The legendary Hollywood star Ann-Margret was recently given a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 24th Family Film Awards. To mark the occasion, the 79 year-old two-time Academy Award nominee gave an interview in which she reminisced about her life, including the time when she visited American troops in Vietnam during the war.

“It still has an impact on me to this day,” Ann-Margret told Fox News of visiting our troops. “I went in 1966 and 1968. I had gotten a long letter from G.I.s who wanted me to come over and see them. And of course, I wanted to go over the next day! But I had to wait. But I still have all the notes and letters I received from so many gentlemen. And ladies, too. Being with them has been in my heart the entire time and it will never, ever leave my heart. Never.”

When asked what one moment she had with a soldier stands out to her, she replied, “I remember I went to the hospitals and saw those babies. We were all in the same age group. But when I saw them, I just cried and cried. I’m not a doctor. I’m not a nurse. All I could do was perform for them. With every performance I did, I was expressing my love for each and every one of them.”

“I went to an event in Las Vegas not too long ago and there were two gentlemen from Vietnam,” Ann-Margret continued. “It felt wonderful to hug them, kiss them and just talk to them. I’m so thrilled that they’re here on American soil. I’m an emotional person. It’s just so hard for me to put into words what I feel for those men and women. That will never go away. And I will always love them. That will never leave me, no way. When those G.I.’s wrote to me, I really wanted to go the next day. But they’re in my heart.”

When asked if she has any regrets when she looks back at her Hollywood career, Ann-Margret said that she has none.

“Hmm, you know, whenever I see my movies, I usually see them in a screening room,” she explained. “I see it one time and that’s it. You can ask my friends. I just see them one time and that’s it. But no. I did the best that I could at the time and then it’s over. You always think, ‘I hope it works. I hope people are entertained.’ But sometimes it doesn’t work.  But you keep at it if you really love it.”

Finally, Ann-Margret was asked what she hopes people will get when they look at her journey in Hollywood.

“Here’s the thing. I have always been passionate about performing,” she said. “I did a screen test at 20th Century Fox where they just had me singing and dancing. Next thing you know they bleached my hair orange and I went on from there! You have to be really passionate about your work, whatever it is. Whatever your work is, you do the very best that you can. You could have a lot of nos, but if you’re passionate about it, you just keep on doing it.