Tom Hanks recently shed some light on a previous encounter with the Queen of England, which left him with the knowledge of the monarch’s preferred cocktail. The actor recently starred in Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis” biopic as the iconic singer’s previous manager.
While talking about his character, Hanks revealed that despite the less than stellar image of Colonel Tom Parker, he got the role to focus on the manager’s vision when he decided to support Elvis Presley.
During a recent promotional interview for the film, the Oscar winner recalled a time in 2011 when he dined with Her Majesty in the UK and several other dignitaries. Hanks disclosed that during the meal, he discovered that the monarch favored martinis as her cocktail choice.
Tom Hanks Dined With The Queen In 2011
Hanks reportedly dined beside the Queen of England during a visit to the UK. The actor appeared in a Monday episode of the BBC talk show, “The One Show,” (Via Insider) to promote his newest movie, Elvis. There he talked about dining with the monarch in 2011.
Hanks revealed that during former President Barrack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama’s visit to the UK at the time, they all dined with the Queen. Recalling the time he said, “I sat right next to the Queen.”
“The chit-chat with the Queen is something you gotta get ready for,” the “Elvis” actor continued. “I knew I was going to be sitting next to her, so I wanted to be able to talk about things that were of importance but not presumptuous. So a few things about how often she truly has time off and what have you. It was a nice chit-chat.”
Tom Hanks Said The Queen Loves Martinis
Further on in the interview, the 65-year-old revealed that he saw a server place a drink beside the monarch, which he later discovered to be a martini. The Academy Award winner said, “Then out of the corner of my eye, I saw this white-gloved hand just put between me and her royal majesty this glass of water.”
Upon inspection, Hanks discovered that the drink wasn’t in fact, water, so he proceeded to ask the Queen her preferred cocktail choice. “It was a clear liquid, and so I dared to ask the Queen, ‘What is Her Majesty’s cocktail of choice?’ and she said, ‘Ooh, martini.'”
The “Finch” actor noted that she had just that glass and “nursed” the drink the entire night. “I think well, she’s had a wonderful reign, so maybe if I want to polish up my game a little bit, I will start drinking martini every now and again,” he added.
Hanks Plays Colonel Tom Parker In ‘Elvis’
Hanks is reportedly starring as Colonel Tom Parker in the Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis” biopic. His character is the former manager of the iconic rock star. When talking about his character, Hanks described him as a “cheap crook” who liked playing “fast and loose.”
“Was he a cheap crook that played fast and loose? Yeah, when it comes down to that, but I worked that all out to everyone’s satisfaction,” he said. “He was a man that brought joy to everything he did—along with just a little bit of larceny.”
The 65-year-old also revealed that when he got the role, he wasn’t interested in the negative labels attached to the former manager as much as he was invested in exploring Parker’s vision when he decided to support Presley.
Hanks said, “What Baz tantalized me with right off the bat was, here’s a guy who saw the opportunity to manifest a once-in-a-lifetime talent into a cultural force. He sought that and knew that about Elvis the first time he saw Elvis’ effect on an audience. He realized that guy was forbidden fruit, and you could make an awful lot of money off of forbidden fruit.”
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Kicks Off On June 2
The monarch is set to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee to mark 70 years on the British throne. Her Majesty is reportedly the first British monarch to commemorate a Platinum Jubilee. The celebration will be marked with a four-day public holiday which will kick off on June 2 and end on June 5.
The first notable event will be The Queen’s Birthday Parade, also known as Trooping the Colour, and the last, a party at the Buckingham Palace. The annual Birthday Parade will feature a parade of royal officers, horses, and musicians which the royal family will attend.
Preparations for the festivities are already ongoing, with portraits of the Queen projected onto Stonehenge. According to English Heritage, the charity in charge of several historic buildings, sites, and monuments, the 5000-year-old piece of history received a temporary makeover in honor of the Royal.
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