Riley Keough: Meet Elvis Presley’s Granddaughter

Riley Keough is definitely continuing her family’s reputation for creativity. The young actress is gradually achieving the desired results and reliably making a name for herself in the creative department. 

Let’s get to know more about her below!

Her Real First Name Isn’t Riley.

Riley Keough was born on May 29, 1989 in Santa Monica, California to musicians Lisa Marie Presley and Danny Keough. The real name of Elvis Presley‘s granddaughter is Danielle Riley Keough.

She’s The Eldest Among Four Children

In addition to her only biological brother, Benjamin Storm Keough, Riley also has two half-sisters: twins Harper and Finley. Lisa Marie shares her 12-year-old twin daughters with her fourth husband.

Unfortunately, Benjamin took his own life in July 2020 at her mother’s home in Calabasas, California. An autopsy report finding revealed that the 27-year-old Presley died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Riley has published a few comments about the effect her brother’s death has had, saying she can no longer cry as she’s afraid she will never stop.

She Had An Eclectic Upbringing

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Riley grew up traveling back and forth between California Valley and Hawaii. 

Her parents divorced when she was only six. Twenty days later, her mother married The King of Pop Michael Jackson, a marriage that would only last for two years. But within those times, Riley was at the perfect age to enjoy Jackson’s Neverland Ranch, a developed property in Santa Barbara County, California. And after that, her life was divided between her mother and father.

While growing up very privileged with her mother – traveling to school with an armed security detail and calling Elvis Presley’s Graceland Estate her home – the times she spent with her father was the complete opposite.

She would sleep on her father’s mattresses on the apartment’s floor, and they would often live in cabins and trailer parks. Even though her father didn’t have much money, “her memories of growing up with him were so colorful and eccentric and fun. It was a good vibe,” she said.

She Grew Up Home Schooled 

Though Riley Keough went to a regular school in California Valley for quite some time, the constant security detail and the frequent traveling made things challenging. It was then that homeschooling turned out to be much more reasonable.

In addition to that, Riley admitted she never enjoyed going to school as she “had like a bad reaction to authority, like mean teachers.” 

Though She Regrets Dropping Out of High School

Though her parents did not stop her when she ditched school, and she was able to book her first audition really quickly, she realized “it was stupid.” Being the only one of her siblings not to finish, Riley reflected that “high school is important.”

She Started Her Road To Stardom As A Model

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Riley Keough started modeling when she was only fifteen. She would appear in the ready-to-wear show for Christian Dior and Dolce & Gabbana. In 2004, she became the face of Vogue’s cover in the United States, which was followed by several magazine cover appearances from the biggest names in the industry.

In 2006, Riley breezed in the catwalk of Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show too.

Her Favorite Style Icon is Jimi Hendrix

Riley has expressed how she loves all of the jewelry he wears and all of his fancy colors. 

But if she could raid anyone’s closet, Riley said it would be her mother’s. The actress said her mother got the most stunning coats and gorgeous shoes. But, sadly, she rarely gets to borrow it.

She Made Her Acting Debut in The Runaways

In 2010, Riley Keough made her feature film debut in a supporting role in the biological drama film, The Runaways.

She played the role of singer-songwriter Marie Currie, the identical twin sister of the band’s lead vocalist Cherie Currie, portrayed by Dakota Fanning. The film also starred Tatum O’Neal as the twin’s mother and Kristen Stewart as the band’s rhythm guitarist. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

Since then, Riley has appeared in countless notable films and TV series. This includes Magic Mike, Mad Max: Fury Road, and The Girlfriend Experience, where she was nominated Best Actress, Limited TV Series, or TV Movie during the 2017 Golden Globe Awards.

Ironically, Music Wasn’t Her Thing 

Though she was born in a family of renowned musicians, Riley admits music was not her thing, nor was she particularly gifted with it. And unlike movies that felt endless to her, she sees herself getting bored with music.

So, she started writing and directed films in the comfort of their home. She would cast her friends and boss them around – making them cry because she wanted the tears to be as authentic as possible. But, when she discovered she could use ketchup as blood, things started going downhill from there.

Still, Music Is Important To Her

Though she can never see doing it professionally, music is still Riley’s favorite thing in the world. After all, she grew up fully around it – so she thinks it’s one of the most significant things to her.

She Wanted To Be Nicole Kidman

While others would talk wildly about Alfred Hitchcock’s films or the drama film Citizen Kane, twelve-year-old Riley Keough was all for The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys with Emile Hirsch and Moulin Rouge. 

Riley remembered how she wanted to be Nicole Kidman as the actress’ character in Moulin Rouge made her feel so sad that she recalled thinking, “how fulfilling it would be to do that, which is a big concept for a kid,” she said.

It was then that her attention turned to acting. She began chatting to herself, acting to be upset, thrilled, frightened. She would also watch herself crying in front of a mirror.

She Has Finished a Death Doula Training

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In one of her Instagram posts, Riley has revealed that she had finished a Death Doula training or The Art of Death Midwifery training. Death doulas help those who are dying as well as for their loved ones to get through the process.

She Has Different Tattoos

Riley has tattoos of a Gemini symbol on her knuckle, a Mayan Calendar sign, a number on her elbow, and so much more. Recently, she paid tribute to her late brother with a cursive writing of his name “Benjamin Storm,” that she had tattooed above her collarbone.

She Admits She’s A Shy Person

Though she’s a successful actress, Riley admits that she’s “kind of shy and quiet” in real life. However, it quickly goes away whenever she’s working.

She’s Happily Married

In February 2015, Riley Keough married Ben Smith-Petersen, whom she had worked with while filming Mad Max: Fury Road. Riley Keough’s husband is an Australian stuntman. They tied the knot in Napa, California, with a guest list filled with celebrities like Zoe Kravitz, Kristen Stewart, Cara Delevingne, among others. Actress Dakota Johnson was one of her bridesmaids.

Before she got hitched, Riley dated her Magic Mike co-star Alex Pettyfer, actor Jonah Hill, and singer Ryan Cabrera. She was also rumored to be in a relationship with actor Robert Pattinson.

Riley Keough is set to appear in the upcoming American thriller drama The Terminal List – alongside Chris Pratt, Constance Wu, and Taylor Kitsch. And we’re very excited to see the actress.