Tippi Hedren on Alfred Hitchcock

THE CLASSIC STAR REMEMBERS HER TUMULTUOUS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FAMED DIRECTOR

One of the classic figures in the world of cinema historically is Alfred Hitchcock, of course. And the “Master of Suspense” was known for his obsession with icy blonde leading ladies. One such actress was Tippi Hedren, who headlined two Hitchcock flicks, The Birds in 1963 and Marnie in 1964, and she was present at HBO’s portion of the Summer Press Tour to discuss her troubled relationship with the famed director for upcoming movie The Girl.

“He was my acting coach,” said Hedren. “I hadn’t had any acting experience except in commercials…I wasn’t afraid of cameras or being on set, but to break down a script, to delve into how you become another character…it was something I didn’t know how to do, and of course it was perfect to have someone as brilliant a genius as Alfred to be my drama coach.”

“There were times of delight and joy,” she added. “It wasn’t a constant barrage of harassment to me. That is the fault of any film, it can’t possibly have everything in it.”

Blaming Hitchcock for ruining her career (but not her life), she said: “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, now an animal activist who maintains the Shambala Preserve wildlife sanctuary, believes she is one of many actresses harassed by the cinematic legend.

After Psycho, she said, actress Vera Miles refused to ever work with the director again. “Did you notice she did not have any close-ups?,” noted Hedren. Hedren also said Suzanne Pleshette told her during filing The Birds, “It isn’t always like this.”

Hedren also knows Vertigo star Kim Novak, but she never commented on any wrong doing by Hitchcock.