Elvis Presley And Natalie Wood: A Brief Romance That Sparkled Like Lightning

Picture this: A traffic light turns green, and Elvis Presley—yes, the King himself—revs the engine of his Harley Davidson. His passenger? None other than the stunning Natalie Wood. Her headscarf flutters in the wind as she clutches it tightly, trying to keep it from flying off. This wasn’t just any ride; it was a moment in time when two Hollywood legends briefly crossed paths. It was 1956, the height of Elvis’s early stardom, and he had brought his new girlfriend, Natalie, home to Memphis, Tennessee. But as we all know, not every fairytale has a happy ending.

How It All Began: A Starstruck Introduction

Let’s rewind a bit. Back when Natalie Wood was just 18 years old, she was already making waves in Hollywood with her role in Rebel Without a Cause. She was intrigued by Elvis’s music and image, so much so that she asked her co-star Dennis Hopper to introduce them. And let me tell you, their first dates were nothing short of legendary. According to Natalie’s sister, Lana Wood, who exclusively spoke to Closer Weekly, “To go to the movies, he bought out the entire theater. That’s not something Natalie was used to.” It was clear from the start that Elvis was pulling out all the stops to impress her.

Elvis’s Starstruck Moment: Childhood Memories Come Alive

Elvis, on the other hand, was equally starstruck by Natalie. As Ray Connolly, author of Being Elvis: A Lonely Life, told Closer, “She was in Miracle on 34th Street when he was a little boy.” Imagine that—Elvis, the King of Rock and Roll, having a childhood crush on Natalie Wood. Naturally, he wanted to impress her, so he invited her home to meet his parents. But things didn’t quite go as planned. His mother, Gladys, wasn’t exactly thrilled with Natalie’s choice of attire—a flimsy nightgown, no less. “Not in my house!” Gladys reportedly said, setting the tone for what would be a rocky visit.

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Natalie’s Perspective: A Troubling Dynamic

From Natalie’s side, things were equally complicated. She found Elvis’s close relationship with his mother troubling. As Lana recalled, “His mother said something like, ‘Come and sit on Mama’s lap.’ They were very affectionate, and it bothered Natalie. She called and asked our mom to make up a story about why she had to come home.” It’s clear that the dynamics between Elvis and his mother were not what Natalie had expected, and it wasn’t long before she decided it was time to leave.

The Aftermath: A Brief Romance That Fizzled Out

Despite the initial spark, their romance fizzled out quickly, and neither seemed to harbor any ill feelings. As Connolly put it, “Later, he called her ‘Mad Nat,’ I think for how angry she got.” Natalie, too, seemed to move on without looking back. According to Lana, “There were people that she idolized; Elvis was not one of them.” Their brief time together was just that—a fleeting moment in the lives of two incredibly talented individuals.