A.M.P.A.S./Michael YadaKim Novak elicited some animated responses on Twitter after she struggled to speak at the Oscars.
During Sunday's live broadcast, the 81-year-old actress joined Matthew McConaughey on stage to present the award for Best Animated Feature to Disney's Frozen. Novak—known for her roles in 1950s classics like Vertigo and The Man With the Golden Arm—appeared somewhat stiff and stumbled over her words.
Many social media users—including a few famous ones—criticized the actress' looks and demeanor, while others leapt to her defense.
Frozen, the sequel #Oscars pic.twitter.com/cTVv1xgNNN
? Joel Pavelski (@joelcifer) March 3, 2014This is the second straight appearance by Kim Novak at the Academy Awards. Last year she appeared in the "In Memorium" section.
? Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) March 3, 2014Kim Novak deserves our respect & did just fine. Her co presenter was the gentleman she deserves.
— Suzanne Carrico (@carriconyc) March 3, 2014Kim Novak giving Jaqueline Bisset a run for her ?crazy stage antics? money.
#YouCantHandleMcConaugheysWeed
#Oscars2014
? Retta (@unfoRETTAble) March 3, 2014Kim Novak was just safely transported back to the Hollywood Wax Museum. #Oscars
? Nick Youssef (@NickYoussef) March 3, 2014I'm assuming Kim Novak was representing the movie "Mask."
? Fortune Feimster (@fortunefunny) March 3, 2014YOU KNOW WHAT GUYS KIM NOVAK IS 81 AND SHE DIDNT FALL DOWN TWICE UNLIKE SOME OTHER PEOPLE I KNOW
? billy eichner (@billyeichner) March 3, 2014Ha! Kim Novak announcing "Frozen!" #irony
? Matt Helms (@MattHelms) March 3, 2014I just want to hear the inner monologue of Jennifer Lawrence as she looks at Kim Novak's face, THIS IS WHAT HOLLYWOOD WILL DO TO YOU TOO JEN
? Molly Lambert (@mollylambert) March 3, 2014If we weren't obsessed w/ advertisers youth craze, Kim Novak may not have had the surgery everyone's tweeting about. It's OK to be 81.
? Vicki St. Clair (@VickiStClair) March 3, 2014Does Kim Novak know here face was not the "Frozen" that just won the Academy Award?
? BBJZ: Blockd By Jizz (@BlckdByJilZarin) March 3, 2014Anyone else see the irony of Kim Novak ? who?s face looks frozen ? announcing that ?Frozen? won the Oscar? Eh, maybe I?m just reaching.
? Jordan Zakarin (@jordanzakarin) March 3, 2014People making fun of Kim Novak on twitter is why we can't have nice things. #Oscars #fb
? jjtierney (@jjtierney) March 3, 2014Novak withdrew from the public eye in 1965 but appeared on screen sporadically until 1991. She now paints and takes care of her menagerie in Oregon with her husband, veterinarian Robert Malloy. "I left Hollywood and the life of a movie star to make a path for my artistic desires without the handicap of false expectations," the former screen siren recently told LIFE.com. "I am content."
The Middle of the Night star, who is a breast cancer survivor, suffered a horse riding accident in 2006.
Rose McGowan was perhaps the movie star's most vocal defender, tweeting, "Kim Novak! No standing ovation?! Self-obsessed and disrespectful, that sums up the Oscar audience." After posting some pictures online, the 40-year-old actress continued, "Disgusted by the uneducated twits that make up the audience at this year's oscars. Gross. It's Kim Novak, a--holes. #EDUCATEYOURSELVES."
The Tell-Tale Heart star then tweeted, "You are all lucky that she graced you with her presence."