Actress Tippi Hedren rejected director Alfred Hitchcock's Affections Behind-the-Scenes

Tippi Hedren took direction by Alfred Hitchcock for the "Marnie," but rejected his flirtations behind the scenes.Photo byFlashbak.com

Alfred Hitchcock first noticed Tippi Hedren in a 1961 television commercial that aired during NBC's Today Show. Shortly, after he cast the actress in what became one of his and her most famous films: The Birds, released in 1963.

In that TV commercial, which was for a diet drink, Hedren is walking down a street, a man whistles at her, and she turns her head and smiles.

Hitchcock mirrored that scene in the opening frames of The Birds. But beyond that, Hedren found little humor in working with Hitchcock, who died in 1980.

Hedren has discussed her issues with Alfred Hitchcock, including abuse allegations recently resurfaced by her granddaughter Dakota Johnson.

Johnson said on The Hollywood Reporter's "Awards Chatter" podcast that Hitchcock "ruined" Hedren's career, though her grandmother was still supportive when she began pursuing an acting career of her own.

"She's always been really honest and firm about standing up for yourself. That's what she did. Hitchcock ruined her career because she didn't want to sleep with him, and he terrorized her. He was never held accountable," the actress said.

Fortunately, Hedren has received her share of compliments and honors over the years. For example, a 1981 episode of TV's Laverne & Shirley sitcom, titled Night at the Awards, features two of its main male characters admiring a beautiful blonde and commenting to one another, "That's Tippi Hedren."

Sidenotes

Tippi Hedren was a model with the Ford Modeling Agency, is the mother of actress Melanie Griffith, and the cousin of actress Lindsay Wagner, star of classic TV's The Bionic Woman (on which Hedren made a guest appearance).