Retired Actress, Kim Novak Had A Haunting Past, Once Confessed Of Being Raped In Her Early Teens

Kim Novak is one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. The Hollywood icon, Kim, who left Hollywood over five decades ago, is now making headlines for an upcoming project. Popular star, Sydney Sweeney is all set to portray Kim Novak on-screen in the upcoming biopic, Scandalous! According to multiple reports, Scandalous! will feature the forbidden love between Hollywood veteran actress, Kim and Sammy Davis Jr.

For the unversed, Kim and Sammy’s affair was short-lived due to rampant racism. Kim is widely known for her stellar dual role portrayal in the 1958 American psychological thriller film, Vertigo. But behind Kim’s glamorous acting career stands a haunting past about which her parents also had no clue. If you are interested in knowing about the following, we’ve got you covered.

Kim Novak was very shy during her childhood

Kim Novak was born as Marilyn Pauline Novak in Chicago. Her parents were very strict and serious. Kim’s father was a history teacher but lost his job during the Great Depression and worked for the railroad. Her mom worked in a factory to support the family. In her childhood, the Hollywood icon was very shy. She was so shy that whenever any guests came over, she used to hide behind the curtains. Kim’s mom signed her up to a youth group called the Fair Teen Club to help her get over her shyness.

Inside Kim Novak’s traumatic past, including bullies and sexual assault

Kim Novak grew up in a rough area of Chicago, which is considered a rape and murder hot spot. Thus, to protect Kim, her mom kept her in pigtails throughout her childhood and didn’t allow her to wear makeup. However, Kim faced bullies from the local children, who knocked her down, buried her in snow and threw stale food on her. The torture didn’t stop here. In her early teens, Kim was raped by multiple boys. But she never told her parents about the bullies and sexual assault. Following the traumatic incident, Kim got mental-health problems. The Irish Times quoted Kim as saying:

“I often got knocked down, buried in snow and pied with mouldy deli pies. It was in my early teens by multiple boys in the back seat of a stranger’s car. I inherited my mental illness from my father, but the rape must have added to it.”

Kim Novak’s illustrious acting career

Kim made her acting debut at the age of 21 with the film, Pushover. She won her first Golden Globe Award in the Star of Tomorrow category for her film, Phffft! However, with the film, Vertigo, Kim became an overnight star. On February 8, 1960, Kim was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Kim was considered a Hollywood sex symbol in her heyday and in 1995, she was ranked 92nd by Empire Magazine on a list comprising of 100 sexiest stars.

Kim Novak’s personal life

Kim had two marriages. In 1965, Kim tied the knot with English actor, Richard Johnson. But their marriage was short-lived, and they parted ways within one year of marriage. After her divorce, Kim gave love another chance and got married to equine veterinarian, Robert Malloy, in 1976. It was Kim’s longest relationship. However, in 2020, Robert tragically passed away, leaving his family mourning.

Kim was grief-stricken over Robert’s passing. To navigate through the tragic loss, the Hollywood icon found solace in painting. Speaking about the same, Kim told Closer Weekly US:

“I find my art is very prolific since my husband passed. I have a sense of him looking over my shoulder and watching me with that little smile on his face. Painting a picture of him felt like we could still communicate in a warm and intimate way. It made me feel less lonely.”

What are your thoughts on Kim Novak’s traumatic past? Let us know.

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