Kim Novak is speaking honestly about the upcoming film based on one of the most scrutinized chapters of her life. The Vertigo actress shared her thoughts on Sydney Sweeney playing her in Scandalous!, the planned biopic about Novak’s 1950s relationship with Sammy Davis Jr.
According to PEOPLE, Kim Novak biopic concerns have grown after the 93-year-old actress said she would not have approved Sweeney’s casting. Novak called the choice “totally wrong” and shared fears that the movie may focus too much on the physical side of the relationship instead of what truly connected her and Davis.
Kim Novak Questioned Sydney Sweeney’s Casting
Novak told The Times that she did not believe Sweeney was the right actress to portray her. She said she would never have approved the casting and felt Sweeney’s screen image could shift attention toward the wrong part of the story. For Novak, the concern was not only about appearance but also about how audiences might interpret the relationship.
Sweeney, however, has spoken with excitement about the role. She previously said she felt honored to bring Novak to life and described her as an amazing actress. The Euphoria star also said Novak’s story still feels relevant because it touches on Hollywood scrutiny, private relationships, and the control of a woman’s image.
Novak Wants Her Story Told With More Depth
The Kim Novak biopic is expected to follow her relationship with Davis, who will reportedly be played by David Jonsson. Novak has pushed back against the idea that the romance should be treated as scandalous. She said their bond came from shared feelings of wanting acceptance for who they were, not just how they looked or how the public saw them. Their relationship ended under intense pressure after news of the romance surfaced in 1957. Novak has said she cared deeply for Davis, while also denying that they tried to get a marriage license. She has also addressed the long-standing claim that Columbia Pictures head Harry Cohn threatened Davis when the relationship became known, saying she believed the story was true.
The project will also mark Colman Domingo’s directorial debut, adding more attention to a story already filled with Hollywood history. Sweeney has said she hoped to meet Novak and fully step into the role after finishing work on Euphoria. Still, Novak’s reaction shows how sensitive biopics can be when the subject is still alive to see her life reshaped onscreen. The Kim Novak biopic may introduce younger audiences to a painful moment in old Hollywood, but Novak clearly wants the story handled with care, complexity, and respect for what she says the relationship truly meant.
