Ann-Margret Says She and Elvis Presley ‘Shared a Devil Within’

Elvis Presley had a bizarre and somewhat unsettling romantic history. The King started dating his wife, Priscilla Presley, when she was only fourteen — one of many underage women Presely allegedly spent romantic time with. Later, Presley started up an affair with another woman, Ann-Margret. According to Ann-Margret, her affair with Elvis was electric. In fact, she claims that the two “shared a devil within,” and suggests they were essentially soulmates.

How Ann-Margret and Elvis Presley met

Ann-Margret and Elvis Presley first met in the summer of 1963, while on a Hollywood soundstage. They were introduced as co-stars on Viva Las Vegas, three months after her work on Bye Bye Birdy. 

“‘Elvis Presley, I’d like you to meet a wonderful young lady, Ann-Margret,’ said George Sidney. ‘Ann-Margret, this is Elvis Presley.’ The significance was lost on Elvis and me. I reached out my hand and he shook it gently. ‘I’ve heard a lot about you,’ we said at the same time, which made us laugh and broke the ice,” Ann-Margret wrote in her autobiography.

She went on to add that at first, the two weren’t particularly close. However, their chemistry grew quickly, and their interest in one another became apparent.

“Initially, Elvis and I might’ve admitted that the only heat between us came from the hot desert sun. But others saw sparks from the start,” she wrote.

“They hold hands. They disappear into his dressing room between shots. They lunch together in seclusion,” reported Bob Thomas for AP.

Ann-Margret suggests they were soulmates

According to Ann-Margret, she and Elvis Presley were just on the same wavelength. She says that when it came to music and dance, they understood one another. 

“We experienced music in the same visceral way. Music ignited a fiery pent-up passion inside Elvis and inside me. It was an odd, embarrassing, funny, inspiring, and wonderful sensation,” she wrote.

“Little did we know we shared a devil within. We were quiet, polite, careful. But I knew what was going to happen once we got to know each other. Elvis did, too,” she added.

Eventually the two ended their dalliance, something that Ann-Margret says she knew had to happen eventually. 

“There were other factors in Elvis’s life that forced him apart from me, and I understood them. Elvis had always been honest with me, but still it was a confusing situation. We continued to see each other periodically, until we had dated for almost a year. Then everything halted. We knew the relationship had to end, that Elvis had to fulfill his commitment.”

Priscilla Presley was not happy 

Naturally, Priscilla Presley was not thrilled about Elvis Presely’s affair with Ann-Margret. During his affair with Ann-Margret, Priscilla was only 18, and still waiting for Elvis to tie the knot. 

In her memoir, Priscilla Presley revealed that when Elvis Presley told her about Ann-Margret, she “picked up a flower vase and threw it across the room.”