Key Points
- Kim Novak, 93, criticizes Sydney Sweeney, 28, as “totally wrong” to play her in the upcoming film Scandalous!, which depicts Novak’s 1957 romance with Sammy Davis Jr.
- Novak told The Times of London that Sweeney “sticks out so much above the waist,” implying her physical appearance mismatches Novak’s.
- Novak worries the film will overly emphasise the sexual aspects of her relationship with Davis Jr., who died in 1990 at age 64, rather than their shared interests and need for acceptance.
- Their interracial romance ended due to threats from Columbia Pictures boss Harry Cohn, who feared business repercussions and reportedly threatened Davis with mob violence.
- This is Novak’s second public objection; in August 2025, she told The Guardian the relationship was not “scandalous” but based on common ground.
- Sweeney, starring opposite David Jonsson as Davis Jr., has expressed honour in the role, relating to Novak’s Hollywood scrutiny; Euphoria co-star Colman Domingo directs.
- Sweeney paid homage to Novak at the 2025 Met Gala with a Miu Miu gown inspired by Novak’s 1967 film The Legend of Lylah Clare.
- Page Six sought comment from Sweeney’s representative but received no response.
- Filming for Scandalous! has not yet begun.
London (Britain Today News) March 28, 2026 – Hollywood legend Kim Novak has reignited controversy over the casting of Sydney Sweeney in the biopic Scandalous!, declaring the young actress “totally wrong” for the role. In a candid interview, the 93-year-old icon expressed deep reservations about Sweeney’s physical suitability and the film’s potential focus on salacious elements of her past romance with Sammy Davis Jr.
- Key Points
- Why Does Kim Novak Believe Sydney Sweeney Is Wrong for the Role?
- What Was the Nature of Kim Novak and Sammy Davis Jr.’s Relationship?
- How Has Sydney Sweeney Responded to the Casting and Novak’s Criticism?
- Who Is Directing Scandalous! and What Is the Film’s Status?
- Why Is Novak’s Story Still Relevant in 2026?
Why Does Kim Novak Believe Sydney Sweeney Is Wrong for the Role?
As reported by Camilla Long of The Times of London in an interview published on Friday, Kim Novak stated that Sydney Sweeney
“sticks out so much above the waist.”
Novak, famed for her roles in classics like Vertigo (1958) and Bell, Book and Candle (1958), elaborated on her concerns during the discussion, highlighting a perceived mismatch in physique.
“There’s no way it wouldn’t be a sexual relationship because Sydney Sweeney looks sexy all the time,”
Novak continued.
“She was totally wrong to play me.”
Novak emphasised that she would have “never approved” of the drama’s production in the first place. The film, yet to begin filming, stars Sweeney opposite British actor David Jonsson as the legendary entertainer Sammy Davis Jr., with Euphoria co-star Colman Domingo directing.
This marks the second time Novak has voiced her disapproval. Page Six coverage from 31 August 2025 detailed her earlier comments to The Guardian. As reported by Xan Brooks of The Guardian during Novak’s Venice Lifetime Achievement Award interview on 30 August 2025, she said:
“I don’t think the relationship was scandalous. He’s somebody I really cared about. We had so much in common, including that need to be accepted for who we are and what we do, rather than how we look. But I’m concerned they’re going to make it all sexual reasons.”
What Was the Nature of Kim Novak and Sammy Davis Jr.’s Relationship?
Novak and Davis Jr. shared a brief but intense romance in 1957, a time when interracial relationships faced severe societal backlash in Hollywood. According to multiple reports cited by Page Six, their affair blossomed over shared experiences, including a mutual desire for acceptance beyond superficial judgments. Davis Jr., who passed away in 1990 at age 64, connected with Novak on intellectual and emotional levels, as she reiterated to The Times of London.
The relationship abruptly ended due to interference from Columbia Pictures executive Harry Cohn, under whose contract Novak worked. Cohn reportedly feared the interracial pairing would damage box office prospects. Sources, including historical accounts referenced in Page Six’s 28 March 2026 article, claim Cohn threatened Davis Jr. with mob violence to force the split. This coercive tactic underscored the era’s racial tensions and studio control over stars’ personal lives.
Novak has consistently downplayed any “scandalous” label, insisting to The Guardian’s Xan Brooks that their bond was rooted in commonality rather than mere physical attraction.
How Has Sydney Sweeney Responded to the Casting and Novak’s Criticism?
Despite Novak’s pointed critique, Sweeney has embraced the opportunity. In an exclusive October 2025 interview with People magazine, as covered by journalist Christina Dugan Ramirez, the Anyone But You (2023) and Euphoria star shared her enthusiasm. Sweeney stated:
“I think her story is still very relevant today in that she dealt with Hollywood and scrutiny with her relationships and her own private life and the control of her image. And I think that for me, I relate to it in a lot of different ways.”
She described herself as “incredibly honored” to portray Novak.
Sweeney has already channelled the icon publicly. At the 2025 Met Gala on 5 May 2025, she wore a sparkly black beaded floor-length Miu Miu gown adorned with a gold brooch inspired by Novak’s attire in the 1967 film The Legend of Lylah Clare, as reported by Page Six. Speaking to Vogue on the red carpet, Sweeney called the look an “homage” to Novak’s style.
Page Six noted on 28 March 2026 that they reached out to Sweeney’s representative for comment on Novak’s latest remarks, but no response was received at the time of publication.
Who Is Directing Scandalous! and What Is the Film’s Status?
Euphoria alum Colman Domingo is at the helm as director of Scandalous!, with Sweeney and David Jonsson leading the cast. The project, which explores Novak’s forbidden 1957 liaison with Davis Jr., remains in pre-production, with filming not yet underway as of March 2026.
Novak’s interview with The Times of London revives interest in a story that blends Hollywood glamour, racial prejudice, and personal agency. Her candid dismissal of Sweeney’s casting – rooted in both aesthetic and thematic concerns – highlights ongoing debates about biographical authenticity in film.
Why Is Novak’s Story Still Relevant in 2026?
Sweeney’s own words to People underscore the timelessness of Novak’s experiences. The 28-year-old actress draws parallels between Novak’s battles with image control and modern celebrity scrutiny, amplified by social media. Novak’s 1957 ordeal, curtailed by studio mogul Harry Cohn’s threats, mirrors broader industry power dynamics that persist today.
Historical context adds depth: Cohn’s alleged mob threats to Davis Jr. reflect the violent undercurrents of 1950s America, where interracial love challenged entrenched norms. Davis Jr., a trailblazing Rat Pack member and civil rights advocate, later reflected on such pressures in his autobiography.
Novak, now 93 and retired since the 1990s, guards her legacy fiercely. Her Vertigo role cemented her as Alfred Hitchcock’s muse, yet she retreated from fame to preserve privacy on her Oregon ranch. This biopic thrust reopens that narrative, pitting her voice against a new generation’s interpretation.
Critics and fans alike watch as Scandalous! progresses. Will Sweeney’s preparation – including her Met Gala tribute – sway Novak? Or will the film proceed amid the icon’s disapproval? As Hollywood grapples with #MeToo-era reckonings and diverse storytelling, Novak’s stance amplifies calls for subject approval in biopics.
