Late-night phone calls with music legend Elvis Presley came with actress Nancy Sinatra’s role in one 1968 film.
Frank Sinatra’s oldest daughter starred with Presley in the musical action film “Speedway.”
After Sonny and Cher dropped out of the film, Presley jumped at the chance to do the racing movie. Some of the film’s scenes even took place at Charlotte Motor Speedway with guest appearances by famous racers Richard Petty, Buddy Baker, and Cale Yarborough.
By the way, late night calls were common back in the day. John Wayne called Nancy Reagan a few times apparently.
‘Speedway’ Relationship Fun For Sinatra
Nancy Sinatra played an IRS agent who eventually took a love interest to NASCAR driver Presley for the film. Bill Bixby, who would later go on in “The Incredible Hulk,” also starred in the movie.
“I know he was the funniest man and probably the most serious man I knew, both people in one,” Sinatra, now 81, told People Magazine on Friday.
Nancy Sinatra said Presley was both humorous and serious when the two talked. She said he made her laugh at times, and then, on other occasions, he would talk about the ghetto and his concerns for people who lived there.
Sinatra said, “I don’t know if that’s surprising. People who follow his life probably are aware of his sensitivity.”
More Speedway Fun
Nancy Sinatra remembers her time with Presley fondly. Earlier this year, she told Rolling Stone magazine that she liked working with the singer-actor, calling their relationship like “brother and sister.”
The woman recalled Presley’s wife, Priscilla, being pregnant with Lisa Marie during the film, and Sinatra put on the baby shower. Sinatra also recalls Presley calling her the night his daughter was born. The man called himself “blessed” for having such a beautiful baby.
The film was the pair’s only movie as Presley died at age 42 in 1977.
Sinatra Went From Acting To Singing
The actress turned to singing and went on to record 17 albums over the years. She’s got 18 acting credits under her belt.
The woman credits her legendary dad for supporting her career.
Nancy Sinatra noted that there was a time the legendary crooner would go on state and introduce himself as “Nancy’s father” as a way of showing how proud of her he was.
Frank Sinatra died in 1998 at age 82.
Sinatra’s Politically-Active Mind
The famous woman also talked about being politically outspoken on Friday.
Nancy Sinatra still had thoughts about the Vietnam War, saying she still gets mad as it “affected everybody in my life.” She said everyone took a side, and she said, “people are as passionate now as they were in the ’60s.”
She’s followed other political movements over the years and praised them, saying, “if you can’t express your feelings and if you can’t be heard, how awful is that?”
