15 Little Known Facts About Elvis Presley’s Granddaughter, Riley Keough
Although she doesn’t have the Presley last name, Riley was certainly destined for fame
Riley Keough is the first granddaughter of the famed King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Elvis Presley. Although she doesn’t have the Presley last name, Riley was certainly destined for fame. Growing up she had a diverse upbringing because of her family fame and the relationships her mother, Lisa Marie, had with Michael Jackson and Nicolas Cage. Her father, Danny Keough, on the other hand, was a middle-class bass guitar player.
While Riley didn’t pursue a music career like her family, she ventured out into the acting world while she was still in high school. Since then, she’s made a name for herself for performances in The Girlfriend Experience, Mad Max: Fury Road, Lovesong and more. She also works behind-the-scenes as a producer and director. The actress is quiet about her life, but it was a whirlwind. Below are some things you should know about Elvis’ granddaughter.
15 Riley’s First Name Is Danielle
Riley’s full name is Danielle Riley Keough. She was presumably named after her father, Danny. Riley was born on May 29, 1989, and she was the first child of Priscilla and Danny. She is also Elvis’ first grandchild. Personally and professionally, however, the model and actress goes by her middle name.
14 Her Father, Danny Keough, Was Pretty Poor After Divorce
Lisa Marie and Danny Keough had two children, Riley and Benjamin, throughout their marriage. Riley’s mother might be accustomed to a life of luxury due to her father being Elvis, but she didn’t initially marry into money. Danny was a bass guitar player when he met Lisa Marie and performed in her band for a number of years. My father had mattresses on the floor of his apartments,” Riley told The Guardian. “When I was like eight I told him, ‘I want to grow up and be poor like you!’ He was eating a bowl of cereal. I didn’t realize how wildly offensive that was!”
13 She Spent Most Of Her Childhood At Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch
Twenty days after Lisa Marie got divorced from Danny, she married the famed singer Michael Jackson. As a result, Riley spent time at the Neverland Ranch for two years until her mother split from Michael. “There were toys everywhere, animals everywhere, kids everywhere. It was like being at Disneyland all day,” she told The New York Times about that experience.
12 She Doesn’t Mind Being Referred To As Elvis Presley’s Granddaughter
Although Riley wasn’t born until twelve years after Elvis died, she is often described in media as his granddaughter in headlines rather than to her connection to her grandmother Priscilla or her mother Lisa Marie. She has also made a name for herself in Hollywood, but being referred to as Elvis’ granddaughter doesn’t bother her. “Why should I? It’s a fact. And I’m not ashamed of that in any way,” she told The Guardian.
11 Riley Is Also The Former Step-Daughter Of Nicolas Cage
Lisa Marie’s third husband was actor Nicolas Cage. The couple’s marriage only lasted 108 days. Nonetheless, he was Riley’s stepfather during that brief time. Riley has hardly talked about her connection to the actor other than telling the NYT, “My mom’s a tough bitch,” in regards to the short marriage.
10 She Dropped Out Of High School To Become A Model
Riley dropped out of high school when she began to land more modeling and acting gigs. Despite her decision, she admitted that she does regret it. “I booked my first audition really quickly. But with hindsight it was stupid. High school is important,” she told The Guardian. She also admitted being a Presley made it easier. “I’m very privileged. Like the normal story of moving to LA and it takes you three years to find an agent? I got one in a week,” she said.
9 She Was A Bridesmaid In Her Mother, Lisa Marie Presley’s Fourth Marriage
Lisa Marie got married to her guitarist and producer, Michael Lockwood, in Japan in 2006. Riley served as her mother’s bridesmaid for the ceremony. The couple eventually split in 2016. In addition to Riley’s brother Benjamin, she has two half-siblings, twins Harper Vivienne Ann and Finley Aaron Love, from Lisa Marie’s relationship to Michael.
8 Riley’s Been In Several High Profile Movies
Riley’s first movie deal was The Runaways in which she starred opposite Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning. She also starred in The Good Doctor, Magic Mike, and Mad Max: Fury Road. She was the lead in the 2016 indie film Lovesong as well as the 2019 thriller The Lodge. The actress doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
7 She Was The Lead In The Girlfriend Experience
Riley got the lead role in the Starz series The Girlfriend Experience in which she stars as a law student who works as a high-end escort. To research for the role she met with professional escorts. “They just liked having sex and the hustle of it all. And they got really rich. It got me thinking a lot about sex. Like, why is it so controversial? I just don’t get why it’s such a big deal,” she told The Guardian.
6 Nicole Kidman Was Her Acting Inspiration
The Girlfriend Experience star knew she wanted to be an actress from a young age. Nicole Kidman, specifically, was the kind of actress Riley wanted to be after she watched Moulin Rouge. “I was 12 and I was like, ‘Wow, I want to be Nicole Kidman, she made me feel so sad!’ I remember thinking how fulfilling it would be to do that, which is a big concept for a kid,” she said.
5 She Was Engaged To Alex Pettyfer, Her Magic Mike Costar
Riley and Alex Pettyfer met when they filmed the 2012 film Magic Mike. They both were strippers in the movie. They got engaged after falling in love on set, but their relationship ended two years later. “She was the first woman in my life that I fell in love with at first sight,” Alex said on Radio Andy in 2018.
4 She’s Married To Mad Max Stuntman Ben Smith-Petersen
Riley met Ben Smith-Petersen when he was a stuntman on the set of Mad Max, but they didn’t start dating until they had to film re-shoots in Australia. “I just always felt very comfortable with him, always wanted to be near him, even from the beginning,” Riley told USA Today. The couple got married in 2015.
3 Actress Dakota Johnson Was Her Bridesmaid
Like Riley, Dakota Johnson’s parents are also famous in Hollywood, which is likely how the pair became friends. The pair have been longtime pals and Dakota was close enough to serve as one of the bridesmaids in Riley’s wedding with Ben. The intimate ceremony was held in Napa Valley, California.
2 Riley Has Considered Adoption
The Girlfriend Experience star and her husband do plan on having children in the future, but Riley is unsure if they would adopt or have their own child when the time comes. “Not to be too grim, but the world is in a weird place, so I’m kind of torn on whether to bring a child in, or to adopt. Like morally,” she told The Guardian.
1 Riley Has A Production Company
The actress and producer Gina Gammell started a production company for books, films, and television called Felix Culpa in 2017. Riley told Deadline at the time, “Our company is dedicated to developing material that gives a voice to talent and stories that deserve attention and need to be heard.” In 2019, she directed the short film Everything’s For Sale for Compton rapper Boogie.
