
Hitchcock Kim Novak to be honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award at Venice Film Festival
Despite a short-lived career, Novak became "a living legend, earning her rightful place in history, with the respect and esteem of the film critics and industry alike", the festival said.
Novak said she was "deeply, deeply touched" by the award, which will be presented during the festival, which runs from 27 August to 6 September.
"To be recognised 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 in a statement.
Novak played the chilling dual role of suicidal blonde Madeleine Elster and brunette shop girl Judy Barton in Vertigo, which was released in 1958.
Other memorable roles included a prostitute with a big heart in Kiss Me, Stupid by Billy Wilder (1964), a witch in Richard Quine's Bell, Book and Candle (1958) and an adulteress in another Quine film, Strangers When We Meet (1960).
In 1965, she largely turned her back on Hollywood, refusing to accept the iron-fisted rule of studio executives, and turned to painting instead.
The festival's artistic director Alberto Barbera said that Novak had not planned on becoming an actress but "inadvertently" become a screen legend.
She was "one of the most beloved icons of an entire era of Hollywood films, from her auspicious debut during the mid-1950s until her premature and voluntary exile from the gilded cage of Los Angeles a short while later," he said.
"Independent and nonconformist, she created her own production company and went on strike to renegotiate a salary that was much lower than that of her male co-stars," he added.
The award "celebrates a star who was emancipated, a rebel at the heart of Hollywood who illuminated the dreams of movie lovers," Barbera said.
The documentary Kim Novak's Vertigo by Alexandre Philippe, made in collaboration with the actress, will be presented in its world premiere screening during the festival.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Irish Sun
20-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Beloved star who played iconic role for incredible 50 years as the first soap ‘vixen' dies aged 91
A BELOVED soap opera star who played an iconic character for 50 years has died, aged 91. Eileen Fulton, best known for her on and off portrayal of Lisa Miller in the popular show As the World Turns, died on July 14 in her hometown of Ashville, North Carolina. 4 Eileen Fulton has died, aged 91 Credit: The Mega Agency 4 The iconic actress was best known for her work on As the World Turns Credit: Alamy 4 She died in her hometown in North Carolina Credit: Alamy Her Fulton popularised her character Lisa with a "bad girl" aesthetic, winning the hearts of many at home - from 1960 all the way until 2010. The next door" figure. But after READ MORE CELEBRITY NEWS Her character was renowned for her "vixen" vibe - and Time magazine once described Fulton's Later on in the show, Lisa became a more gentle dame, with her personality maturing as both the actress and At one point during the show, Fulton famously had a "grandma clause" locked into her contract. This would have prevented the character of Lisa from having grandchildren - out of fear that it would make her seem old or irrelevant. Most read in Celebrity Her Fulton and Don Hastings - who played her first husband on the show - were also both given Lifetime Achievement honors at the Daytime Emmys. Eighties TV star with A-list actress daughter and famous ex passes away aged 78 after year-long battle with cancer Eileen Fulton was born as Margaret McClarty in Asheville in 1933. She moved homes frequently as a child due to her dad's vocation as a Methodist priest. By the age of two, she was already keen on acting. She interrupted one of her dad's services by singing the old folk song Shortnin' Bread - and the endured the resulting spanking, she told the Washington Post. Fulton majored in music at Greensboro College and her dad got her a job in a church choir. But she was dead-set on moving to New York City - with big dreams of "being the greatest actress on Broadway". She studied under renowned acting teachers Sanford Meisner and Lee Strasberg, as well as modern dance pioneer Martha Graham. And her journey continued after embarking on a showbiz career that finally took off in 1960 - when she was cast on As the World Turns. For the next 50 years, she repeatedly left the show. But she always wound up coming back - on one occasion commenting: "I've quit forever three times." Early on in the show, Fulton worked tirelessly to juggle the soap and the stage. She would film by day - acting in such shows as The Fantasticks - and act by night, in the Broadway production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? for example. Her most enduring role, however, will always be known as her chic and ruthlessly conniving portrayal of Lisa on As the World Turns. Fan-favourite Lisa made a whopping eight thousand appearances on the show - cementing herself as a core presence on the soap opera. She was known for her quick-thinking improvised quips while performing live - and her character even got a brief spin-off called Our Private World in 1965. Alongside her soap work, she performed a touring cabaret act. She one said: "I love to sing. I love to make the audience cry. Of course, then I have to cheer them up." Fulton also wrote a string of novels during the 1980s and 1990s - including six murder mysteries and a roman à clef called Soap Opera. She is survived by one of her two brothers, both of her sisters-in-law and her niece, as well as a grandnephew and grandniece. 4 She played her iconic role for 50 years Credit: Alamy


The Irish Sun
18-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Popular UK theme park shuts NINE of its rides over ‘public safety' fears amid watchdog probe
A POPULAR UK theme park has closed a whopping nine rides over 'public safety' fears. This comes after a routine inspection by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Advertisement 5 Woodlands Family Theme Park in Devon was forced to close nine rides Credit: Instagram 5 The site was inspected by the HSE earlier this month Credit: Instagram 5 The Theme Park was at one point unable to show valid industry standard safety checks Credit: Instagram It has been reported that Woodlands Family Theme Park was ordered to temporarily close a number of attractions in the park. This was after the Devon theme park was apparently unable to show valid safety checks to the watchdog during the visit. As part of an ongoing programme of inspections, the HSE attended the site on June 26th. This is part of a wider look at fixed and mobile fairgrounds across the UK to make people more comfortable with theme park safety. Advertisement READ MORE ON THEME PARKS The body explained that the site near Dartmouth was "unable to provide sufficient assurance" around the safety of nine of its rides. It seems that the "declarations of compliance" for some of the attractions were missing. The inspection is part of a wider scheme that was the industry's adopted standard for inspection and certification when it comes to fairgrounds and amusement parks. It was started to improve safety standards and increase confidence from the public in consultation with the HSE. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Exclusive Exclusive Exclusive The following rides in the park were affected; Sea Dragon, Vertigo, Trauma Tower, Tractor Ride, Submarine Ride, Dragon Ferris Wheel, Polar Pilots, Dizzy Dune Buggies and Rocking Tug. This was after the director of an inspection company was suspended from their position in the Amusement Device Inspection Procedures Scheme (ADIPS). New hossoland theme park that has opened in Poland However, according to Devon Live, the body did confirm that the theme park was able to quickly rectify the issues to "minimise disruption". The outlet reported that it stated: "After David Geary of DMG Technical Limited was suspended from the Amusement Device Inspection Procedures Scheme (ADIPS), Declarations of Compliance for the nine rides were missing. Advertisement "HSE took proactive action to stop them being used until the issue was resolved. "Woodlands Family Theme Park urgently commissioned an inspection body, who produced the Declarations of Compliance required, meaning the rides could reopen with minimal delay." Statement by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) HSE inspector Melissa Lai-Hung explained the park was closed "in the interests of public safety." "This action was taken in the interests of public safety. At this time of year, any enforcement action will cause inconvenience, but it is vital that those who enjoy amusement parks are kept safe and feel reassured. We thank Woodlands for their co-operation to resolve this matter." Meanwhile, Woodlands Family Theme Park said: "We take HSE-related compliance legislation very seriously. As soon as this was brought to our attention, all the rides were reinspected by another registered inspector. We would like to add that at no time would Woodlands ever be involved in anything related to non-compliance of safety. We have and will remain totally committed to raising and maintaining standards in our industry." In a statement referred to The Sun, HSE inspector Melissa Lai-Hung said: "This action was taken in the interests of public safety. "At this time of year, any enforcement action will cause inconvenience, but it is vital that those who enjoy amusement parks are kept safe and feel reassured. Advertisement "We thank Woodlands for their co-operation to resolve this matter." In a statement released through HSE, Woodlands Family Theme Park said: "We take HSE-related compliance legislation very seriously. "As soon as this was brought to our attention, all the rides were reinspected by another registered inspector." The park added: "We would like to add that at no time would Woodlands ever be involved in anything related to non-compliance of safety. Advertisement "We have and will remain totally committed to raising and maintaining standards in our industry.' 5 The watchdog was missing 'declarations of compliance' for some of the rides Credit: Instagram 5 Members of the HSE have stated that the problems could be quickly rectified Credit: Instagram The Sun has also approached Woodlands Family Theme Park for direct comment. Advertisement


The Irish Sun
27-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Sir Rod Stewart says voters should ‘give Nigel Farage a chance'
SIR Rod Stewart says voters should 'give Nigel Farage a chance'. The 80-year-old rocker slammed Prime Minister Keir Starmer's policies on fishing rights in Scotland as he revealed he thinks the Reform leader is "coming across well". Advertisement 2 Rod Stewart revealed he thinks Nigel Farage is "coming across well" Credit: Getty 2 It comes as new polls suggest Reform could win the next election Credit: Alamy New polls suggest Reform is on track to win the next election - with more than a third of voters saying they will support the right-wing party . And Rod 'The Mod' is no different. Ahead of his Glastonbury set this Sunday, the Maggie May singer insisted that despite his 'extreme wealth', he is not out of touch. Sir Rod was asked in an interview with future heading. Advertisement READ MORE ON THE SCOTTISH SUN He responded: "It's hard for me because I'm extremely wealthy, and I deserve to be, so a lot of it doesn't really touch me. But that doesn't mean I'm out of touch. "For instance, I've read about Starmer cutting off the fishing in Scotland and giving it back to the EU. That hasn't made him popular. We're fed up with the Tories. We've got to give Farage a chance. He's coming across well." "What options have we got? I know some of his family , I know his brother, and I quite like him. "But Starmer's all about getting us out of Brexit and I don't know how he's going to do that. Still, the country will survive. It could be worse. We could be in the Gaza Strip." Advertisement Most read in Celebrity It comes after the music legend hit out at Farage last June after he claimed that the West provoked Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Stewart previously said he was Sir Rod Stewart drops F-bomb as he's joined onstage by kids & Jennifer Lopez after winning Lifetime Achievement award We previously told how Sir Rod lifted the lid on exactly how much he is getting paid to play at Glastonbury this year - as well as how much money he'll lose. He is set to return to Worthy Farm for the first time in decades, having last performed on the Pyramid Stage 23 years ago. Advertisement He's performing as this year's Legends slot act, joining a long list of iconic acts who've taken on the prestigious role.