Honestly, if you were looking for Kim Novak at a flashy Hollywood premiere this year, you were looking in the wrong place. The woman who once stood as the world’s number-one box office star doesn't do the "scene" anymore. She hasn't for a long time.
Kim Novak today 2024 is living a life that most people in her position would find unthinkable. She’s 91 years old. She lives on a ranch in the Rogue River Valley of Oregon. Instead of dodging paparazzi, she’s usually found hanging out with her horses or working in her art studio, covered in paint. It’s a far cry from the days of Vertigo and the suffocating grip of Columbia Pictures.
She's alive, she's well, and she's finally in control.
Survival in the Oregon Woods
There’s a reason you don’t see her on every talk show. Years ago, Novak realized that staying in the film industry was, in her words, a "survival issue." She felt like she was losing her soul to a system that treated her like a piece of meat or a blank canvas.
In 2024, her days are dictated by the rhythm of nature. She rides her horses. She sketches. She paints. She’s actually a very accomplished visual artist, and she views her paintings as her real legacy—even more so than her films. "I didn't want to be swallowed whole by Hollywood," she’s said. And she wasn't. She escaped.
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She shares her quiet life with her animals, having lost her husband of 44 years, veterinarian Robert Malloy, in 2020. While that loss hit her hard, those who know her say she remains incredibly resilient. She doesn't keep track of time because she says it makes you feel like an "old lady," and she certainly doesn't feel like one.
The Recent "Comeback" Nobody Expected
Even though she loves her solitude, Kim Novak made waves recently. In late 2025, she actually traveled all the way to Italy. Why? Because the Venice Film Festival honored her with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.
It was a huge moment.
She admitted she was nervous. She almost didn't go. She felt physically fragile and worried the trip was too much. But she reportedly heard her mother’s voice telling her to "just go and have fun." So she did. She showed up, she was celebrated, and she premiered a new documentary titled Kim Novak’s Vertigo.
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Seeing her on that red carpet was a reminder of why she mattered. She wasn't playing a character. She was just Kim.
Why She Really Walked Away
Most people think actors retire because the work dries up. For Novak, it was the opposite. She was at the top. But she was being bullied. Harry Cohn, the head of Columbia, famously called her "the fat Polack" and tried to control every aspect of her life, including her name and who she dated.
She fought back. She went on strike for better pay. She insisted on keeping her own last name.
Kim Novak Today 2024: The Artist’s Reality
Her art isn't just a hobby. It’s her voice. If you look at her paintings today, they are deeply "Hitchcockian." They are full of mystery, bright colors, and hidden layers. She uses art to process her bipolar disorder—a condition she’s been very open about in recent years.
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- The Oregon Ranch: This is her sanctuary. It’s where she feels most "real."
- The Documentary: Kim Novak's Vertigo is the closest we’ve ever gotten to her true story.
- The Legacy: She wants to be remembered as a painter who happened to act, not the other way around.
Basically, she’s spent the last few decades unlearning everything Hollywood taught her. She doesn't care about the "blonde bombshell" image. She cares about the truth.
Handling the Bullies
Remember that 2014 Oscar appearance? The internet was cruel. People attacked her for her appearance, not realizing she was dealing with the effects of a "relaxing pill" taken on an empty stomach and the natural process of aging in the public eye.
But Kim didn't hide. She stood up to the bullies. She spoke out against the pressure for women to stay frozen in time. That’s the Kim Novak of 2024: a woman who is perfectly fine with being 91 and looking like she’s lived a full, complicated life.
She’s a survivor.
What You Can Learn from Kim's Journey
If you’re looking for inspiration on how to age with grace and grit, look no further. Kim Novak’s life today offers some pretty solid lessons for anyone feeling pressured by society's expectations.
- Prioritize your mental health: Novak’s move to Oregon wasn't a "retreat"; it was a rescue mission for her own mind.
- Find a creative outlet: Whether it's painting, writing, or gardening, having something that belongs only to you is vital.
- Don't be afraid to say no: She walked away from millions because the price was her identity. That's a power move.
- Accept your changes: She’s open about her bipolar diagnosis and her aging process, proving that vulnerability is actually a strength.
If you want to support her work or see what she's been up to, you can check out her official website, which features her latest paintings. It’s the best way to see the world through her eyes without the Hollywood filter.