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“Daisy Jones & The Six” Star Riley Keough Is Elvis Presley's Granddaughter, FYI
You may not know it, but actor Riley Keough hails from a high-profile Hollywood family. And though she had phenomenal musical influence growing up surrounded by so many professional musicians, Keough found her passion in acting after devouring “Moulin Rouge” and “The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys” at an early age. Keough debuted in 2010’s “The Runaways,” starring alongside Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart, and she hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down since.
Having several career-defining projects under her belt – including Steven Soderbergh’s “The Girlfriend Experience,” “Mad Max: Fury Road,” “Logan Lucky,” and more – the 33-year-old actor is now preparing to lead as the titular character in “Daisy Jones & The Six.” Based on Taylor Jenkins Reid’s 2019 bestseller of the same name, the miniseries chronicles the journey of an iconic ’70s rock group to the top and their sudden fall. The Amazon Prime series will mark Keough’s first foray into singing on screen, making it a full-circle moment.
If you’re intrigued by the mesmerizing acting range of the “Lodge” actress and want to get acquainted with Keough before her rocking performance in “Daisy Jones & The Six” hits our screens, keep reading to find lesser-known facts about the model turned actress!
Riley Keough Is Elvis Presley's Granddaughter
Keough is the eldest of “King of Rock and Roll” Elvis Presley’s four grandchildren. Though the iconic singer passed away 12 years prior to Keough’s 1989 birth, the relation adds a certain pressure to live up to high expectations, though Keough said being a part of the Presley bloodline has more pros than cons. “It’s been a huge help,” she told The Guardian in 2017. “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.”
You’d think that her image as Presley’s granddaughter would eclipse her individuality, but that’s never been the case for Keough, who doesn’t mind being referred to as his granddaughter. “Why should I? It’s a fact. And I’m not ashamed of that in any way,” she said.
Keough recently attended the premiere of Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis” along with her mother, Lisa Marie Presley, and grandmother Priscilla Presley, which took place at the iconic singer’s former residence Graceland in Memphis, TN. “We’re so thrilled to be in Memphis with @elvismovie, and all of the wonderful performers, @austinbutler, @olivia_dejonge @kelvharrjr, and Tom Hanks have all done outstanding work,” she wrote on her Instagram post. Keough further expressed gratitude toward Luhrmann, who approached the biopic about their clan’s legendary patriarch with utmost care. “Thank you to @bazluhrmann for bringing the film to Graceland. It’s been such a special weekend, I couldn’t think of a better place to Premiere ELVIS in America.”
Riley Keough's First Name Isn't Riley
Though popularly known as Riley Keough, the actor uses her middle name in place of her first name. Her full name is Danielle Riley Keough, with her first name likely being a sweet nod to her father’s name, Danny Keough.
Riley Keough Has Her Own Production Company
Felix Culpa is a production company that Keough co-founded with longtime friend and producer Gina Gammell in 2017. The company has several projects in the pipeline, including “Cult Following,” “Sweet Lamb of Heaven,” and “Manodrome.” The powerhouse duo made their directorial debut with the coming-of-age flick “War Pony,” which premiered at the 2022 Cannes Festival and amassed a positive response from film critics.
Riley Keough Was Briefly Engaged to Her "Magic Mike" Costar Alex Pettyfer
While filming the 2012 dramedy “Magic Mike,” Riley grew closer to British actor Alex Pettyfer, who plays Adam in the movie, and the two embarked on a love story in real life, getting engaged in March 2012. However, they didn’t go the distance and split up in 2013. “She was the first woman in my life that I fell in love with at first sight,” Pettyfer told Radio Andy in 2018. He added that Keough helped him overcome his deep-seated anxiety, which had over time converted into claustrophobia and a fear of air travel.
Dakota Johnson Was Her Bridesmaid
Keough fell in love with Ben Smith-Petersen, the stuntman behind the magnificent action sequences in “Mad Max: Fury Road,” and the two walked down the aisle in 2015. The intimate ceremony took place in Napa Valley, CA, and featured a star-studded guest list, which included Kristen Stewart, Zoë Kravitz, Cara Delevingne, and Dakota Johnson, with the latter serving as one of the bridesmaids. Both Keough and Johnson come from well-known Hollywood households, which probably became the base of their close friendship throughout the years. The two actors are also set to star together in the upcoming series “Cult Following,” which is based on Bexy Cameron’s memoirs.