In 1956 Dolores Hicks using the stage name of ‘Dolores Hart‘, was signed to play a supporting role as the love interest to Elvis Presley in the 1957 release Loving You and for the 1958’s King Creole. Here’s some shots of Dolores and Elvis…
Hart was in Rome in 1960 filming the movies Where The Boys Are and St. Francis of Assissi, when she met Pope John XXIII, who was instrumental in her becoming a nun. She introduced herself to the Pope by saying,
“I am Dolores Hart, the actress playing Clare (in St. Francis of Assissi)“
The Pontiff said,
“No, you are Clare! (“Tu sei Chiara” — in Italian).”
Hart left Hollywood in 1963 and took her final vows in 1970.
Hart has denied ever having had an ‘intimate’ relationship with Presley offscreen. In interviews during her movie career she was often asked: “What is it like kissing Elvis?” She chuckled a bit at the memory:
“I think the limit for a screen kiss back then was something like 15 seconds. That one has lasted 40 years.”
The Reverend Mother Dolores Hart is at Benedictine Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, Connecticut. She remains a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, having in recent years become the only nun to be an Oscar-voting member.
