Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1047605
90 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 8 Priscilla Presley with Leslie Nielsen in a scene from "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult." Presley has acted in numerous i Priscilla Presley with Leslie Nielsen in a scene from "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult." Presley has acted in numerous i Priscilla Presley with Leslie Nielsen in a scene from "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult." Presley has acted in numerous i Priscilla Presley with Leslie Nielsen in a scene from "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult." Presley has acted in numerous i Priscilla Presley with Leslie Nielsen in a scene from "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult." Presley has acted in numerous i Priscilla Presley with Leslie Nielsen in a scene from "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult." Presley has acted in numerous i Priscilla Presley with Leslie Nielsen in a scene from "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult." Presley has acted in numerous f Priscilla Presley with Leslie Nielsen in a scene from "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult." Presley has acted in numerous " Priscilla Presley with Leslie Nielsen in a scene from "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult." Presley has acted in numerous G Priscilla Presley with Leslie Nielsen in a scene from "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult." Presley has acted in numerous 33 Priscilla Presley with Leslie Nielsen in a scene from "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult." Presley has acted in numerous /3 Priscilla Presley with Leslie Nielsen in a scene from "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult." Presley has acted in numerous i Priscilla Presley with Leslie Nielsen in a scene from "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult." Presley has acted in numerous " Priscilla Presley with Leslie Nielsen in a scene from "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult." Presley has acted in numerous i Priscilla Presley with Leslie Nielsen in a scene from "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult." Presley has acted in numerous films and TV shows, including the long-running "Dallas" series. films and TV shows, including the long-running "Dallas" series. straight. Writing my own book was as far from anything I ever thought I straight. Writing my own book was as far from anything I ever thought I straight. Writing my own book was as far from anything I ever thought I could or would do. But I had to find the courage to write it." could or would do. But I had to find the courage to write it." could or would do. But I had to find the courage to write it." And write the book she did. She set the record straight with "Elvis and And write the book she did. She set the record straight with "Elvis and Me," published in 1985. It became an instant New York Times bestseller. Me," published in 1985. It became an instant New York Times bestseller. "I have come to the point in my life where I no longer hesitate to go "I have come to the point in my life where I no longer hesitate to go forward with something that is facing me which I might be fearful of or forward with something that is facing me which I might be fearful of or forward with something that is facing me which I might be fearful of or forward with something that is facing me which I might be fearful of or something that challenges me," something that challenges me," Presley says. "For instance, when I Presley says. "For instance, when I was asked to do live theater in was asked to do live theater in London a couple of years ago, my London a couple of years ago, my initial reaction was, 'I could not pos- initial reaction was, 'I could not pos- sibly do live theater,' but then that sibly do live theater,' but then that little voice inside of me said, 'Will little voice inside of me said, 'Will you regret not taking this opportunity to grow at something?' and I decid- you regret not taking this opportunity to grow at something?' and I decid- ed to go for it." ed to go for it." Presley starred in "Pantomime" playing the Wicked Queen in Snow Presley starred in "Pantomime" playing the Wicked Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to sold out shows in London and through- White and the Seven Dwarfs to sold out shows in London and through- White and the Seven Dwarfs to sold out shows in London and through- out the U.K. out the U.K. "It turned out that I loved doing live theater," she says." "And "It turned out that I loved doing live theater," she says." "And 'Pantomime' is so much fun because the audience almost becomes a part 'Pantomime' is so much fun because the audience almost becomes a part of the show. They cheer and boo depending on what is going on, but it is of the show. They cheer and boo depending on what is going on, but it is all in good fun. In fact, when they boo it means you're doing a great job!" all in good fun. In fact, when they boo it means you're doing a great job!" She adds, "And sometimes, being in the moment, I improvised." She adds, "And sometimes, being in the moment, I improvised." She gives an example of an improvisation as her eyes become menac- She gives an example of an improvisation as her eyes become menac- ing and she disappears into character for a few seconds, uttering the lines ing and she disappears into character for a few seconds, uttering the lines that order the young princess to leave her presence. that order the young princess to leave her presence. Then, she relates that the audi- Then, she relates that the audi- ence booed her for banishing the ence booed her for banishing the princess. Presley pauses for a princess. Presley pauses for a moment and says, "At that point I moment and says, "At that point I looked directly at the audience" and looked directly at the audience" and again she effortlessly slips into char- again she effortlessly slips into char- acter with eyes flashing, and says, acter with eyes flashing, and says, acter with eyes flashing, and says, "You don't know her like I do." This was an unscripted moment that "You don't know her like I do." This was an unscripted moment that brought the house down, and illustrated what a naturally talented actor brought the house down, and illustrated what a naturally talented actor Presley is. Presley is. Her broad acting range was evident when she did a dramatic turn Her broad acting range was evident when she did a dramatic turn playing Bobby Ewing's first true love, Jenna Wade, for five years on the playing Bobby Ewing's first true love, Jenna Wade, for five years on the playing Bobby Ewing's first true love, Jenna Wade, for five years on the playing Bobby Ewing's first true love, Jenna Wade, for five years on the mega-hit television show "Dallas." She turned the tables after that and mega-hit television show "Dallas." She turned the tables after that and mega-hit television show "Dallas." She turned the tables after that and showed audiences what a natural comedic actress she is in the popular showed audiences what a natural comedic actress she is in the popular "Elvis and Me: An Evening with Priscilla Presley," takes place on January 10 at 8pm at the Sunset Center in January. Photo: Alamy