John Travolta is sharing fond memories of the time he got to waltz with Princess Diana.
The year was 1985 and the actor had been invited to a White House state dinner hosted by then-President Ronald Reagan and first lady Nancy Reagan. To attend the event was memorable on its own but little did Travolta know he was about to share a "magical" moment with Diana.
"I didn't expect to be asked to dance with her. I had the great privilege and honor to do so. And I thought: 'There must be a reason to do this and I better give it my all," Travolta said in an interview with Esquire Mexico.
"This meant guiding the dance well and seeking to have fun. That was the easy part, but introducing myself to Diana in the proper way, conveying assurance, and asking her to be my dance partner was a complicated mission."
Years have passed, but the "Saturday Night Fever" star still remembers details of the dance vividly.
"We are in the White House. It's midnight. The whole stage is like a dream. I go up to her, touch her on the shoulder, ask her to dance," Travolta said. "She turns around and when she sees me she displays that captivating smile, somewhat sad, and accepts my invitation. And there we were, dancing together like in a fairytale."
Looking back, Travolta noted that it was something he never thought would have been possible.
"Who could imagine that something like this is going to happen to you one day? I was smart enough to register it in my memory as a very special, magical moment," he said.
Also in the interview, Travolta opened up about the grief he felt after the death of his wife, actress Kelly Preston.
"I learned that mourning someone, living in grief, is very personal," Travolta said. "Grief is personal and finding your own path is what could lead to healing. It's different than someone else's journey."
Preston died last July at age 57 after a two-year battle with breast cancer. In a statement released to People on behalf of her family, a rep explained that Preston had been undergoing medical treatment "for some time" when she died.
"She was a bright, beautiful and loving soul who cared deeply about others and who brought life to everything she touched," the statement read. "Her family asks for your understanding of their need for privacy at this time."
Related Stories:
Zoe Papadakis ✉
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazine and websites.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.