Kim Novak Receives Venice Lifetime Achievement, Doc Premieres

Actress Kim Novak, famed for her role in Alfred Hitchcock's 1958 film Vertigo, has opened up about her challenging childhood marked by her mother's attempts to abort and suffocate her during the Great Depression, as revealed in the documentary Kim Novak’s Vertigo. After becoming a top Hollywood star in the 1950s and early 1960s, Novak walked away from the spotlight in 1966 to pursue a quieter life in Oregon focused on painting and horses. The documentary, directed by Alexandre O. Philippe, combines rare archival footage with Novak's personal reflections and premiered at the 2025 Venice Film Festival, where she received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement. Festival officials praised Novak’s rebellious spirit and independence, highlighting how she escaped the restrictive studio system unlike many of her contemporaries. Novak herself expressed gratitude for being honored for both her authenticity and acting career, stating the recognition felt like a full-circle moment. Despite her fame, Novak has maintained a private life and rarely appears in public, making her presence at the festival a special event for fans and the film community alike.