Ann-Margret is revisiting some of the most memorable moments of her career.
The iconic actress shot to fame when she was cast in 1963’s "Bye Bye Birdie." From there, she went on to win five Golden Globes, received two Academy Awards nominations and was recently honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 24th Family Film Awards. While all those accomplishments are remarkable, it was her experience filming "Viva Las Vegas" with Elvis Presley that really stood out in Ann-Margret's mind.
"Just thinking about 'Viva Las Vegas,' or anytime someone mentions it, I smile," she said during an interview with Fox News. "It was one of the happiest times of my life. George Sidney, who directed Bye Bye Birdie' also directed 'Viva Las Vegas.' And believe it or not, I had never seen E.P. perform."
Ann-Margret explained that she clicked with Presley while they were rehearsing, singing, and dancing for the film, adding that they "moved very much the same way."
"And he loved his mother," she added. "I loved my mother and father. I had a great time. We were friends ‘till the end. I had a great time."
Presley and Ann-Margret wound up having a love affair that lasted nearly a year but called things off after Ann-Margret said she was engaged to Presley in an interview while he was dating Priscilla Presley.
Presley later clarified Ann-Margret’s claims in an interview with reporter Walter Rainbird.
"They asked if it were true she was in love with me. Well, she was in love with me and she didn't want to lie about it," Presley said, according to the U.K.'s Express. "So she told them. And that's how it happened."
Ann-Margret did not speak about their relationship with Fox News but she did recall meeting John Wayne for the first time.
"I didn’t know what to expect. But when he hugged me, it’s like the world was hugging me," she said. "He was so big and wide with that booming voice. We were shooting in Durango, Mexico and my parents came down to visit me. He was so great with my parents. So absolutely welcoming and gentle with them. And anybody who was great to my parents was on a throne in my eyes. I was friends with him forever. He was never [pretentious]. He had so many friends and every single person loved him."
Ann-Margret has managed to do what she loves for decades. At 79, as an established star, she believes the key to making it in Hollywood is to have a burning passion, which is something she said aspiring stars should have.
"I have always been passionate about performing. I did a screen test at 20th Century Fox where they just had me singing and dancing. Next thing you know they bleached my hair orange and I went on from there!" she said. "You have to be really passionate about your work, whatever it is. Whatever your work is, you do the very best that you can. You could have a lot of nos, but if you’re passionate about it, you just keep on doing it."