Hollywood Icon Kim Novak Denounces Sydney Sweeney Casting in Upcoming Biopic
Legendary actress Kim Novak has publicly declared her disapproval of Sydney Sweeney portraying her in an upcoming biographical film, stating she "would never have approved" the casting choice. The 93-year-old star of Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo expressed her concerns in a recent interview with The Times of London, criticizing the decision to cast the 28-year-old Euphoria actress.
Novak's Specific Criticisms and Concerns
Novak, born Marilyn Pauline 'Kim' Novak, specifically objected to Sweeney's physical appearance, noting that the younger actress "sticks out so much above the waist." Her primary concern, however, revolves around the film's potential focus. Novak fears the movie will emphasize the sexual aspects of her relationship with Sammy Davis Jr. rather than exploring their deeper connection.
"There's no way it wouldn't be a sexual relationship because Sydney Sweeney looks sexy all the time. She was totally wrong to play me," Novak stated bluntly. The publication noted that Novak believes the film should highlight how much she and Davis Jr. had in common rather than sensationalizing their romance.
The Controversial Romance at the Film's Center
The biopic, titled Scandalous!, will explore Novak's 1957 relationship with musician and Rat Pack member Sammy Davis Jr. Directed by Colman Domingo, the film stars Sydney Sweeney as Novak and David Jonsson as Davis Jr. Their interracial romance occurred during a period when such relationships faced intense societal opposition.
When Novak and Davis Jr. began their relationship in 1958, only 4% of Americans approved of interracial unions according to Gallup polls, with such relationships still illegal in some states. Novak was under contract with Columbia Pictures at the time, whose president Harry Cohn worried about public backlash affecting the studio.
Despite pressure to end the relationship, Novak once said: "Something inside of me rebelled when I was told not to see him. I didn't think it was anybody's business." Davis Jr. similarly reflected: "We became conspirators, drawn together by the single thing we had in common: defiance."
External Pressures and Forced Separation
The relationship faced severe external threats. After gossip columns suggested marriage was imminent, organized crime figures close to Cohn threatened Davis Jr., demanding he break things off with Novak. He received an ultimatum to marry a Black woman within two days or face violence.
Nine days later, Davis Jr. married Black chorus girl Loray White, though they never lived together and divorced the following year. He later married white Swedish actress May Britt in 1960, facing similar racism and backlash. That marriage ended in divorce eight years later after Davis Jr. admitted to having an affair.
Novak went on to marry actor Richard Johnson in 1965, and after their divorce, married veterinarian Robert Malloy in 1976, remaining with him until his death in 2021. Reflecting on her relationship with Davis Jr., Novak said their romance was "often misunderstood" and noted: "Because of the colour of his skin people did terrible things."
Previous Comments from Both Actresses
During last year's Venice Film Festival, Novak first expressed concerns about the biopic, telling a masterclass audience: "I have to speak out about the movie that's about to be made about the Sammy Davis relationship." She clarified her position on casting: "I think actors have a wonderful place to do whatever, but, in my case, I'm not an actress – I'm a re-actress. So therefore, I'd like to see somebody playing that role that is more of a re-actor than an actor."
Novak emphasized she had no issue with Sweeney's talent, calling her "a really wonderful actress" but maintained it was her "personal feeling" that Sweeney wasn't right for the role.
Sweeney, who also serves as a producer on the film, told The Hollywood Reporter last year that director Colman Domingo and Novak "have a really beautiful relationship" and that they've been communicating. Speaking to People magazine, Sweeney expressed being "incredibly honoured" to play Novak, noting: "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. And I think that for me, I relate to it in a lot of different ways."
Novak's Career Legacy
Throughout her distinguished career, Kim Novak won two Golden Globes and starred in notable films including Bell, Book and Candle, Strangers When We Meet, and Kiss Me, Stupid. She largely withdrew from acting by 1966, making only occasional screen appearances since. Her lasting impact on Hollywood and her controversial interracial relationship with Sammy Davis Jr. continue to resonate decades later, now becoming the subject of this contentious biopic that has sparked debate even before production has completed.
