Elton John and Billie Jean King recall instant bond in Sundance documentary

People reports that Give Me the Ball!, a documentary that premiered Jan. 27 at the Sundance Film Festival, features Elton John, 78, and tennis champion Billie Jean King, 82, recalling how they first met at a Los Angeles party in the early 1970s and "instantly clicked."

Both recalled mutual shyness at the introduction — John said he was "too shy" and King replied "ditto" — before they were introduced and "talked until 5:30 in the morning." John said he "loved her so much" and admired her passion and forward drive, noting he had "never met anybody who is built exactly like I am" in that way.

The pair say their friendship deepened as they confided about struggles with sexuality and food addiction: King said they discussed "how hard it was to be gay," and John observed it was "much, much harder" for her as a household sports figure. They also spoke about food as "an addictive substance," with John saying, "You have to eat to stay alive. I did other drugs, but the hardest drug to give up is food. We both suffered from that." The film also touches on lighter moments, including John’s decision to write a song that preceded his release of the chart-topping "Philadelphia Freedom," and it screens through Feb. 1 at Sundance.