Kim Novak, the celebrated star of Vertigo, was presented with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival on Monday, marking her first public appearance in decades after stepping away from the public eye in the mid-1960s. The event recognized her lasting impact on cinema, highlighted in a tribute delivered by filmmaker Guillermo del Toro.
Career Highlights and Del Toro’s Tribute to Novak’s Talent
Novak, now 92, rose to prominence as a leading box office star in the late 1950s and early 1960s, starring in enduring classics such as Joshua Logan’s Picnic (1955), Otto Preminger’s The Man with the Golden Arm (1955), George Sidney’s Pal Joey (1957), and Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo (1958). In Hitchcock’s thriller, Novak portrayed dual characters, earning acclaim for what remains her signature role.
During his speech, Guillermo del Toro praised her unique presence on screen:
“Most impressive is the fact that she was capable of projecting frailty, power, mystery. To appear, endearing, dynamic, mythical and phenomenal. And with all those wonderful arresting performances, she always carried a little bit of warmth, a little bit of heartbreak and a little bit of mystery.”
—Guillermo del Toro, Filmmaker
Del Toro also acknowledged her decision to step back from acting at the height of her career:
“Over time, she made her performances her own. Remarkably, she also chose to slow down, to take a break at the peak of her powers and to seek personal fulfillment raising horses and as a lyricist and a painter.”
—Guillermo del Toro, Filmmaker
Retirement and Life Beyond Hollywood
In 1966, Kim Novak withdrew from the film industry, retreating to her ranch in Oregon, where she has since focused on painting and tending to her horses. While she occasionally returned to the screen sporadically, she has maintained a predominantly private life, far removed from Hollywood’s spotlight.
Visibly emotional during the award ceremony, Novak expressed her gratitude to the audience:
“Oh my God! This is so beautiful, I am receiving this. But it’s the same as if you were,”
she said, then passionately added, “You are me!”
She also offered thanks to personal influences in her life:
“First of all, I’d like to thanks the Gods up there. Not one in particular. Just all of them. It’s such a gift that they waited until the end of my lifetime [for me] to get this,”
Novak said.
“I want to thank my dad for being my moral compass,”
she continued.
“And my mom. I was very shy and she would make me look in the mirror and make me say, ‘You are the captain of your own ship!’ That is something I think we all need to say. We all need to make our voices heard.”
Documentary Premiere Explores Novak’s Life and Legacy
The Venice Film Festival also hosted the premiere of Kim Novak’s Vertigo, a documentary biopic directed and written by Alexandre O. Philippe. This film combines rare archival footage with personal insights and explores Novak’s transformation from a mid-century film icon into a private artist living along Oregon’s Rogue River. The documentary’s synopsis describes it as tracing
“her path from mid-century cinema icon to fiercely private artist.”
Philippe described the narrative approach in a press conference ahead of the ceremony:
“It’s really about the spirals in her life,”
he explained.
“In fact, if you really want to get into it, the movie has a spiral structure. At the end of each act we come back to this idea of why she left Hollywood; but at the end of each act it’s a different reason.”
—Alexandre O. Philippe, Director
Behind the Scenes: Support from Manager and Producers
Novak’s participation in the documentary was the result of careful trust-building. Her longtime manager and executive producer of the film, Sue Cameron, explained:
“I wanted her to have one more pow in her life,”
she said.
“It was not easy, really. But she felt secure with him [Philippe], so she said yes.”
—Sue Cameron, Manager and Executive Producer
Terri Piñon, the film’s producer, described the effort to bring Novak to Venice for the festival and documentary launch, which will be followed by a screening at the Deauville American Film Festival in France:
“She wants to be home with her horses and her dogs. But she’s willing to help the film team and be here.”
—Terri Piñon, Producer
Cameron also highlighted Novak’s vibrant lifestyle and refusal to let age define her:
“She has a 13-acre ranch with three islands on it and horses. She rides the horses, she walks around the meadows. She does not give up. This is not someone who acts her age. And she is determined to not accept her age,”
Cameron said.
“She was working out with weights this morning!”
—Sue Cameron, Manager and Executive Producer
Significance of the Tribute and Future Engagements
Kim Novak’s tribute at Venice emphasizes her enduring influence on film history and celebrates her remarkable transition from a prolific acting career to a private life devoted to art and nature. Guillermo del Toro’s heartfelt tribute, accompanied by the premiere of Kim Novak’s Vertigo, offers new insights into her legacy and the personal choices that shaped it.
As Novak steps back into the spotlight in select appearances, including the upcoming festival in France, audiences worldwide are reminded of her profound impact, both on and off the screen, affirming that her story continues to resonate across generations.
