NEED TO KNOW
- Kim Novak was awarded the Icon Award at the Deauville American Film Festival in France on Saturday, Sept. 6
- The film festival presented her with the award to “celebrate the depth and influence of her journey” in the film industry
- Her appearance at the festival is also accompanied by a screening of her new, intimate documentary, titled Kim Novak’s Vertigo
Kim Novak has been known as an icon in film for decades — and now, the 92-year-old star is receiving a coveted award for her work.
On Saturday, Sept. 6, the Vertigo actress received the Icon Award at the Deauville American Film Festival in France, marking a rare appearance for the star. Novak walked the red carpet and accepted the honor onstage in a dramatic white gown with a silvery overlay.
Dancer-choreographer Benjamin Millepied presented Novak with the award. The French film festival wrote in a press release that she would be presented with the honor to “celebrate the depth and influence of her journey” in the film industry.
“Far from the female stereotypes shaped by the industry, she asserted her individuality through a raw, instinctive performance style,” the festival writes of Novak. “Long misunderstood by critics, her body of work is now recognized as that of a bold and forward-thinking actress.”
Novak’s award ceremony came just before a screening of Kim Novak’s Vertigo, a new documentary from director Alexandre O. Philippe that “offers an intimate portrait of this fiercely independent Hollywood legend,” per the release.
Novak is best known for starring in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1958 psychological mystery Vertigo, as well as classics including 1955’s Picnic with Willam Holden and The Man with the Golden Arm alongside Frank Sinatra, and the 1958 romance Bell, Book and Candle, which, like Vertigo, also starred James Stewart. Beginning in the late ’60s, she started to slowly phase out of acting and focused on painting. Her last screen role was in 1991’s Liebestraum.
The actress-turned-artist also recently made an appearance in Italy for the 82nd Venice International Film Festival for the premiere of Kim Novak’s Vertigo — and to accept the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement award.
During her Monday, Sept. 1, appearance, Novak was presented with the award by Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro.
Novak added in a press release that she was “deeply touched” to receive that honor. “To be recognized for my body of work at this time in my life is a dream come true. I will treasure every moment I spend in Venice. It will fill my heart with joy,” she said.
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The Hitchcock star’s team also spoke to PEOPLE about her new documentary ahead of the Italian premiere, reflecting on the deeply personal interviews she gives in it.
“I think it really represents who Kim is,” said her manager and close friend Sue Cameron, who is also the film’s executive producer. “Nobody knows who she really is. Nobody knows what she went through, the disasters in her childhood.”
“This is not a Hollywood-y documentary of famous names. This is about Kim, the person,” Cameron added. “She turned down a million dollars to write her autobiography 25 years ago. Because they wanted all the Hollywood dirt, and she says, ‘No, that’s not who I am, I won’t do it.’ ”
“She’s the last living golden goddess of film,” Novak’s manager added. “And what’s more important is in this documentary, we show her as the true fighter she was for women, even way back in the ’50s, when they tried to force her to wear certain makeup, and she would go wipe it off. She was the very first woman to have her own production company.”
Following its premiere in Venice, Kim Novak’s Vertigo will screen at the BFI London Film Festival in October.
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