Hollywood legend Kim Novak has voiced strong objections to the casting of Sydney Sweeney to portray her in the upcoming film Scandalous!, which charts her clandestine romance with Sammy Davis Jr. in 1957. The two-time Golden Globe-winning actress of Hollywood’s Golden Age declared she “would never have approved” the casting.
In an interview with The Times, Novak expressed concerns that the film, directed by Colman Domingo, will focus too much on sex, rather than the genuine connection she shared with Davis.
What Kim Novak Said
| Quote | Context |
|---|---|
| “She was totally wrong to play me.” | On Sweeney’s casting overall. |
| “There’s no way it wouldn’t be a sexual relationship because Sydney Sweeney looks sexy all the time.” | On her fear that the film will focus on sex over substance. |
| “You can’t learn to be vulnerable. It’s a big asset to be a bipolar actor.” | Advice to Sweeney; Novak revealed her bipolar diagnosis in 2013. |
Novak, star of Vertigo, noted that she and Davis had “so much in common,” but fears the film will reduce their story to a sexual narrative. “There’s no way it wouldn’t be a sexual relationship because Sydney Sweeney looks sexy all the time,” she said.
She also offered advice to the Euphoria star, suggesting that true vulnerability cannot be learned. “You can’t learn to be vulnerable. It’s a big asset to be a bipolar actor. No one feels joy or pain as much as someone who’s bipolar. The feelings are unstoppable.”
The Film: ‘Scandalous!’
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Director | Colman Domingo (directorial debut) |
| Lead Roles | Sydney Sweeney as Kim Novak, David Jonsson as Sammy Davis Jr. |
| Subject | The clandestine romance between Novak and Davis in 1957 |
| Production Timeline | Planned for summer 2025 (after Euphoria Season 3) |
Describing the film as a “fractured love story,” Domingo previously told Deadline that he plans to make a “beautiful, sweet film that’s really about the possibility of love, but under many eyes, trying to have privacy, trying to have a life.”
Domingo added that the theme of advocating for one’s humanity is something both he and Sweeney “know very well.”
The Real-Life Story
Novak and Rat Pack member Sammy Davis Jr. were at the peak of star power when they met while guests on The Steve Allen Show in 1956. They fell hard for each other, but as rumors spread, the rampant racism in America threatened to derail their careers.
- Harry Cohn, the Columbia Pictures chief who had Novak under contract, was reportedly furious about the affair.
- Their covert relationship became big news when a Chicago gossip columnist wrote a detailed account of their relationship in early 1958, including their plans to wed.
- Nine days later, Davis married a Black chorus girl named Loray White.
Sweeney’s Performance Background
Some commenters on Deadline defended Sweeney’s range, pointing to her performances in Ron Howard’s Eden and the film Christy as evidence of her dramatic capabilities beyond her Euphoria persona.
