Your parents were of Czech descent. Have you ever been interested in the roots of your family and tried to find more about their whereabouts? Why haven’t you come to Czechoslovakia earlier, you didn’t want to see home country of your grandparents?

I have been in Czechoslovakia in 60’ s with my mum and dad.They passed on but when we were here we stayed with the family, well... some members of the family but I don’ t know anything about them.I didn’ t really try to find something like family tree cos there is nobody alive at home in US so I don’t know how to find them.

When you argued with studio boss Harry Cohn about keeping your name Novak claiming “ I am a Czech” was it because you really felt like part of Czechoslovakia or since you thought Novak would sound more exotic so you used that to fend him off?

He wanted me to be called Kit Marlowe.It didn’ t sound like anybody, it had no foundation and I found important to keep my family name. I mean it’ s real person, I wanted to be who I am so I insisted on it, to keep it my way so he let me have that and yes, I felt to be Czechoslovakian.

Do you think that your career would have gone different way had Harry Cohn not died in 1958?

I left Hollywood when he died.He was like backbone of my career.I minded him a lot of ways.He knew what he was doing, nobody knew anything in the studio but him.He knew how to choose the movie.When he died, nobody knew anything about films.They wanted to put me into stupid movies about bathing beauties, so that didn’ t make any sense.And I din’ t want to do any movie without his picking

In 1966 you lost your house in mudslide.Do you believe in destiny so you could think that someone from Hollywood wants you to suffer for turning back to him?

Since I believe in destiny, these tragedies were all like signs saying me to leave, there was no holding me there.So those  signs were definitely telling me  it’ s time to leave film industry

Was it harder or easier to become a film star in 50’ than it is now?

Hmmm..../long thinking/, that’ s very interesting question.The answer is very difficult./Long thinking/.I don’ t know.

You were No.1. box office star in the world in 1956.Can you stay firmly on the ground if you want to or you are dragged here there and everywhere and you have to go with a flow?

You know, your days are segmented into sections.You have to be at certain time here or there, you don’ t have time to just walk barefoot in your garden or relax there cos there may be someone who takes a picture of you, hidden somewhere.I was driven crazy with it, you know.I had  to escape.It was too much for me, I was overwhelmed.The pressure at that time do you in.It is double edge sword since you meet famous people, many new doors are opened but you loose your freedom, your privacy.I don’ t think anybody can take it.That is why lots of stars end up on drugs or on alcohol.

FebioFest is a festival for independent films.What does freedom and independence mean to you?

Escape!!!!It’s very important aspect in my life to be free and independent.That is also one of the reasons why I love painting since making film is a team work while when I paint, it’ s just me.I can take my brushes and put out my feeling.That is very uplifting.

Which painters do you like, did any of them influence you?

Mark Chagall is one I like but I don’ t want to follow anybody.I don’ t look at say Monet and think :” Hey I like it, I will try that”.I just like to do my own thing.I mean I admire great artists but I don’ t follow any of them.I just want to express my own feeling.When I wake up in the morning, I go barefoot right into my studio cos all night long I was thinking about painting.I get out of my bed and go to studio without coffee without anything, just take my brushes and start to paint.When ideas run out then I have a cup of coffee, maybe I spend 4-12 hours painting without having cup of coffee.I am very dedicated painter, sometimes  I work till the night so my husband calls me”go to bed”.But I am driven to paint, you know, when I have any idea I do it non stop.

Was it your idea to bring your pictures to Febiofest?

Yes, I wanted to bring them here and they stay here a for a month after I leave.

So now, when there is such a nice weather would you go and paint say Prague castle?

No, I can’ t cos I didn’ t bring my brushes here and I have a program and when I paint, I start and then just paint and paint, it’s like obsession.I rate myself to be better painter than I was an actor.I was born to paint.

When you were playing “ Vertigo”, it was poorly received then, but 50 years on it was voted as one of the best films ever. Do you think the then audience didn’ t get the plot and Hitchcock was ahead of time?

I think the audience didn’ t get the plot at all.

It is said Hitchcock was ruthless to actresses.What was he like and did you get on well with him?

He was fine, I never found any problems with him.He was easy to get along with.He knew what he wanted, we was very specific about it.He made things very clear and made it easy really.I consider him as the best director in movie industry cos he never messed with your mind.He allow you to portray the character the way you wanted.He was specific in what he wanted, he knew the rules, he knew where he wanted you to stand.He know how you should dress, all those things but he never messed with your mind.He always allowed you to think what you wanted to do with your character, that was up to you.The things he wanted, that  was up to him.But he kept those things separated.As long as he didn’ t mess with those boundaries he was fine.He always listened.I didn’ t like my wardrobe but that was okay, that discomfort was exactly was I needed. I was supposed to be uncomfortable in what I wore and I also wore someone else’s shoes. I was supposed to be uncomfortable cos I was playing someone else and he was right about it.He gave me an aid with this character.I don’ t  have any bad feelings towards him at all.He was great director.He didn’ s show things as sex or violence explicitly he only showed a bit and left your fantasy work and that made you even more scared.Firstly I was disorientated because I didn’ t know what am I to be thinking but he said : No, I hired you because you are perfect for this role, you figured that out and I said to myself : Wait a minute, he is giving you an opportunity, okay, I get it” . Jimmy Stewart told me “Hey, he hired you cos he wanted you to play that”.

In 1966 you withdrew from public eyes till 1991.Was it difficult fort a star used to publicity to shut off and vanish?

No, it wasn’ t because that was my decision and I did what I wanted to do.It was my choice and I felt right about it.

Couple years ago you fell off your horse and  broke vertebras.Was it just one off experience or you like horses?

I like horses, I think in a way I like them more then people actually. It’s nice to watch young horse and what he can do and obviously when you ride them, accident can happen and mine was very painful.

What made you accept invitation and come to Prague for FebioFest?

I was very excited about it and it gave me opportunity to come back.In 1989, I was watching news about Velvet Revolution and what was happening here, about Václav Havel and I thought maybe this gives me a chance to come back one day, so I am here.

This interview was realized at Febio Fest.