‘Elvis’ Actor Austin Butler Bags Oscar Nomination – Lisa Marie Presley Saw It Coming

Jan 25, 2023 by apost team

Born on Feb. 1, 1968, in Memphis, Tenessee, to parents Elvis and Priscilla Presley, Lisa Marie Presley was one of the biggest celebrity children upon her birth. However, she passed at the age of 54 on Jan. 12, 2023, after being rushed to the emergency room when she was found unresponsive in her California home. 
 
Lisa Marie's passing comes about seven months after Baz Luhrmann's big-budget biopic about her father, "Elvis," was released in cinemas in the United States. The film generated a lot of buzz due to Luhrmann's participation in the project, as well as both Lisa Marie and Priscilla's involvement in the production. Both mother and daughter praised the film highly, particularly actor Austin Butler's portrayal of the "King of Rock and Roll" in the movie. Their sentiments were echoed by the Hollywood Foreign Press when it bestowed the Golden Globe award for Best Actor in a Drama Motion Picture on Jan. 10, 2023. After Butler was declared the winner of the award, he hugged Luhrmann and his sister, whom he had brought as his date, before blowing a kiss toward Priscilla and Lisa Marie, who made her last public appearance there only two days before her passing.

In his speech, Butler paid tribute to the Presley women, saying: "And the Presley family. Thank you guys. Thank you for opening your hearts, your memories, your home to me. Lisa Marie, Priscilla, I love you forever." As Butler spoke, the camera showed a visibly emotional Lisa Marie moving her hands up to her face and Priscilla tapping her heart with her hand. 

On Jan. 24, 2023, Butler earned his first Academy Award nomination for "Elvis." Read on to find out his response to the honor and how Lisa Marie had seen it coming.

Since its release on Jun. 24, 2022, "Elvis" has been lauded for its "dazzling opulence of color, set design, and musical presentations," but its highest acclaim was reserved for its leading man, Austin Butler. "Butler's explosive interpretation of Elvis – from the physical gesticulations to the big, burly voice – humanized The King, pulling down the bright lights to show us the distressed man behind the immortal God of Rock," read one review, while The New York Times wrote, "Butler captures the smoldering physicality of Elvis the performer, as well as the playfulness and vulnerability that drove the crowds wild."

The Academy must have been listening to the critics as Butler scored an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for all his pains. The 31-year-old star, who hails from Anaheim, California, has taken the honor in stride, calling the experience "surreal" but never forgetting the memory of Lisa Marie.

"Life is full of so many ups and downs, and while this is such a positive moment, the grief is just so deep with the loss of Lisa Marie," Butler told Good Morning America. "I know that this was important to her, so I know she'd be really happy right now."

He added:

"While we didn't know each other for a very, very long time, we got very deep quickly ... (and) that was the most meaningful thing to me. … I know she's smiling down right now."

Apart from Best Actor, "Elvis" earned seven other Oscar nominations, including Best Picture.

Butler also spoke to Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager on Jan. 24, 2023, and told them while being "recognized just feels very surreal and amazing," it was also "bittersweet."

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Butler's Oscar nomination comes about a week after Lisa Marie's passing, and her presence was still very much felt by the actor. 

"It's sort of a bittersweet moment right now because I think of how much I wish she was here right now to get to celebrate with me. It's the same thing I feel with Elvis; I wish that they could see these moments, you know? It's just sort of strange to celebrate at a time of such deep grief. But I sort of think of it as a way to honor her. This is for her," Butler told the Today show.

Lisa Marie and her mother, Priscilla, had been vocal about their love for the film. Priscilla opened up to Today in August 2022 on her thoughts about the biopic.

"I mean what a great movie," she said, "Baz Luhrmann I have to say is a genius, I don't know anyone else who could've done this movie like he did."

Lisa Marie took to Instagram to share her thoughts on May 14, 2022.

"I have seen Baz Luhrmann's movie 'Elvis' twice now, and let me tell you that it is nothing short of spectacular. Absolutely exquisite," she wrote.

In praising Butler's performance, Lisa Marie had also made an incredibly insightful prediction.

"Austin Butler channeled and embodied my father's heart and soul beautifully. In my humble opinion, his performance is unprecedented and FINALLY done accurately and respectfully. (If he doesn't get an Oscar for this, I will eat my own foot, haha)," she prophesized.

Despite the sorrow of Lisa Marie's passing still fresh in the hearts of her loved ones, it's beautiful to see those involved in "Elvis" remember her spirit and the role she played in the legacy of one of the biggest names in music history.

What do you think of Austin Butler's portrayal of "The King" in "Elvis?" Do you think he'll bag the big win at the awards ceremony come Mar. 12? Let us know your thoughts, and be sure to pass this along to friends and family.