Quick Take
Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed.
Tippi Hedren, who starred in Alfred Hitchcock's horror film The Birds, says the legendary director was evil and ruined her acting career after she refused his sexual advances.
The 82-year-old, whose troubled relationship with the director is the subject of a television drama, says she would have been a rich woman if sexual harassment laws existed in 1963 when The Birds was filmed, the Daily Mail reported.
"I think he was an extremely sad character. We are dealing with a brain here that was an unusual genius, and evil, and deviant, almost to the point of dangerous, because of the effect that he could have on people that were totally unsuspecting," Hedren said.
A TV drama titled The Girl and starring Sienna Miller as Tippy and Toby Jones as Hitchcock, has been made with a collaboration between BBC and HBO.
Based on the book Spellbound by Beauty by Donald Spoto, the drama portrays Hitchcock, whose Vertigo was voted as world's greatest film, as a predator.
At the time of filming The Birds Tippi was 34 years old, more than 30 years younger than Hitchcock and engaged to be married to her second husband but that did not deter Hitchcock.
Hedren said there were times of delight working for Hitchcock while filming The Birds and Marnie but things became difficult for her once she rejected his advances. He refused to release her from the contract, stopping her from working for two years.
"He ruined my career but he didn't ruin my life. If this had happened today I would be a very rich woman," the actress said.
Hedren, mother of actress Melanie Griffith, was a successful model when Hitchcock cast her in The Birds.
The 82-year-old, whose troubled relationship with thedirector is the subject of a television drama, says she wouldhave been a rich woman if sexual harassment laws existed in1963 when The Birds was filmed, the Daily Mail reported.
"I think he was an extremely sad character. We aredealing with a brain here that was an unusual genius, andevil, and deviant, almost to the point of dangerous, becauseof the effect that he could have on people that were totallyunsuspecting," Hedren said.
A TV drama titled The Girl and starring Sienna Milleras Tippy and Toby Jones as Hitchcock, has been made with acollaboration between BBC and HBO.
Based on the book Spellbound by Beauty by Donald Spoto,the drama portrays Hitchcock, whose Vertigo was voted asworld's greatest film, as a predator.
At the time of filming The Birds Tippi was 34 yearsold, more than 30 years younger than Hitchcock and engaged tobe married to her second husband but that did not deterHitchcock.
Hedren said there were times of delight working forHitchcock while filming The Birds and Marnie but thingsbecame difficult for her once she rejected his advances. Herefused to release her from the contract, stopping her fromworking for two years.
"He ruined my career but he didn't ruin my life. If thishad happened today I would be a very rich woman," the actresssaid.
Hedren, mother of actress Melanie Griffith, was asuccessful model when Hitchcock cast her in The Birds.
