How Kirsten Dunst helped Cailee Spaeny land leading ‘Priscilla’ rol

Kirsten Dunst had worked with ‘Priscilla’ director Sofia Coppola on multiple projects previously

Kirsten Dunst helped her fellow actress Cailee Spaeny secure the lead role in Priscilla.

Spaeny, who played Priscilla Presley, wife of Elvis Presley, in the universally-acclaimed 2023 American biographical drama, told Page Six that the Spiderman alum “put a good word in for [her]” with the director, Sofia Coppola.

“I auditioned for the casting department, and they had some interest in me for a few years,” she told the outlet.

The 25-year-old actress then gave a shout-out to veteran actress Dunst, who previously starred in three of Coppola’s films, including The Virgin Suicide (1999), Marie Antoinette (2006), and the Beguiled (2017).

“Kirsten Dunst put in a good word for me,” Spaeny acknowledged.

The young actress further expressed that she “just couldn’t imagine this is [her] life,” feeling “really lucky and honored” to be able to “be in one of [Coppola’s] films and play this role.”

Spaeny further gushed over the award-winning director’s execution of the film, noting that she “[focuses on these really simple shots that they almost look like photographs,” hence letting the viewer “sit there and breathe, and so it becomes something special.´

Priscilla is based on the 1985 memoir Elvis and Me by Priscilla Presley, who also served as the executive producer, detailing her life and marriage with the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, played by Euphoria star Jacob Elordi.