Who’d have guessed a celebrity would be humbled by a Cinderella story?
The year was 1985. In the White House, President Ronald Reagan was hosting a dinner with an outstanding list of guests, including celebrities, politicians, business leaders, and royalty.
Who can forget the night in November 1985, when an iconic photograph was published in the mainstream newspapers?
It was a photograph of Princess Diana, one of the United Kingdom’s most famous royals, dancing with a commoner named John Travolta.He finally spoke out about what happened that night, over four decades later.
‘In Their Own Words: Diana, Princess of Wales,’ a new PBS series, examines the late princess’s life through the eyes of those who met her, worked with her, and, most notably, danced with her.
Travolta felt like a ‘extra’ that night, despite being in the company of celebrities.
So when Nancy Reagan, the president’s wife, called him, he had no idea he’d be sharing the stage with one of the most famous people of the time.
During those years, the world was enthralled with Princess Diana. ‘When Diana went to America in 1985, it solidified her standing on the world stage,’ according to Royal historian Kate Williams.
‘She wasn’t the same young, innocent girl anymore.’ She was a great celebrity, the world’s most famous woman. Di-mania went over the world from Britain, and eventually it captivated the entire planet.’
So, how did Travolta get the dance with the princess if she was so famous? What events led to the classic dancefloor photograph? What is the solution? Another well-known name.
Nancy Reagan, Travolta revealed, was the one who orchestrated the whole thing. ‘Nancy Reagan patted me on the shoulder around 10 p.m. and said, ‘The princess, wish is to dance with you.’
In the documentary, he says, ‘Would you like to dance with her tonight?’ ‘And I replied, ‘Of course.’
The First Lady and Travolta then developed a strategy. She would take the actor to the princess around midnight so that he could take advantage of the opportunity for a dance.
Even though he was the lovely John Travolta, he was nervous at the time. ‘I tap her on the shoulder, and she turns around and looks at me, and she had that kind of timid dip [of her chin] that she did, and she looked up at me, and I said, ‘Would you want to dance with me?” he remembered.
The room immediately cleared, and the ‘extra’ had the opportunity to be a part of one of the most memorable events in White House history.
The partners danced for what seemed like 15 minutes, and it was an experience Travolta will never forget. Cinderella, on the other hand, had a clock to beat. ‘It was like something out of a movie,’ Travolta added.
‘When it was done, we bowed, and she was gone, and I was gone, and my carriage had transformed into a pumpkin.’
It was weird for him to even consider something like that could happen to him, he said. And at that point, he said that he was wise enough to remember it.
In the video below, you can learn more about this memorable moment!