What Was Kim Novak’s Final Film? The Movie That Brought Her Out of Retirement
What To Know
- Kim Novak’s final film role was in the 1991 psychological thriller Liebestraum, where she played a pivotal supporting character.
- Novak gradually left Hollywood in the late 1960s, seeking a quieter life focused on painting and personal pursuits after growing weary of the pressures of fame.
- Since Liebestraum, she has not returned to acting in narrative films, instead making occasional public appearances and participating in documentaries about her career.
Kim Novak turns 93 on February 13, 2025, and for generations of movie lovers, she remains one of the most unforgettable faces of classic Hollywood, best known for her haunting performance in Vertigo. While she mainly stopped acting in the 1960s, many fans are surprised to learn that her final film role actually arrived in 1991, in a little-known drama called Liebestraum. Since the ’90s, she has lived a much quieter life away from the cameras.
Why did Kim Novak quit acting?
By the late 1960s, Novak had already begun stepping away from Hollywood life. After years as one of Columbia Pictures’ biggest stars, she reportedly grew tired of the studio system and the pressures that came with fame. Acting roles became fewer and more selective, and she eventually shifted her focus to painting and a more private life away from Los Angeles. She made occasional returns to acting in the 1970s and 1980s, but they were rare appearances.
Everett Collection
That changed briefly in the early ’90s — in 1990, she starred alongside Ben Kingsley in a film called The Children, and then, director Mike Figgis cast her in his 1991 film Liebestraum, which translates to “Dream of Love.” The moody psychological thriller starred Kevin Anderson and Bill Pullman and revolved around a man uncovering dark secrets from his family’s past. Novak played Lillian Anderssen Munnsen, a terminally ill woman whose memories and history help drive the mystery forward. It was a small role but emotionally important, and it marked her first film appearance in years.
Unfortunately, Liebestraum never reached a large audience. The film received only a limited theatrical release in the United States and earned just $133,645 at the domestic box office. Reviews were mixed, and the movie quickly disappeared from theaters. Because of that, many people never realized they were watching the final screen performance of one of Hollywood’s most iconic leading ladies.
MGM/Everett Collection
Where is Kim Novak today?
Liebestraum stands as the last narrative feature film Kim Novak ever made. After its release, she chose not to return to acting. In the years that followed, Novak focused on her artwork, her personal life, and occasional public appearances celebrating her classic films.
She has remained connected to her legacy in other ways. In 2025, she participated in the documentary Kim Novak’s Vertigo, which explored her experiences in making Alfred Hitchcock‘s Vertigo. But that project featured Novak as herself, reflecting on her past, not performing in a scripted role.
Remind 
February 2021
1990s Rom-Coms
Pop some popcorn and cozy up to feel-good movies and TV shows from a generation ago.
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