She Faced The Beasts Of Hollywood
Tippi Hedren is one of Hollywood’s most reluctant actors, and she had good reason to be. The treatment she received from some men in Hollywood was downright appalling...not to mention the animals. When she wasn’t frantically escaping Alfred Hitchcock’s birds, she was steering clear of her husband's lions. It was a madcap, and sometimes seriously dangerous life, but she miraculously lived to tell the story.
1. They Got It Wrong
Nathalie Key Hedren’s birthplace was New Ulm, Minnesota, but her birth year is up for speculation. When she later became famous, the media reported that she was born in 1935. But Hedren offered her own version of the facts, saying she was born five years earlier.
Either way, in 1950—when she was either 15 or 20—Hedren made a big move.
Hollywood Press Syndicate, Wikimedia Commons
2. She Was On The Cover
Hedren’s big move was to New York City, where she planned to start a career as a model. Things worked out even better than she could have imagined, and she eventually ended up on the covers of some very influential magazines. She even had a brief role in a film. She played Ice Box Petty Girl in the 1950’s The Petty Girl.
But Hedren was sure about one thing: she didn't actually want to be an actor.
Cinerama Releasing Corporation, Wikimedia Commons
3. She Met A Young One
In 1951, Hedren met Peter Griffith and, in spite of Griffith being just 17 years old, the two fell in love. They had to wait until Griffith was 18 before they could tie the knot, and they picked up the license the day after his birthday. Before long, Hedren had a lovely baby girl they named Melanie.
Little did they know how famous Melanie Griffith would one day become.
Genevieve Naylor, Getty Images
4. She Took Her Daughter
Hedren continued to avoid becoming an actor and made her money through modeling. But by 1961, her marriage to Griffith was over, and she took her daughter Melanie and moved to LA. She decided she and Melanie could live large, and she rented a big house in the exclusive Sherman Oaks neighborhood.
But there was soon a problem.
5. She Was In Real Trouble
For some reason, in Los Angeles, Hedren’s modeling career did not take off as it had in New York. As such, she soon became a single mom paying rent on a house she could barely afford. Hedren realized that she had no skills for any real kind of work. But before things got too bad, her phone rang.
It was an incredible offer.
6. She Needed The Money
The call that Hedren received on October 13, 1961, was from an agent. This agent said that there was a producer who had an interest in working with her. Hedren had been avoiding becoming an actor, but she was in need of cash, so she let the agent talk.
When the agent told her who the producer was, Hedren couldn’t believe her ears.
7. She Had No Experience
As it turned out, celebrated producer and director Alfred Hitchcock had seen Hedren in a commercial for a diet soda. Based on the commercial alone, Hitchcock offered Hedren a seven-year contract. Hedren could hardly say no. This reluctant actor was now ready to work with suspense master director Alfred Hitchcock.
And she had virtually no acting experience. As you might expect, that meant things could go very, very wrong.
Universal Pictures, Wikimedia Commons
8. He Gave Her An Expensive Test
Hitchcock spared no expense when it came to preparing Hedren for acting in one of his projects. They did a screen test in color and with award-winning actor Martin Balsam. Balsam later remembered Hedren as being very nervous. No wonder, the test alone cost the studio $25,000.
But what exactly was Hitchcock looking for?
Sunset Boulevard, Getty Images
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9. She Was A Lady
Hitchcock was looking for two things. He wanted an actor who could take direction well. The other thing was one of his quirks. He liked his leading ladies to behave “like a well-bred” lady. Hedren passed this test with flying colors, and Hitchcock was sure he had the right person.
But then Hitchcock started messing with Hedren’s personal life.
Universal Pictures, The Birds (1963)
10. He Dressed Her Up
Certainly, as a model Hedren knew how to dress. In spite of this, Hitchcock hired Academy Award-winning costume designer Edith Head to make clothes for Hedren’s personal life. He also gave her advice about cuisine and even wine. Hitchcock was forking over tons of money, and for what? Hedren still didn't know what Hitchcock had in mind for her.
Well, she was about to find out.
11. She Had An Important Lunch
Hedren assumed that Hitchcock planned to use her in his TV show Alfred Hitchcock Presents. But she must have wondered why he was taking such an interest in her if it was just a part on TV. When she got an invite to have lunch with Hitchcock, his wife and the head of Universal Pictures, she likely realaized she was about to find out what the job was.
And as it turns out, she got the shock of a lifetime.
Universal Pictures, The Birds (1963)
12. He Gave Her Birds
Hitchcock didn’t want Hedren for a role on his TV show. He was giving her the lead in a major motion picture. As a hint to what the film was about, Hitchcock presented Hedren with a pin with three birds on it. The film was the bird attack horror movie called The Birds.
Little did Hedren know, this experience was going to be terrifying in real life.
Universal Pictures, The Birds (1963)
13. She Couldn’t Look At Herself
Of course, Hedren would need plenty of makeup to appear to have wounds from the many bird attacks in The Birds. After one heavy session of makeup, Hedren looked in the mirror and had a shock. She looked so awful that Hedren excused herself and went out of the trailer to vomit. But there was something much scarier on the set than just birds.
There was also the director.
Trailer screenshot, Wikimedia Commons
14. He Was Rude
Filming Hitchcock’s The Birds was going to be rough going for Hedren, and not just because she was an inexperienced actor. First off, Hitchcock only gave Hedren one afternoon off a week. He could also be quite rude. When Hedren wondered why her character would go down some stairs, Hitchcock’s reply was: "Because I tell you to”.
But Hitchcock’s strange behavior didn’t stop when she left the set.
15. She Was Never Alone
In his book, The Dark Side of Genius, Donald Spoto said that Hitchcock got two crew members to follow Hedren around when she was not filming. He wanted to know everything about what she did and who she saw. He also warned the cast and crew to stay away from Hedren even while they were filming the movie.
But that wasn't even the worst of it. Co-star Rod Taylor had a bizarre story to relate about Hitchcock's treatment of Hedren....
Universal Pictures, The Birds (1963)
16. He Wanted Her To Himself
Rod Taylor plays Hedren's love interest in The Birds, but he had to keep his distance. He remembers Hitchcock yelling at him, ‘Don't touch the girl after I call "Cut!"'. Even Hedren’s daughter Melanie noticed that Hitchcock was taking her mother away. At one point, he wouldn't even let Melanie see her own mother when she was at the studio.
Even so, Hitchcock’s treatment of Hedren was about to come to a climax worthy of a horror film.
Universal Pictures, Wikimedia Commons
17. She Broke Down
While working on The Birds, Hitchcock used a combination of real and mechanical birds. In the climactic, terrifying scene in the attic, the crew told Hedren that they would use only mechanical birds. Instead, Hitchcock got the crew to throw live birds at her. When the birds got too close for comfort, Hedren had a breakdown.
ullstein bild Dtl., Getty Images
18. She Was In Danger
While working on the final bird attack scene, one bird managed to put a hole in Hedren’s cheek. It also just missed gouging her eye. After this incident, Hedren broke down and cried. When a doctor took a look at her, he insisted that she take a week off to recover. Hitchcock was not on board with the week off, which made the doctor wonder if he was trying to kill her.
Ultimately, he seemed to want her alive, but he definitely had a problem...
19. He Was Punishing Her
According to several reports, Hitchcock’s treatment of Hedren deteriorated throughout the filming of The Birds. Supposedly, the reason was that Hitchcock had made romantic moves on Hedren, and she had rejected him. Still, Hedren got through the filming of The Birds and just had to hope that it had been worth it.
Universal Pictures, The Birds (1963)
20. She Was A Replacement
Before they released The Birds, Look magazine made a prediction. They put Hedren on the cover and added the caption: “Hitchcock’s new Grace Kelly”. Hitchcock got on board with the comparison and even listed the ways that Hedren was better than his previous muse, Kelly. The pressure was on.
Sterling Publications-publisher's name on cover in logo near title, Wikimedia Commons
21. She Proved Them Wrong
Back when Hitchcock was getting ready to make The Birds, Universal was not quite convinced that Hedren was the one. Well, she proved them wrong. The reviews for Hedren’s acting were outstanding, and she even got the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year. Premiere magazine later called her Melanie Daniels “one of the greatest film characters of all time”.
Well, Hedren was going to have an opportunity to take this acting thing even further.
Universal Pictures, The Birds (1963)
22. She Had Tough Competition
Hitchcock was ready with his next film, but so were a lot of other actors. Hitchcock offered the titular role of Marnie to his usual Grace Kelly. By this time, she was royalty in Monaco, and the people there didn’t want her to do it. Other interested actors were Marilyn Monroe, Lee Remick and Eva Saint Marie. But Hitchcock was so happy with Hedren on The Birds, he gave it to her.
But despite everything she'd been through, he still made her prove she deserved it.
23. She Had To Be Complex
Hitchcock's next film, Marnie, was more complex. Hedren plays a con artist who has some deep psychological problems. This was going to be a real acting challenge, and Hedren wouldn’t have the constant bird attacks to keep things interesting.
Hedren’s first challenge would be the leading man.
Trailer screenshot, Wikimedia Commons
24. She Worked With A Handsome Man
In Marnie, Hedren’s character had a problem with frigidity. When Hedren got a look at her handsome costar—Sean Connery—she had an issue. She asked Hitchcock how she could be frigid with a good-looking guy like Connery in her arms. Hitchcock’s reply was that she simply had to act.
Apparently, this was a problem.
Trailer screenshot, Wikimedia Commons
25. She Didn’t Pull It Off
In the end, the reviews for Marnie were tepid. What’s worse is that one reviewer even blamed the lack of success on Hedren and Connery. Eugene Archer of The New York Times said that the movie cried out “for the talents of Grace Kelly and Cary Grant”. But there was a good reason why Hedren hadn’t knocked the ball out of the park.
Trailer screenshot, Wikimedia Commons
26. She Was under His Control
One reason why Hedren may not have been bringing her A-game were the problems she was having with Hitchcock. The director was becoming even more obsessed with Hedren. He didn’t want her to socialize with the cast and crew, and he always wanted time with her alone. Hedren was able to keep Hitchcock at bay, but then he went a dangerous step further.
Jack Mitchell, Wikimedia Commons
27. She Broke His Heart
In one of his conversations with Hedren, Hitchcock related a dream he’d had where she told him that she loved him. Hedren could only remind Hitchcock that this was only a dream and not reality. Clearly, she was breaking his heart. Unfortunately, Hitchcock made her pay for it.
REPORTERS ASSOCIES, Getty Images
28. She Had A Simple Request
During the filming of Marnie, Hedren had an opportunity to appear on The Tonight Show and receive an award for “Most Promising New Star”. Of course, she needed the director’s permission to take a break from filming. Hitchcock said no and then, to Hedren's horror, he made a very unwelcome romantic proposition.
Universal Pictures, Marnie (1964)
29. She Couldn’t Take it Anymore
In the book Spellbound by Beauty, Donald Spoto says that Hitchcock eventually just laid it on the table with Hedren. He said that he wanted Hedren to be romantically available at any time he wanted, whether she wanted to or not. This was too much for Hedren.
She had to take drastic steps.
30. She Was Under His Control
They were still filming Marnie, and Hedren had to do something about Hitchcock’s unwanted advances. She eventually told him she would never make another film with him. The problem with that, thought, was that she had a contract with Hitchcock that she could not get out of. As such, Hitchcock let her know that he was not going to release her from it.
In fact, he told Hedren that she belonged to him.
31. She Called Him Names
Tensions were running high on the set of Marnie. Hedren and Hitchcock were barely speaking to each other, but still, they had to work together. Eventually, the stress got too much for Hedren, and she lashed out at him. In front of other members of the crew, she called Hitchcock “a fat pig”.
By the director's standards, Hedren had finally crossed the line.
Universal Pictures, Marnie (1964)
32. He Got Her Back
Hitchcock had a personal code that no one should make comments about his weight. He came back fighting, and Hedren heard the words no actor in Hollywood ever wants to hear. He told her he would ruin her career. Hedren had to wonder if her former friend would really go that far.
She could only wait and see.
Universal Pictures, Wikimedia Commons
33. Her Career Was Over
After Marnie, Hitchcock had control over the films that Hedren did. When offers for film roles came in, Hitchcock turned them all down on her behalf. Even famed director Francois Truffaut wanted her and got the same icy rejection from Hitchcock.
It seemed that Hitchcock had meant what he said. He was going to ruin her career.
34. He Sold Her
For two years, Hitchcock held strict control over Hedren’s career. But as time wore on, he started to bend and let her make a few TV appearances. After that, he reluctantly let go of her. He didn’t make her a free agent; he just sold her to Universal. But Hedren eventually got free of Universal when she said no to appearing in a TV western.
Hedren was finally on her own. But there were more bad eggs in Hollywood ready to take her for a ride.
35. She Had To Say Yes
Hedren’s first post-Hitchcock film was for writer-director Charlie Chaplin. The great silent film star offered her a role opposite Marlon Brando and Sophia Loren. Strangely, Chaplin wanted Hedren to accept the part in A Countess from Hong Kong without even seeing a script. When she agreed to do the film and showed up for work, she got a nasty shock.
Bain News Service, publisher. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Wikimedia Commons
36. He Lied To Her
Chaplin had told Hedren that her role as Brando’s ex-wife was a major one, but when she got to the set, she found out something different. The role was little more than a cameo. Hedren marched up to Chaplin and complained. Chaplin embarrassingly admitted he’d lied to make sure she said yes.
Hedren must have been growing tired of the men she worked with. So, she turned to animals.
Trailer screenshot, Wikimedia Commons
37. She Liked Lions
Back in 1964, Hedren had married her agent, Noel Marshall. When they were filming Satan’s Harvest in Africa, Hedren and Marshall took an interest in lions. They were so interested that they decided to make a movie about lions that inhabit a house. Marshall wrote a script which he called Lions, Lions and More Lions.
This film would end up being epic, but for all the wrong reasons.
38. They Needed A Lot Of Lions
Marshall eventually shortened Lions, Lions and More Lions to Roar, but the problems with this film just grew and grew. The first issue was with the cats themselves. To make the film they wanted to make, Hedren and Marshall would need between 30 and 40 lions. Nobody wanted to rent them that many cats, and it was for a very good reason. The lions tended to fight when together in such large numbers.
But instead of abandoning the project, Hedren and Marshall decided to DIY it...
39. They Had To Move
To get ready to film Roar, Hedren and Marshall decided to raise a baby lion in their home. The animal even slept in their bed. When the neighbors complained about having a wild animal next door, Hedren moved the family to a ranch outside of LA and decided to film the movie there. By 1974, they had enough animals, including some elephants, to start filming.
They had no idea what they were getting into.
40. They Got Mauled
It took five years and $17 million to film Roar, but there was another tally that was more interesting. The list of injuries. Hedren fractured her leg and had a scalp injury. Her daughter Melanie needed 50 stitches and almost lost her eye. Marshall got the worst treatment from the cats. He had so many wounds that he developed gangrene. All told, the cats mauled a total of 70 crew members.
But there were other problems.
Filmways Pictures, Roar (1981)
41. They Knew It Would Succeed
While filming Roar, there was a bushfire. Marshall tried to save the animals and received a nasty bite from a cheetah for his efforts. There was also a flood that killed three lions, destroyed the sets, and even some of the footage. Of course, this was all costing Hedren and Marshall a fortune. But they were so sure the film would be a hit, they didn’t worry about the cost.
Well, Hedren should have worried. A lot.
Filmways Pictures, Roar (1981)
42. They Lost Their Shirts
After almost a decade of preproduction and filming, Roar was ready for audiences. Hedren and Marshall made the odd choice of not releasing the film in the US, complaining that distributors wanted the “lion’s share” of the profits. Without the US market, the film only grossed $2 million. Hedren and Marshall had lost a fortune.
But Hedren lost something else on this picture. Something more important than money.
43. She Had To Keep Him Away
Hedren lost a fortune on Roar, but she also lost her husband of almost 20 years. As it turned out, she got out just in time. Because of his aggressiveness toward her, Hedren had to get a restraining order against Marshall. So now, Hedren was almost completely broke.
She had to do something.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
44. She Did It For The Money
Hedren’s post-Roar career consists of virtually anything she could act in to make money. But the money wasn't just for her. Hedren had started a foundation to save troubled animals at the Shambala Preserve near where she had filmed Roar. Over the years, members of the Roar Foundation board have included Lily Tomlin, Loni Anderson and Betty White.
Hedren was willing to take any role to protect the animals. And then the world of Hitchcock came knocking again.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
45. She Had To Go Back
While looking for work to help the animals at Shambala, Hedren did a spot on The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Then she got an offer for something even closer to Hitchcock. Universal was making a sequel to The Birds, and they wanted Hedren in it. Hedren had to decide if she was willing to return to a place that had caused her so much pain.
Universal Pictures, The Birds (1963)
46. She Returned
The producers of The Birds II: Land’s End were ready to let Hedren recreate her role as Melanie Daniels. Before filming began, there was a rewrite in the script, and Hedren's character was now not an integral part of the story. Worse still, when Universal saw the finished product, they decided to release it straight to VHS. The reviews were terrible, and Hedren later said that the film was “absolutely horrible”.
But Hedren wouldn't give up on acting, no matter what came her way.
Universal Television, The Birds II: Land’s End (1994)
47. She Kept Mute
To make ends meet—and to keep funneling money into her animal preserve—Hedren did an odd variety of roles. She appeared in a non-speaking role in a film with her daughter Melanie Griffith and Michael Keaton called Pacific Heights. She also did something that most major movie stars would never do.
20th Century Fox, Pacific Heights (1990)
48. She Went To Daytime
In 1990, Hedren appeared in the daytime soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful. While many actors might keep this kind of low-brow project a secret, Hedren later said she was proud to have the Bold and the Beautiful on her resume. Still, Hollywood starlet to soap opera actor had been an enormous plunge and Hedren likely felt she could blame it all on Hitchcock.
And before long, everyone in America would learn the truth about the critically acclaimed director.
49. They Told Her Story
There was so much talk about Hedren’s unusual relationship with Hitchcock, that HBO had to make a film about it. The Girl stars Sienna Miller as Hedren and earned many award nominations and some wins, but it also caused a ton of controversy. Many of Hitchcock’s associates did not recognize the “predatory Hitchcock” that Hedren and the film portrayed. In fact, Eva Saint Marie called Hitchcock “a gentleman”.
So, what was the truth about Hedren and Hitchcock?
50. She Had Mixed Feelings
Clearly, Hitchcock had been one of the most difficult people that Hedren had to deal with while in Hollywood. But it hadn’t been all bad. In fact, years after all the trouble happened between them, Hedren attended both Hitchcock’s AFI Lifetime Achievement Award and his funeral. Her explanation for her attendance was simple: "He ruined my career, but he didn't ruin my life”.
REPORTERS ASSOCIES, Getty Images
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