Beyond Elvis Presley’s immediate family, Ann-Margret arguably stood as the most significant woman in his orbit. Starring opposite the King of Rock and Roll in the iconic 1963 film Viva Las Vegas, she became the most unforgettable of all Elvis’s leading ladies throughout his Hollywood tenure. The intense personal relationship they forged during and after filming adds a layer of fairytale romance to Presley’s often complex life story, which concluded tragically in 1977. Their collaboration remains the quintessential Movie With Elvis Presley And Ann Margret for fans worldwide.
The King Meets His Match: First Impressions
The Swedish-born actress first encountered Elvis in the early days of July 1963. The meeting took place on an otherwise empty soundstage at Radio Recorders studios in Hollywood, save for a piano and a few members of Elvis’s ever-present entourage. It was a staged introduction for the press, formally presenting the stars of MGM’s upcoming musical, Viva Las Vegas. For the 28-year-old Presley, it was his 14th motion picture. For Ann-Margret, then 22, her career was hitting meteoric heights following the release of Bye Bye Birdie just three months prior, a film that instantly cemented her stardom.
In her 1994 autobiography, Ann-Margret vividly recalled that initial introduction orchestrated by director George Sidney:
“Except for a piano, the MGM soundstage where Elvis and I met was empty. In the background, a few of his guys hung around observing their boss, a ritual I would soon come to expect. Under the watchful gaze of director George Sidney, a studio photographer snapped shots of what the film company executives figured would be a historic moment.
“‘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.”
Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret meeting for the first time on the MGM soundstage for Viva Las Vegas in 1963.
This meeting didn’t just mark the beginning of a professional partnership; it ignited a personal connection almost immediately. “I’m not really sure why I was so calm about meeting ‘the King,’” Ann-Margret reflected. “After all, this was Elvis, a man who had captured the heart of almost every woman in America. Little did I know he would soon capture mine.”
Making Movie Magic: Filming Viva Las Vegas
Before cameras could roll, the co-stars needed to lay down their musical tracks. On July 9th and 10th, 1963, they individually recorded their solo songs at Radio Recorders. The following day, July 11th, they collaborated in the studio on three duets: “The Lady Loves Me,” “You’re the Boss,” and “Today, Tomorrow, and Forever.”
Shortly thereafter, the cast and crew relocated to Las Vegas, setting up base at the Sahara Hotel on July 14th. Location filming commenced the next day and continued through July 26th. After returning to Los Angeles, production resumed at MGM studios, extending through August and into the first week of September.
The potent chemistry between the leads, playing Lucky Jackson (Elvis) and Rusty Martin (Ann-Margret), was undeniable. “I’m sure that the producers knew that the fast-paced, boy-meets-girl musical would certainly be improved if the chemistry between Lucky and Rusty were right,” Ann-Margret wrote. “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.” It quickly became apparent to everyone on set. An AP correspondent observed, “They hold hands. They disappear into his dressing room between shots. They lunch together in seclusion.”
Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret performing a vibrant musical number in the movie Viva Las Vegas.
According to Ann-Margret, their shared connection to music was instantaneous and deeply physical:
“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. We looked at each other move and saw virtual mirror images. When Elvis thrust his pelvis, mine slammed forward too. When his shoulder dropped, I was down there with him. When he whirled, I was already on my heel.”
Beyond the Set: A Deepening Bond
As they collaborated, Elvis and Ann-Margret discovered a surprising number of shared interests and values. Beyond their musical synchronicity, they bonded over a love for motorcycles, strong family ties, a mutual desire for privacy, and shared spiritual beliefs, often engaging in late-night conversations. Early in the filming process, Elvis invited her to join him and his entourage (often called the ‘Memphis Mafia’) for a show in Las Vegas. “It was an innocent, friendly date,” she remembered. “I was used to having my parents accompany me on dates, so Elvis’ entourage wasn’t a problem. His guys always treated me wonderfully.”
Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret enjoying a moment together beside a motorcycle, showcasing their shared passion off-set.
This acceptance was mutual. Elvis’s close circle felt at ease with Ann-Margret. “She made his life a little easier because she understood him and didn’t make any demands on him,” Elvis’s cousin Billy Smith noted. “She even understood his need for us. Priscilla never understood that.” Memphis Mafia member Marty Lacker concurred, adding, “Ann genuinely liked people, and she liked every one of us. She wasn’t intimidated or threatened by us. I think she also respected us… She had a terrific sense of humor. We called her ‘Rusty’ because that was her name in the movie and because of her red hair.”
As their comfort level grew, Elvis began seeking more private moments with Ann-Margret. “I knew I’d crossed into a certain uncharted territory when Elvis asked to be alone with me, but later the frequency with which it happened made me happy. It meant Elvis truly trusted me.” During these times, Elvis revealed a vulnerability rarely seen by others. Ann-Margret felt she gained unique insight into his inner world:
“Like everyone else, Elvis had dreams and desires, hopes and hurts, wants and weaknesses. He didn’t reveal this vulnerable side until everyone had disappeared, until those private moments when we were alone, after darkness had blanketed the city and we’d parked somewhere up in the hills and could look down upon the sprawl of L.A. or up at the stars.”
Controversy Amidst Chemistry
Despite the burgeoning romance, professional egos occasionally surfaced, particularly regarding screen presence in the Movie With Elvis Presley And Ann Margret. Several members of Elvis’s entourage, including Red West, Lamar Fike, Joe Esposito, and Sonny West, accused director George Sidney of favoring Ann-Margret with preferential camera angles, allegedly diminishing Elvis’s screen time.
Red West recounted that after viewing daily footage, Elvis would “complain bitterly to us that the sonofabitch was trying to cut him out of the picture.” These complaints reportedly reached Elvis’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker, who confronted Sidney and the producers. According to Peter Guralnick’s biography of Presley, Parker reminded MGM executives that Viva Las Vegas was fundamentally an “Elvis Presley picture” and dismissed arguments that highlighting Ann-Margret would broaden the film’s appeal. Guralnick even suggests Parker intervened to have two of the three recorded duets removed from the final cut.
However, a viewing of Viva Las Vegas shows Elvis dominating musically with six solo performances compared to Ann-Margret’s two. While her dancing talent is showcased effectively, the film ultimately presents as an Elvis Presley vehicle featuring a strong, dynamic leading lady. Importantly, none of Elvis’s camp blamed Ann-Margret for the director’s perceived partiality, and she made no mention of the controversy in her autobiography.
A Passionate Affair and Separate Paths
If professional jealousy flickered briefly, it didn’t extinguish the flames of their personal relationship. By all accounts, their connection evolved into a serious love affair. “Elvis’ affair with Ann-Margret was not just an affair,” stated Lamar Fike unequivocally. “He was really in love with her. It got hot and heavy.” Marty Lacker agreed, “Neither one of them was married, and they really cared a lot about each other … and Priscilla was back at Graceland.” Ann-Margret herself maintained discretion in her book regarding the more intimate details, choosing instead to focus on shared adventures like motorcycle rides.
Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret in a wedding scene from the movie Viva Las Vegas, highlighting their on-screen romance.
Evidence suggests their close relationship continued well after filming wrapped. Elvis associate Jerry Schilling reported witnessing Ann-Margret using her own key to enter Elvis’s California home late one night in the fall of 1964, heading directly to his bedroom. Lacker recalled coded communication: “She used to write him letters and sign them ‘Bunny’ or ‘Thumper.’ And she’d call Graceland and use the same code.” Ann-Margret herself acknowledged a particularly tender gesture: “Elvis knew I loved pink and had commissioned a round, pink bed in a moment of tenderness.”
Ultimately, however, the intense romance seemed destined to end. Ann-Margret explained the complex situation in her autobiography:
“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.”
That commitment was his long-promised marriage to Priscilla Beaulieu, which took place in Las Vegas on May 1, 1967. Just one week later, Ann-Margret married actor Roger Smith in the same city.
Enduring Friendship Through the Years
Despite their romantic separation and subsequent marriages, Elvis and Ann-Margret maintained a deep, loyal friendship for the remaining ten years of his life. When she debuted her Las Vegas stage show in June 1967, Elvis sent a guitar-shaped floral arrangement – a tradition he continued for every one of her Vegas openings until his death. When Elvis made his triumphant return to the stage at the International Hotel on July 31, 1969, Ann-Margret was reportedly in the audience. Throughout the 1970s, they often attended each other’s Las Vegas performances when schedules permitted, visiting backstage afterward.
The seventies also brought personal struggles for both stars. While Elvis battled an addiction to prescription medications, Ann-Margret confronted alcoholism. “I reached a point where my days and nights blended into one continuous, foggy state of inebriation,” she candidly shared. “I’d drink a fifth of scotch, pass out, wake up, drink some more, and pass out again. I suffered periods that I couldn’t remember.”
Ann-Margret successfully overcame her addiction; tragically, Elvis did not. In early 1977, rumors swirled about his declining health. When Joe Esposito attended her show at the Tropicana in Las Vegas, she inquired about Elvis. Esposito reassured her, “Don’t worry. Everything’s fine. There’re a few problems, but we’re taking care of them.”
On August 15, 1977, Ann-Margret opened at the Las Vegas Hilton. For the first time in a decade, the customary floral arrangement and telegram from Elvis failed to arrive. The following morning, a phone call from Graceland delivered the devastating news of his death. Joe Esposito advised her against traveling to Memphis for the funeral, anticipating chaos. “We’re coming,” she replied firmly. Upon arriving at Graceland, she shared an emotional embrace with Elvis’s father, Vernon Presley. “There was so much to say, to recount,” she recalled, “but instead, we cried.” Vernon softly told her, “He was so proud of you.”
Her loyalty continued. Three months later, Vernon Presley and Colonel Parker asked her to host Memories of Elvis, a two-hour NBC tribute to the late star. She described it as one of the most “difficult, wrenching jobs” she ever undertook. In early 1979, upon learning Vernon was gravely ill, she flew to Memphis to visit him. “We had a good visit, laughing and crying and trading stories,” she recounted. “He told me how much he missed his son, and I said that I missed him, too.” She continued to call and offer comfort to Vernon in the months before his passing on June 26, 1979.
The movie with Elvis Presley and Ann Margret, Viva Las Vegas, captured a unique and palpable energy between its two stars, an energy that transcended the screen and blossomed into a significant, albeit temporary, romance. Their shared passion, mutual understanding, and enduring friendship created a bond that lasted until Elvis’s final days, cementing their story as one of Hollywood’s most compelling and poignant chapters. Though their paths ultimately diverged, the connection forged during that iconic film remains a legendary part of entertainment history.
