Kirsten Dunst helped Cailee Spaeny land ‘Priscilla’ role
Kirsten Dunst helped Cailee Spaeny land the leading role as Priscilla Presley in “Priscilla.”
Spaeny told Page Six she’d been on director Sofia Coppola’s radar in the past.
“I auditioned for the casting department, and they had some interest in me for a few years,” the star, 25, told us.
She added, “Kristen Dunst put a good word in for me.”
Dunst, 41, previously starred in a trio of Coppola movies, including “The Virgin Suicides,” “Marie Antoinette” and “The Beguiled.”
“Priscilla” screened at the New York Film Festival, and focuses on Elvis Presley’s famed wife as based on the memoir, “Elvis and Me.”
Spaeny said of getting part, “To work with Sofia is one thing, but to be in one of her films and play this role. I just couldn’t imagine this is my life. I’m really lucky and honored.”
“Euphoria” star Jacob Elordi plays Elvis.
The pair was married from 1967 to 1973.
Spaeny dished on her favorite scene in the film, ““The scene where Pricilla puts on her fake eyelashes before going into labor is my favorite scene.”
She added, “That was one of my favorite moments because I think it says so much about who she is. Also the pressure she had on herself, and also this commitment and strength about her. I think what was so great about Sofia’s movies is that she focuses on these really simple shots that they almost look like photographs. She lets you sit there and breathe, and so it becomes something special.”
Spaeny also got to keep some mementoes from the shoot.
“I took some of the clothes,” she said. “[Costume designer] Stacey Battat did a great job… They were all custom-made for me, so it was the perfect fit.”
The film premieres on Nov. 3.