Alfred Hitchcock's Obsession: Sienna Miller As Tippi Hedren in 'The Girl'

Tippi Hedren in ‘The Birds’ 1963

Sienna Miller © Rex FeaturesSienna Miller will play acclaimed actress Tippi Hedren opposite Sean Connery in a film ‘The Girl’. The drama claims that Alfred Hitchcock — was was notoriously enchanted with blondes — was obsessed with the actress, who thwarted his advances.

Gwyneth Hughes, the writer of the film, says:

“Unfortunately for Tippi, he developed a twisted and obsessive love for her that left her feeling isolated and terrified. He made repeated sexual advances towards her and tried to take over her life. Today we would call it sexual harassment but that concept had not been accepted back then.”

British Vogue writes that Hitchcock insisted that Tippi Hedren, who has met with Miller about the role, tried to control every aspect of her off-screen life, forbidding her to share cars with her male co-stars and insisting that all their conversations take place in private.

The film is based on biographer Donald Spoto’s account of the couple’s relationship in his 2008 book ‘Spellbound By Beauty.’ 

Tippi Hedren’s daughter is Melanie Griffith, who awarded her mom the Lifetime Achievement Award at The Humane Society of the United States’ 2010 Genesis Awards.

In 1983, Hedren set up the Roar Foundation’s Shambala Preserve, an 80-acre wildlife refuge in Acton, California, northeast of Los Angeles. Today, Shambala is home to over 50 captive-born big cats, cast-offs from private owners, zoos and circuses.

Hedren is credited with initiating and fighting for the passage in the US Congress of the Captive Wildlife Safety Act, which prohibits interstate commerce in exotic cats for the pet trade. She has served on the boards of The Wildlife Safari and The Elsa Wild Animal Appeal, and is currently president of the American Sanctuary Association and The Roar Foundation.

Tippi Hedren’s post-Hitchcock life was also devoted to humanitarian issues. This video explains how the actress almost single-handedly launched the careers of Vietnamese refugees, who now dominate 80 percent of the $100 million nail salon business in California. Mom may be a nail tech, but many of the children of these immigrants have become professionals in American society.

Melanie Griffith, Tippi Hedren and Antonio Bandaras at 2010 Genesis AwardsWith all the negative talk about the Woodstock generation by America’s social conservatives, this simple video taps into the values and mindset that dominate Anne of Carversville. When we use the term Smart Sensuality woman at AOC, Tippi Hedren is the kind of woman we speak about: smart, sexy and having enormous heart. (So sorry about the video being on.)

Tippi Hedren & Vietnamese Refugees

Update on Sat, August 4, 2012 by Anne

Tippi Hedren recalls sexual harassment while working with Alfred Hitchcock The Wrap