London: 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 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'.
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