilla (2023)
> – Jacob Elordi gained weight eating “a pound of bacon a day” to embody Elvis
> – Priscilla Presley executive-produced and praised the film after its Venice premiere
> – Why it matters: The drama retells Elvis and Priscilla’s stormy marriage from her point of view for the first time on screen
Sofia Coppola’s 2023 biographical drama Priscilla adapts Priscilla Presley’s 1985 memoir Elvis and Me, tracing the couple’s relationship from their 1959 meeting in Germany to their 1972 separation. The film spotlights Priscilla’s perspective on fame, love, and control inside Graceland.
The Lead Duo
**Cailee Spaeny carries the title role, aging from 14 to 27. She called the part “the most challenging role I’ve ever done” and earned a Golden Globe nomination. After the Venice screening, Priscilla told reporters:
> “It’s very difficult to sit and watch a film about you and about your life and about your love. I think Sofia did an amazing job.”
Jacob Elordi steps into Elvis Presley’s shoes, portraying the singer from age 24 to 37. To capture Elvis’s later build, Elordi consumed roughly a pound of bacon daily. The role landed shortly before his BAFTA-nominated turn in Saltburn.
Family & Friends On Screen
Supporting cast flesh out the couple’s inner circles:
- Ari Cohen plays Paul Beaulieu, Priscilla’s adoptive father and Air Force officer who walked her down the aisle
- Dagmara Domińczyk appears as Ann Beaulieu, her mother who supported the move to Graceland despite early doubts
- Tim Post portrays Vernon Presley, Elvis’s father and financial manager
- Lynne Griffin becomes Grandma “Dodger”, Elvis’s paternal grandmother who lived at Graceland
- Daniel Beirne takes the part of Joe Esposito, Elvis’s army buddy, road manager, and co-best man
Production Background
Coppola wrote, directed, and produced the picture. Priscilla Presley served as executive producer, giving the filmmakers access to her archives and recollections. The movie premiered in 2023 and became an awards-season conversation piece for A24.
Key Takeaways
- Priscilla spans 1959-1972, matching the timeline in Elvis and Me
- Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi navigate a 13-year age arc on screen
- Priscilla Presley endorsed the finished film after attending the Venice Film Festival
- The supporting cast mix veteran stage actors and rising stars to recreate the Presley-Beaulieu family dynamic
The adaptation reframes a well-known rock-and-roll romance through the eyes of the woman who lived it, adding a new chapter to Elvis lore and offering audiences a fresh view inside Graceland’s gates.
