Elvis Presley’s granddaughter admits she ignored stark warning from mother Lisa Marie over showbiz fears
Riley Keough has revealed she did not listen to career advice and a warning from her showbiz parents.
The 35-year-old is the granddaughter of Elvis Presley through his only daughter, Lisa Marie.
The Mad Max Fury Road actress has been reflecting on her past as she completes her late mother’s memoirs following a period of tragedy for the family.
In 2020, Keough’s brother Benjamin took his own life aged just 27. Her mother died only three years later, aged 54. The actress later expressed belief her mother died “of a broken heart” as a result of the mourning she did for Benjamin.
Keough has recalled one strong memory recently regarding the stark advice given by her mother and singer father Danny Keough when she revealed her ambitions to pursue a career as a performer.
They warned: “If you’re going to do this, you have to be so good at what you do, or else nobody’s going to take you seriously, you’re not going to get any jobs and it’s going to be embarrassing.”
“You don’t want to be an embarrassing celebrity kid!”
Keough explained to Elle UK that those last words had a lasting impact on her and her late brother.
However, the young Keough was not dissuaded and has gone on to achieve a successful career in acting and modelling.
At age 14, she made her debut as a fashion model at the Milan Fashion Week for Dolce and Gabbana in 2004. As part of her catwalk career, she has appeared on the covers of Vogue and France’s L’Officiel.
Keough broke into acting in 2010 with The Runaways and starred in the true crime drama Under The Bridge earlier this year.
“My whole life was pretty public, but I think this probably felt like the first time that I was, like, doing something alone, as opposed to a family thing,” she explained to Vanity Fair.
Despite her quest for independence, the 35-year-old admits her famous family has helped her along the way.
“I’m sure being Elvis’s granddaughter has made it easier for me to get an agent, to have meetings and all this stuff, when I started out.”
Keough explained she appreciates questions are currently being asked of so-called “nepo-babies” in showbiz – the children of stars who have a perceived leg up in achieving fame.
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“I certainly acknowledge that aspect of the privilege of coming where I come from.”
The King of Rock ’n’ Roll’s granddaughter added: “I’m not an idiot! I’m aware of privilege in an acute way.”
Looking ahead, Keough has plenty of work in the pipeline to keep her busy, including roles in upcoming screen projects Alpha Gang, Rosebush Pruning and an as-of-yet untitled Noah Baumbach collaboration.
Meanwhile, her grandfather will return to screens posthumously next month in an all-new Netflix documentary documenting his life titled Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley.
