VENICE, Italy — Kim Novak, the 92-year-old star of Alfred Hitchcock’s "Vertigo," returned to the international spotlight at the Venice Film Festival, accepting a Golden Lion lifetime achievement award and supporting the world premiere of a documentary about her life.
Novak, who had traveled from Oregon for the festival, said she initially worried she had made a mistake in coming. "I thought I could handle it, then I thought, no I can’t, I’m not physically strong enough," she told The Associated Press. She said that a memory of her mother’s voice urged her to "just have fun and enjoy it," and that the experience in Venice had been "one of the very first events that I’ve really had fun, really fun." Novak also said she is bipolar and accustomed to passing through strong emotions.
The Golden Lion for lifetime achievement was presented earlier in the week by filmmaker Guillermo del Toro. In honoring Novak, del Toro cited her work in "Vertigo" as well as roles in Otto Preminger’s "The Man with the Golden Arm," Joshua Logan’s "Picnic" and the musical "Pal Joey." The festival also hosted the world premiere of "Kim Novak’s Vertigo," a documentary chronicling her life and career.
Festival organizers and attendees noted the rarity of Novak’s public appearances in recent years. Her presence drew attention both to the documentary and to broader conversations about career retrospectives at major festivals. Novak’s participation included public appearances tied to the premiere and the award ceremony.
Novak rose to prominence in the 1950s and 1960s with a string of film roles that have continued to define her public image. Her performance in Hitchcock’s 1958 psychological thriller "Vertigo" has been widely discussed and reassessed in film criticism and scholarship, contributing to ongoing interest in her career.
At Venice, Novak’s emotional return and decision to attend despite initial doubts drew both applause and media coverage, underscoring the festival’s role as a stage for honoring cinematic legacies. The lifetime achievement award adds to the list of honors that major festivals bestow to recognize long careers in film.
Novak’s attendance and the documentary premiere closed a chapter of anticipation among filmgoers and critics who have followed her work for decades. She said the festival experience had been rewarding and that she was grateful to have come.