Kim Novak Criticizes Casting Sydney Sweeney in Her Biopic
Kim Novak has expressed strong disapproval regarding the choice of Sydney Sweeney to portray her in the planned biographical movie, stating that Sweeney is “totally wrong to play me.”
In a discussion with the Times, the 93-year-old actress revealed her dissatisfaction with the biopic titled Scandalous, which focuses on her past relationship with musician Sammy Davis Jr. Novak mentioned she would have “never approved” of the biopic.
While the production of the film has faced delays, Sydney Sweeney’s fellow Euphoria actor, Colman Domingo, is slated to direct. Sweeney is cast as Novak, with British actor David Jonsson playing Davis.
Novak’s Concerns About the Film’s Direction
Novak commented to the Times that Sweeney’s physical appearance, particularly “sticking out so much above the waist,” was a point of concern, fearing that the movie might overly emphasize the sexual nature of her relationship with Davis. “There’s no way it wouldn’t be a sexual relationship because Sydney Sweeney looks sexy all the time,” she remarked, reinforcing her belief that Sweeney was a mismatch for the role.
As of now, Sweeney has not commented on Novak’s statements. However, in an earlier conversation in October with People magazine, Sweeney expressed being “incredibly honoured” to play Novak and mentioned her excitement about potentially meeting her. “I think her story is still very relevant today in that she dealt with Hollywood and scrutiny with her relationships and her own private life and the control of her image,” Sweeney had said, noting her personal connection to Novak’s experiences.
In August, Novak also criticized the film’s title in an interview with the Guardian, arguing that her relationship with Davis wasn’t scandalous. She described Davis as someone she deeply cared for, sharing many commonalities including the desire for acceptance based on personal and professional merits rather than appearances.
The Historical Context of Novak and Davis’s Relationship
Novak and Davis first crossed paths in 1956 and their romance blossomed quietly over the next year. Davis often visited Novak on the set of Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo, and the couple spent major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas together. However, their relationship was thrust into the public eye in 1958 by a gossip columnist, causing concern at Columbia Pictures about potential public backlash due to the interracial nature of their relationship and its possible negative impact on Novak’s career.
Following the exposure, Novak denied any romantic involvement with Davis. Nevertheless, Columbia’s head, Harry Cohn, took drastic measures by hiring underworld figures to threaten Davis with severe violence unless he married a black woman within 48 hours. Davis complied by marrying Loray White, a dancer, just nine days later. The marriage was short-lived, with divorce proceedings starting just nine months after the wedding.
Novak later married British actor Richard Johnson in 1965 and then equine veterinarian Robert Malloy in 1976, with whom she stayed until his death in 2020.
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Fatima Clarke is a seasoned health reporter who bridges medical science with human stories. She writes with compassion, precision, and a drive to inform.
