Tippi Hedren – The Director’s Obsession That Stopped Her Career & the Role That Led to Health Problems

Hedren landed in Hollywood when Alfred Hitchcock discovered her while watching a commercial on NBC’s “Today.” Hitchcock then signed her under a personal contract.

He cast her as Melanie Daniels in “The Birds,” praising her performance as remarkable. Her ability to convey a wide range of terrors earned her the Golden Globe and Photoplay awards for Most Promising Newcomer for “The Birds.”

Before pursuing acting, Hedren had a thriving modeling career. She did not envision herself as an actress. She was delightfully shocked when she received the call that Hitchcock, a famous director, wanted to talk to her.

After “The Birds,” Hitchcock cast Hedren in “Marnie.” In this movie, she took on the stimulating and difficult role of a frosty, typical thief. This movie wasn’t as recognized as “The Birds.”

So, it took a while before the actress climbed the ladders of acting, and her work was awarded. During this time, Hitchcock and Hedren’s mutual resentment and dissatisfaction led to the end of their professional relationship during the shooting of “Marnie.”

Hedren later opened up about Hitchcock’s alleged sexual advances towards her. She shared that it all started on the set of “The Birds.” She did not make the alleged sexual harassment a secret as everybody on set was aware of it.

The actress only kept this detail from her parents as she found the ordeal embarrassing. However, Hitchcock’s wife Alma knew. Hedren recalled, “When she said to me, ‘I’m so sorry you have to go through this,’ my eyes just got wide, and I said, ‘But, you could stop it!'”

Hedren described the harrowing experience of being the focus of Hitchcock’s obsessive behavior. She likened it to a form of stalking. The actress revealed that Alfred Hitchcock went to the extent of having her handwriting analyzed and having her followed.

The pervasive feeling of being overwhelmed and engulfed by his actions made the situation unbearable for her. Hitchcock also went as far as reciting dirty verses and offensive jokes on set. “Some of them were terribly filthy and I didn’t want them in my head,” she added.

Hedren recounted an uncomfortable incident shortly after arriving at a hotel. Hitchcock unexpectedly and inappropriately approached her, attempting to kiss her. This situation left her feeling deeply embarrassed and uneasy. Similar incidents happened a few more times.

When Hedren refused her former director’s alleged sexual advances, he reiterated by hurting her career. The actress attempted to break free from her contract with Hitchcock but he reacted with intense anger and absolute refusal.

This unwillingness to release her from the contract effectively hindered her career. Hedren was kept in the dark about potential roles and opportunities, as all offers were filtered through Hitchcock.

She explained, “It was the kind of thing where I had no control. I was under contract to him. It was awful. It was extremely difficult. It was unconscionable.”

Hitchcock also told Hedren that he would ruin her career. He ensured this by denying her new opportunities and refusing to release her from her contract.

The actress knew she had to leave the acting industry as she was dealing with one of its most powerful men. Everything Hitchcock did to her became unsettling, difficult, and offensive.

“I’d be a really big star if he hadn’t stopped my career. There were so many people who wanted me for their films. All he said was, ‘She isn’t available.’ That’s a mean, mean man,” shared Hedren.

Despite these challenges, Hedren found solace and support in her personal life. During this turbulent period, she was married to her first husband, Peter Griffith. Griffith was an actor and advertising executive. He provided a steadying influence in her life.

The actor was known for starring in “Halloween,” “Suspense,” and “Road to Romance.” He and Hedren got married in 1952 and had a daughter, Melanie Griffith, who would go on to have a successful acting career of her own.

The first time Tippi Hedren left the United States was in her 20s. While Griffith was stationed in Korea, they met up in Tokyo. In the meantime, the actress decided to see the world.

She decided to travel alone as she had no issues doing that. During her trip, she explored India for two months, went to Egypt to see the pyramids, and visited Germany, where she witnessed the effects of the war.

Hedren also recalled that when she was in the south of France and was staying with friends, she met Senator John Kennedy, who asked her out on a date.

“I was disgusted with his behaviour, as his wife was in Italy, laid up with a broken ankle, and I was married too. I just declined and got on with my day,” she opened up. Hedren was loyal to her Griffith even though they later divorced. Sadly, he died on May 14, 2001.

After her divorce from Griffith, Hedren got married again. Her second husband was Noel Marshall. Marshall was a producer and director who died on June 27, 2010. He starred in movies such as “The Exorcist,” “Roar,” and “Mister Kingstreet’s War.”

The idea for “Roar” came to Marshall when he and Hedren were in Zimbabwe. The actress was filming “Satan’s Harvest” at the time.

So, they took a side trip to Mozambique. While there, they visited a house inhabited by 30 lions. Hedren recalled Marshall saying, “You know, we ought to make a movie about this.”

Unfortunately, Hedren endured severe injuries during “Roar’s” production. Among the incidents, she had her leg crushed by an elephant and was attacked by a lion. These animals were part of her collection of exotic pets on her 50-acre ranch in California.

Amid these professional difficulties, Hedren was also navigating personal strife. She sought divorce from Marshall, her husband of 17 years. Additionally, the actress had obtained a restraining order to prevent him from physically abusing her. According to the restraining order, he had to keep at least 20 feet away from their home.

A few years after their divorce, Hedren remarried again. This time, her third husband was Luis Barrenechea. The two, who often attended events together, stayed married until she filed for divorce in 1994.

At the time, she said, “I shouldn’t be married.” Years later, the actress revealed, “My third Luis Barrenechea was everything I wanted in a man, except that he was an alcoholic, and that was unbearable.”

As years went by, Hedren opened up further about the injuries she got from shooting “Roar.” She also talked about the lasting impact these left on her body.

While filming “Roar” in Soledad Canyon, California, Hedren had to run across the compound and fall onto a log bridge. While on the ground, the lions and tigers she had rescued for the movie had to walk over her.

Among the rescues were three lions from Texas. During rehearsal, one of the lions, Cherries, initially stepped over her. However, the lion’s plans changed. It saw her head as a potential toy and patted it with its paw. Hedren yelled for Cherries to stop, which the lion did.

However, the lion suddenly turned back and, driven by instinct, clamped her jaws around Hedren’s head. Heden was terrified. Luckily, she was quickly rescued by others. When they rescued her, Cherries had already scratched her scalp with her teeth.

The doctor recommended shaving her head to treat the wounds and prevent scarring, but Hedren opted to have her scalp cleaned instead.

The actress was shaken by the attack, and noted, “It didn’t stop me making the film, though. Cherries’s attack doesn’t seem like a big deal now, looking back, although other people did get hurt during the shoot, too.”

Hedren also explained that her interactions with lions and tigers have led to numerous injuries. She has lost her senses of taste and smell.

As a result, dining out while traveling has become challenging, as she can no longer detect if something is wrong with the meal. This limitation forces her to select dishes that others have already ordered.

Hedren also experienced severe headaches for years, and doctors were initially unsure of the cause. An MRI eventually revealed significant deterioration in her vertebrae. This diagnosis surprised her doctor, who came with her MRI results and asked her, “Tippi, how are you holding up your head?”

Reflecting on her past, Hedren explained that she had been a figure skater in her youth, which led to numerous falls and whiplash injuries.

Later, caring for big cats resulted in more whiplash incidents. In addition to the natural aging process, these factors contributed to her spinal issues.

To address these problems, Hedren underwent reconstructive surgery performed by Dr. Kayvanfar and Dr. Melamed at Henry Mayo in Valencia.

Due to her age, she had to undergo extensive physical testing to ensure her body could endure the 10-hour operation. Hedren later credited her daily exercise routine. These workouts, which included lower body exercises before getting out of bed, helped her to pass these tests.

The need for her surgery became more urgent after she was hit by a deluge of water at a studio in San Diego. The surgery the actress went through involved the insertion of a four-inch titanium plate with eight screws in her neck.

After the surgery, Hedren was amazed to be walking the next day, although the recovery process has been lengthy. She now carries a device to enhance bone density in her neck.

The device enhanced the cadaver bones and a chip from her left hip, creating a new vertebra. The intricate surgery resulted in a 7.5-inch suture on the back of her neck, with a 7-inch plate secured by 12 screws.

Now, Hedren, who was a volunteer for Food for the Hungry in the 1970s, is involved in conservation works and animal rights.

She was deeply concerned about the lack of regulations surrounding the breeding and sale of exotic cats, such as lions and tigers, as pets or for financial gain.

Noticing the absence of any laws on the ownership of these animals, she decided to take action. She drafted a bill and presented it to her congressman. The lawmaker was initially skeptical due to the large business interests involved.

However, he agreed to support her effort after she showed him a compelling video. “I got the bill passed. It’s called the Captive Wildlife Safety Act. It regulates ownership of these animals and the breeding,” she explained.

This bill prohibits the transportation of exotic cats across state lines, which effectively prevents their sale and relocation for commercial purposes. This legislation has been highly effective in curbing the overbreeding of these animals, significantly reducing the problem.

Aside from this noble work, Hedren also wrote a memoir titled “Tippi.” She released her memoir in 2016. The actress admitted that when she was writing, she left out some stories about her life.

When asked how she felt about writing a memoir, including opening up about her life and career, the actress answered, “I think it was inevitable because I have had such an incredible life that it needed to be put into a book.”

Even with what Hedren has accomplished as an actress and her passion for animal rights and humanitarian work, the former fashion model prioritizes family.

She said her most treasured possessions are her daughter and the grandchildren she has blessed her with, Dakota Johnson, Stella Banderas, and Alexander Bauer.