Kim Novak Calls Sydney Sweeney “Totally Wrong” to Play Her Onscreen

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Kim Novak isn’t feeling euphoric about Sydney Sweeney portraying her onscreen.

The actress from Vertigo responded to the news that the Euphoria star was cast in the upcoming movie Scandalous—a film about her 1950s relationship with Sammy Davis Jr.—and explained why she was upset by the decision.

Kim told The Times of London that she would not have signed off on the photo, explaining that Sydney, age 28, appears disproportionately tall in the image, specifically above the waist.

The 93-year-old woman, recalling her brief relationship with the late jazz musician in 1957-1958 – a time when their interracial romance drew a lot of public attention – said they shared many interests. However, she worried the upcoming movie would focus too much on the physical aspects of their connection.

She believes Sydney Sweeney wasn’t right for the role, explaining that the actress always appears overtly sexual, making a non-sexual relationship between the characters unbelievable.

News first surfaced in October 2024 that Sydney had been cast in the project. David Jonsson, known for his role in Industry, is playing Sammy, and Colman Domingo will be directing – marking his first time in the director’s chair, several sources report.

Even though Kim had some doubts about Sydney’s role in the movie, she’d previously expressed how thrilled she was to play the famous actress.

She explained to People magazine in October that the woman’s experiences still resonate today, particularly how she navigated the pressures of Hollywood, public attention on her relationships and personal life, and the desire to control her own public image. She added that she personally connects with many aspects of the story.

Sydney has been very open about her struggles with body image. She recently shared how she learned to accept her body, a process that began in her childhood.

She explained to Us Weekly that she developed breasts very early, wearing a 32DD bra by sixth grade. This made her feel insecure and she always wanted to hide her body because she never felt comfortable in her clothes.

Landing the role of Cassie Howard on the HBO show helped Sydney Sweeney understand the strength in self-assurance.

She continued, saying our bodies are amazing and we should love and feel comfortable in our own skin.

Similar to Sydney, many celebrities have openly discussed their journeys to self-acceptance. Read on to discover what other stars have shared about feeling good in their own skin.

It feels like we’ve lost sight of what normal bodies actually look like. Many of us, including myself, are working on accepting our bodies, and that’s okay – it takes time. I’m realistic; I see the changes in my body and acknowledge I’ve gained weight. But I also see the beautiful children – my son and daughter – that my body has created, and I’m genuinely happy.

In February 2020, Leonardo DiCaprio responded to photos of himself surfing that appeared online. He explained that he didn’t start taking his shirt off in public until he was in his mid-30s, and that years of criticism about his body in the media contributed to his insecurities. He said he now feels good about himself at 37 and isn’t bothered by the paparazzi trying to photograph him while surfing.

In August 2021, he revealed a tattoo that said “Body Love,” playfully imitating the logo of the Body Glove brand, known for water sports equipment.

In 2018, the singer shared on Instagram that despite having stretch marks, cellulite, and extra fat – challenges she faced while battling bulimia for years – she still loves herself.

Demi Lovato explained to TopMob News that after comparing herself to Instagram models, she realized she wanted to show her fans—and anyone else looking at her account—that what people see online isn’t always an accurate reflection of reality. She decided to embrace her imperfections—which she prefers to think of as simply parts of who she is—and demonstrate that being imperfect is what truly makes her beautiful.

In December 2020, she posted on Instagram photos showing her stretch marks outlined with glitter.

Let’s be real – nobody wakes up looking perfect! It just goes to show how much a good team of stylists and makeup artists can do.

Growing up, I never once heard a woman express love or pride for her own body – not my mom, my sister, or any of my friends. That’s why I make a point of telling my daughter, Mia, that I love and am proud of my body, because building a positive body image needs to start when children are young.

Just a reminder: wear a bikini if that’s what you want to wear! You absolutely don’t need to be a certain size to enjoy it.

I’m often asked about my confidence and where it comes from. The truth is, it comes from within. I simply made a decision to embrace my own beauty and started living as if I already believed it. I choose clothes and makeup that make me feel good, and that makes a huge difference. It’s not about what others think; it’s about how you see yourself. Treat your body like a sacred space – it’s your home, so take care of it and make it feel good.

Over the years, I’ve consistently shown that I don’t care what others think about my body. I’ve confidently walked red carpets in designer clothes as a size 14, and even filmed intimate scenes shortly after surgery, scars and all. I understand my body is constantly changing, and that’s okay. No matter my size, I’m equally happy and proud of everything my body has experienced and achieved.

It’s easy to be hard on ourselves and our appearance, even when others don’t notice. I’ve seen comments about my weight, suggesting I’m trying to conform to unrealistic beauty standards. Actually, maintaining a healthy weight is a real challenge for me, especially when I’m stressed or getting older. To cope, I try to practice self-compassion – I remind myself to be as kind and understanding to myself as I would be to my own daughter, and it genuinely makes a difference.

My advice to young women would be to not focus so much on their weight. It’s something girls often worry about unnecessarily, and there are much more important things to think about. And for everyone – young men and women – your unique qualities are what make you strong. So many people try to fit in, but those who stand out are the ones who succeed. I used to be self-conscious about my nose, but now I’ve learned to accept it, and that’s okay.

When I first got the role of Annalise Keating, I immediately thought she was captivating and intriguing. I was used to playing characters who were very different – women who had to physically transform for the part. So my initial reaction was, ‘I need to lose weight and learn to move like Kerry Washington in heels!’ But then I realized, ‘Why should I have to change myself at all?’ I’ve come to believe that the greatest gift is being true to who you are, and I finally embraced that idea recently. I think my real strength as an actress is creating a world that you, the viewer, willingly enter. I don’t try to fit into your expectations; I want you to come into my world and experience things from my perspective – with my body, my skin tone, and at my age.

It bothers me when people call me brave for simply being myself and feeling confident in my body. It’s not bravery, it’s just me being comfortable and feeling good. If someone like Anne Hathaway were to appear in a bikini on a billboard, no one would praise her courage – it’s a double standard that exists for women. I also don’t appreciate the surprise when I embrace my own beauty; it feels unnecessary and a bit shocking to others.

In 2016, the celebrity responded to criticism online after being labeled a role model for young teens who might be vulnerable to eating disorders.

Honestly, I was a little confused by her first tweet – she basically asked if we were getting the joke and said she’d explain more! Then, she followed up with something so much better. She told everyone to look in the mirror, appreciate their bodies, and just love themselves! She used hashtags like #thickgirlswinning and #skinnygirlswinning to emphasize that all bodies are beautiful and deserve love, and that we’re all winning when we embrace that. It was such a positive message, and I loved that she turned a potentially negative situation into something empowering.

As a huge fan of Zendaya, I was so impressed by something she did back in 2016. A magazine heavily photoshopped a picture of her, and she wasn’t afraid to call them out on it! She posted on Instagram about how things like that make women feel insecure and create impossible beauty standards. She’s all about loving yourself honestly and authentically, so she took it upon herself to share the unedited photo alongside the altered one, and she said she loved the real version so much more. It was such a powerful statement and really showed her commitment to self-love!

In an interview with New You, the star spoke out against excessive photoshopping, saying she doesn’t believe in ‘ugly.’ She believes perfection means simply being yourself, because no one else can be you – your fingerprints and DNA are unique. She wants her followers to know she’s not perfect either and faces the same struggles as everyone else, emphasizing the importance of self-confidence.

Don’t worry about what others think of your appearance—accept yourself as you are and be happy. Why would you suffer and deprive yourself just to please other people? It doesn’t make sense.

I embrace being a strong, powerful, and beautiful woman, and I know there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. It’s vital to focus on the good things in life, because dwelling on the negative can be really discouraging. I simply don’t have time for negativity – I have goals to achieve, like winning championships, and people I want to motivate, and that’s what drives me.

I don’t weigh myself – I don’t even have a scale. With my two young daughters, I want to set a good example and not focus on weight. For me, it’s more about accepting myself as I am. It’s easy to find things you don’t like when you look in the mirror, but I choose to focus on feeling healthy and grateful for what I have. I don’t need to be perfect, and I’m happy with how things are.

Honestly, getting pregnant completely changed how I saw my body. Before, I felt so much pressure to look a certain way, like I needed to be ‘swimsuit ready.’ But carrying a baby made me realize my body was meant for so much more than just appearances. It was incredible to feel myself growing and know everything was healthy. It was like, ‘Wow, I’m building a life!’ And that’s how I’ve felt ever since – grateful for what my body can do, not just how it looks.

It’s strange how society now values thinness over health. I recently saw a naturopath for the first time and shared my struggles with food anxiety and constant dieting. She asked a question that really resonated with me: what would you focus on if you weren’t so preoccupied with your weight? It made me realize all the hobbies and interests I’d let go of. Somewhere along the way, I became obsessed with being thin, and it took over my thoughts. I’m finally letting go of the idea that I’ll be happier if I’m thinner, even after all the effort. Our bodies are naturally different, and while healthy eating and exercise are important for well-being, they don’t guarantee weight loss.

I’ve been hearing people talk about my body, and I wanted to say: I’m proud of who I am, and you should be too! It doesn’t matter what you do or who you are – embrace yourself. There are countless reasons why you don’t need to change for anyone else to achieve your goals. Just be yourself, and be unapologetically you – that’s what truly makes someone a champion. (This was in response to comments about my performance at the Super Bowl.)

I used to severely restrict my eating for weeks before any photoshoot, even if I was just wearing a t-shirt. Then I’d obsess over the pictures, constantly criticizing them and usually taking them down. But yesterday, I decided to challenge that pattern and embrace my body as it is. I’m choosing to stop trying to change my chest, hips, and curves – features I inherited from my parents who love me unconditionally. I understand some people might see this as vain, but if they knew how much courage it took, and the body image struggles I faced growing up, they might feel differently.

I often look at myself in the mirror and playfully acknowledge my flaws, like saying, ‘Okay, maybe my shape isn’t perfect, but that’s alright – I have solutions!’ It’s amazing how much impact our self-talk has. Simply telling yourself ‘I love you’ or offering even one positive affirmation each day can really shift your perspective and improve how you feel about yourself.

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2026-03-29 03:18