Elvis Presley affair: Ann-Margret shared ‘demons’ with the King

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The 1960s saw Elvis delve into cinema more fervently than ever. Over the course of the decade the King of Rock n Roll starred in 25 movies, as well as going on tour and recording new music. However, it was the 1965 classic Viva Las Vegas that changed the star’s life forever, as he met and became romantically involved with Ann-Margret.

The pair only stayed together for around a year, before Elvis broke off the relationship when Priscilla Presley found out about the affair.

Speaking candidly about the connection she found with Elvis in her autobiography, My Story, Ann-Margret spoke of how sparks flew between them almost instantly.

She 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.”

But the pair also shared a similarity in their demons, as noted in the 1994 book.

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Ann-Margret frankly 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.”

Ann-Margret may have been referencing the addictions and substance abuses that they both dealt with over the years. 

Before Elvis died it was reported that he battled some addiction issues, notably some alcohol abuse.

Despite these addiction issues, the cardiac arrest which killed Elvis was considered “not” a result of his drug and alcohol use.

Forensic historian and pathologist Michael Baden disagreed years later, commenting: “Elvis had had an enlarged heart for a long time.”

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The historian added: “That, together with his drug habit, caused his death. But he was difficult to diagnose; it was a judgment call.”

Ann-Margret herself suffered with some addiction issues, most notably in 1972, when she fell from a death-defying 22-foot drop – something which left her in a coma for three days.

Shortly after, Ann-Margret lost her beloved father to cancer, pushing her into an alcohol dependency, and subsequently a severe depression.

The Swedish-American star worked hard to rebuild her life alongside her husband shortly after this event.

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Despite their shared flaws, Ann-Margret also gushed about how much common ground they shared within their passions.

She excitedly wrote: “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.”

Ann-Margret also delved into the darker times of her relationship within her autobiography.

On the eventual separation of Elvis and Ann-Margret, the star wrote about Priscilla finding out about their relationship, saying: “There were other factors in Elvis’ 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 fulfil his commitment.”

In her own memoir, Priscilla Presley recalled the moment Elvis told her about his affair with Ann-Margret, adding that she “picked up a flower vase and threw it across the room”.

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