Kim Novak’s Cherished Costars 

The Hollywood Legend Who Traded Glitz and Glam for Animals and Authenticity 

In the 1950s and ’60s, Kim Novak was one of the brightest stars in Hollywood, with iconic roles in Vertigo, Pal Joey, Bell, Book and Candle, and other enduring classics. But at the height of her fame, Novak left it all behind, trading leading men like James Stewart and Frank Sinatra for a new cast of costars … with fur, feathers, and scales. In this exclusive conversation with PETA’s Lisa Lange, Novak reflects on the profound connections with animals that changed her life. 

PETA: What was your first connection with an animal that made an impact on you? 

Kim Novak: Well, actually, it’s not a joyful one. My sister and I were just little girls, and my parents got us a dog called Snappy, a little terrier. He was just a sweet, lovable little guy, but he was a puppy, and of course he made messes in the house while he was learning. But my dad had a bad temper. And he mistreated him terribly. When he would mess up, my father would kick him down the stairs. It was just absolutely horrible. 

So right as a child, I became aware of how the abuse of animals – people not taking the time to understand – that’s not the way to teach them. 

Those are my early memories of being very aware of the need for respect and understanding. Humans talk about the intellect, but animals have a knowledge of their own, and it is to be respected, because it is where we could learn from them. 

PETA: People say animals don’t have a voice, but they do. 

Kim Novak: Oh, definitely. Maybe in a different language. But it’s there. 

“It’s joy for me to talk about creatures because that’s my love, you know?” 

PETA: What have animals taught you? 

Kim Novak: They taught me to listen. When you play different roles and become different characters, you start to lose yourself. So when I left Hollywood, it was important for me to find out what my value was, what I believed in. 

The best way to know was to get a response from animals, because they’re not looking at how much money you make or where you live. They’re looking for honesty. When I was able to win that trust and respect, it gave me a sense of value. The reaction is so genuine, whether it’s fear or pride or love. To be able to win over the love of creatures meant everything in helping me to love myself. 

It’s like my goat. Part of getting dressed, you put on something that smells good. Well, if ever I did that, my goat would stand up on his hind legs and come at me. It was like, “You’re not the person I know. You’re not Kim.” He totally thought I was impersonating me, because it looked like me, but it didn’t smell like me. That was a major lesson for me. 

PETA: What do you wish people understood better about animals? 

Kim Novak: I wish people would give them more respect. It’s understanding things from their perspective. Everything in life is communication. Where we get in trouble and get into wars, it is because we’re not understanding and looking at a different point of view. We need to pay attention to the needs of others. 

I always like to get eyeball to eyeball with a creature so you’re on equal levels, rather than talking down to them. It always bothered me, people teaching animals to do tricks. “Oh, look at my dog sit up and beg.” Well, come on. Why don’t you look at what they really have to offer? They have so much more to teach you. 

PETA: Please tell us about Sincerely, the snake you befriended. 

Kim Novak: It was early in the morning. There was a snake, and I could see his jaw looked out of whack. Once veterinarians got his jaw fixed, I took him home with me. After a week, we went back to the desert onto the deep sand. I turned him loose there. At first, he shimmered off into the brush. And then he turned around and came back and climbed up my horse’s leg. It was unbelievable. But we had already made such contact. 

Sincerely was one of my best friends. He would sleep under my pillow at night. But then I had to go do a movie, and I couldn’t take him with me. So, I went to a local pet store and asked if they would keep him for me while I’m gone. They had him in a terrarium. When I came back, I looked over, and he was tapping on the top of it. He heard me. He could tell I was there. It was incredible. We were really great friends. I took him everywhere. When I’d go to a restaurant, he’d always be wrapped up in my hair. He liked that, or in my horse’s mane. No one even knew he was there. He’d be peeking from around my ear. 

People don’t give them a chance to express who they are. They think of them as dangerous. We’re the ones who are dangerous to them. 

I also had a bird I fell in love with and who fell in love with me – a Steller’s jay named Shadow. He had fallen from his nest, and my husband, a veterinarian, stitched his wing. I thought he’d go back, but he didn’t want to leave. He stayed. 

When we’d have to burn brush, he saw me picking up sticks and putting them on a burn pile. He’d pick up little sticks and drop them in the pile. My husband, he’d make pancakes on Sunday, and he’d always make little ones for Shadow, and he’d bring the little pancakes to the rest of his jays. I kept the window open always so he could fly in or out. Sometimes while I was sleeping, he’d push a pine nut in between my lips. It was such a wonderful love. 

When I had to go away to make a movie, he was so upset. The little stuff I put in the suitcase, he’d pull it out, and he kept pulling it out. When I’d take my suitcase and get it in the car, he would get in front of the tires. It was like, “You can’t leave.” I had to put him in the house, close the door, and then get back in the car. He was just amazing.