Sydney Sweeney’s bought a full plate with each her TV schedule and 2025 film slate. Together with filming the upcoming Euphoria Season 3, she’s additionally teaming up with Colman Domingo in his directorial debut to star in Scandalous. The venture, which dramatizes the romance between Sammy Davis Jr. and Kim Novak, has generated buzz due to Sweeney’s rising star energy and the enduring legacy of the Chicago-born actress’s place in Hollywood historical past. However, because the movie strikes nearer to actuality, the now-92-year-old Vertigo star is voicing considerations.
Kim Novak’s work has been celebrated, however facets of her private have been much-discussed as effectively. In a candid new interview with The Guardian, the display legend made it clear she has reservations about how her relationship the late Davis shall be framed. As she defined:
I don’t suppose the connection was scandalous. He’s any individual I actually cared about. We had a lot in widespread, together with that must be accepted for who we’re and what we do, relatively than how we glance. However I’m involved they’re going to make all of it sexual causes.
The Pal Joey alum’s worries admittedly take a look at. We’re speaking a few actually private chapter of her life right here, and Hollywood doesn’t precisely have the most effective monitor file with regards to dealing with true tales with care. If something, the business is understood for leaning exhausting into essentially the most sensational bits. So you may’t fault the Vertigo legend for being a little bit cautious.
And, truthfully, her feedback match proper in with the best way she’s dealt with her complete profession, always pushing again towards the system attempting to reshape her. Born Marilyn Novak in Chicago, she was picked up by Columbia Photos in 1954 and instantly pressured to vary all the pieces about herself.
Studio head Harry Cohn reportedly needed Novak to be thinner, with capped tooth, bleached hair, and basically a face that matched the opposite stars of the time. The Bell Ebook and Candle star refused to play alongside fully and fought to maintain her final identify and dangle onto a way of who she actually was.
Again within the late ’50s, Novak’s romance with Sammy Davis Jr. was each trailblazing and dangerous. Harry Cohn allegedly even threatened Davis with mob violence if the connection went on. For the Pepe performer, although, it was by no means some “forbidden scandal.” It was simply two individuals who actually linked. That’s the facet of the story she hopes the brand new biopic captures.
Kim Novak stepped away from Hollywood within the Sixties after years of stress, later settling in Oregon together with her husband, Robert Malloy, the place she turned to portray as each a ardour and a type of remedy. The actress was recognized with bipolar dysfunction within the 2000s and has been an outspoken proponent of her psychological well being and resilience. Now, receiving a lifetime achievement award on the Venice Movie Competition alongside a brand new documentary (Kim Novak’s Vertigo), she says she feels acknowledged not only for her performances however for staying true to herself.
Sydney Sweeney additionally isn’t afraid to stretch her abilities by doing one thing completely different, which is an efficient factor as a result of taking part in a real-life and nonetheless residing actress isn’t nearly channeling outdated Hollywood glamour. It’s additionally about digging into the vulnerability behind the star. Sweeney’s already confirmed her vary in Euphoria and even in Americana (which, yeah, “seemingly bombed”) and, now, she’s not solely taking the lead however producing.
Meaning she’s serving to determine how the Kiss Me, Silly actress’ story truly will get informed. Rising actor David Jonsson can be within the combine, as he is portraying Sammy Davis Jr. Add in Colman Domingo—who’s described the venture as a “fractured love story”—and also you’ve bought a movie that might give Kim Novak’s legacy the form of depth and compassion it deserves.
Whether or not Scandalous lands in time for the 2026 launch slate or not, I’m already able to seize a seat when it lastly does.