Cailee Spaeny, the talented actress renowned for her roles in Pacific Rim Uprising and The Craft: Legacy, shared an enchanting experience from her film Priscilla during her appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Reflecting on the Venice Film Festival, where she received a standing ovation for her performance as Priscilla Presley, Spaeny described the event as a dream come true, complete with grandeur, red carpets, and paparazzi. Despite initial nervousness about watching herself on screen for two hours, director Sofia Coppola convinced her to do so.
What makes the story even more captivating is the surprise seating arrangement at the festival. As Cailee took her seat, she found herself right next to the real Priscilla Presley, the woman she portrays in the film. Cailee humorously dubbed it “one of the most out-of-body experiences” of her life.
Jimmy Fallon, intrigued, asked about Priscilla Presley’s reaction to the film. Cailee shared, “So the first time she turned to me and said that she liked the performance and she got to watch her life through the movie which is like the best review I could receive.” It was a heartwarming moment for Cailee to receive such positive feedback from the person she portrays.
Cailee also shared her pre-filming experience of meeting Priscilla Presley, describing road trips to Graceland with Priscilla’s family and the surreal feeling of meeting her idol in person. She expressed, “I had all these questions planned for Priscilla Presley but when she walks in the doors and everything goes out of your head. I could not get words out of my mouth.”
Known for her appearances in TV series like Devs, Mare of Easttown, and The First Lady, Cailee Spaeny is set to bring Priscilla Presley to life in the upcoming film Priscilla, slated for release in November 2023.