She later received a scholarship to a modeling academy and continued to model part time. She worked as an elevator operator, a clerk and an assistant.
She was seen by a Columbia Pictures talent agent and filmed a screen test. Novak was signed to a six month contract and the studio changed her first name to Kim. Novak debuted as Lona McLane same year in the pushover opposite Fred MacMurray and Philip Carey, and played the femme fatale role as Janis in Phffft! opposite Judy Holliday, Jack Lemmon, and Jack Carson. Novak's tests were good.
She starred with Kirk Douglas in the critically acclaimed Strangers When We Meet also with Walter Matthau and Ernie Kovacs.
