Priscilla Presley talks Baz Luhrmann's 'Elvis' movie ahead of Rancho Mirage show

Priscilla Presley has been known for many things over her fascinating life — her acting career, philanthropic work and, of course, her six-year marriage with “the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll” Elvis Presley — but she's enjoying the quieter moments today.

While some may fear getting older, Presley, 77, said in an interview with The Desert Sun she's embraced it because it's given her the opportunity to do what she's always wanted.

"With this time of my life, [my goal,] it's to enjoy it and do things that I would really love to do or haven't done. I have a pretty outgoing personality, but I also have my time that I like being alone and just chilling," Presley said. "I love working, and I love things that I feel passionate about or want to be involved with."

One of those passions includes connecting with fans and Elvis aficionados everywhere, which she'll do with her appearance Friday night at Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage. Presley will share memories about her life with Elvis, coping with his death, raising their daughter, Lisa Marie, and highlights from her career in a conversation moderated by Variety’s editor-in-chief Cynthia Littleton.

Tickets are still available at https://tinyurl.com/yxn3j9at

Connecting with audiences

The Palm Springs area is "still close to my heart," Presley said, as it's where she and Elvis honeymooned in 1967.

Their "honeymoon hideaway" in the Vista Las Palmas neighborhood, designed by midcentury architect William Krisel and known as the Alexander House and the House of Tomorrow, continues to attract visitors. Fans will even get a peek inside the newly renovated estate as part of Modernism Week - October.

Anytime she returns to the desert, it's "a bit melancholy" for her, she said, because of the many memories made, but she's looking forward to seeing some old friends and making new ones during her upcoming trip.

Presley held a similar event at Oscar's Palm Springs last year, which provided an opportunity to connect with people and give them a better understanding of the music legend, who died in 1977. Even though much has been written and documented about her former husband, Presley said he was a "very, very private" person who let few people into his world. That veil of secrecy, in a way, may be one of the reasons why the singer continues to fascinates people to this day.

"Elvis will always be an enigma as far as, gee, this guy was unbelievable. Who was he really? Was he as nice as everybody says he is?" Presley said.

Keeping some memories private is difficult at times, but sharing stories is "kind of therapeutic" for Presley. It's something she enjoys doing, she said, and she tries to keep it fresh each time.

"It's kind of fun for me to be there and share him in many ways and share our life because they're so curious," she added.

The conversations don't just focus on her marriage and years with Elvis, though. Presley shares stories about her acting career, which includes five years on the soap opera "Dallas" and her role as Jane Spencer in the three "Naked Gun" films opposite Leslie Nielsen.

Presley said she had "a great time" working on the comedies with Neilsen, who played a charismatic but clueless police detective, and she admired his work ethic and stories. But it wasn't all hard work with the comedian, she said, who was equally a jokester off-screen.

"He still had that whoopie cushion he'd bring out every few minutes," she said with a laugh. "It kind of broke the ice, that's why he would carry it. People would start laughing and getting more comfortable with him."

A new generation of Elvis fans

The release of Baz Luhrmann's film "Elvis" earlier this year, which stars Austin Butler and Tom Hanks and chronicles the rocker's rise to fame and complicated relationship with his manager Col. Tom Parker, seems to have attracted a whole new generation of Elvis fans.

Presley said she was "leery" of the film at first because of Luhrmann's reputation as a filmmaker who does "his own thing" and "doesn't really listen to anyone." But after seeing the film four times, Presley admits "no other director could have done what he did."

"His imagination, his talent and his vision," Presley listed off. "He doesn't do things ordinary, he's just so creative."

She invited Luhrmann and his wife over for lunch one day, and they chatted about Elvis, Parker and other aspects of his life for four hours, she said. It was also an opportunity to "hear where he was coming from," and she quickly saw that Luhrmann did his research on the musician.

When she watched the film with Jerry Schilling, a member of Elvis' Memphis Mafia, she said they were "absolutely blown away," particularly with Butler's transformation into the legend. There's even Oscar buzz surrounding the 31-year-old's captivating performance.

"Austin, boy, he was Elvis. He just morphed into him. Everything that he did was Elvis, even his temper. His warmth, his emotions, he just nailed Elvis," she said. "Austin Butler was an actor before, but nothing this important, and what a challenge it was. He said to me when he started, 'What did I get into?' But he did it."

Presley later watched the film again at a movie theater with an audience so she could hear and feel the response. By the end, she noticed many tears shed and even more of "a love for him."

After the screening, she called Jack Soden, CEO of Graceland, Elvis' famous Memphis home, and said, "I think this is going to open the doors for this generation to understand why we all loved Elvis so much and what a great entertainer he was."

Sure enough, tickets to visit Graceland are "sold out almost every day," she said.

If you go

What: An Evening With Priscilla Presley

When: 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14

Where: Agua Caliente Casino Rancho Mirage, 32-250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage

How much: $20 - $125

More information: https://tinyurl.com/yxn3j9at

Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic. 

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Priscilla Presley Elvis Presley Agua Caliente show Rancho Mirage