Famous for her role in Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds, Tippi Hedren tells INSIDE EDITION that the director sexually harassed and abused her.
In Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds, a young and beautiful Tippi Hedren is attacked by crazed birds.
But according to the famous actress, the real horror was what happened behind the scenes. She says the legendary director sexually harassed and abused her.
Hedren told INSIDE EDITION, "Being the object of someone's obsession, it is absolutely horrible."
Hedren was a young model when Hitchcock first hired her. She was seen as the new Grace Kelly, Hitchcock's favorite actress who had retired from acting following her marriage to the Prince of Monaco.
While Hedren admits the master of suspense was a genius, she says he also had a very dark side.
"I think he was evil, he was destructive, he was cruel," said Hedren.
Her story is being chronicled in HBO's The Girl, which stars Sienna Miller as Hedren and Toby Jones as Hitchcock and will air in October. The HBO movie follows production of The Birds with Hitchcock punishing Hedren for rejecting his sexual advances by demanding she work with live, unruly birds which left her with cuts on her face. She says she was sickened by Hitchcock and asked to be let out of her seven year contract.
"He said, 'Well I will ruin your career,' and he did," said Hedren. "Apparently, there were a great number of producers and directors who wanted me for their films and he would just say she's not available."
But Hedren's association with Hitchock made her a Hollywood legend. She even has a doll collection inspired by her iconic roll in The Birds.
Her acting legacy continues with her daughter, Melanie Griffith. Now, Hedren's most famous for her role as an animal activist. She founded the Shambala Preserve, north of Los Angeles. Next month, she goes to Congress to urge legislation to end the business of breeding and selling big cats.
"Most of these animals are leading horrible lives," said Hedren.
And while she's on a mission to save wild animals, many lawmakers will still remember her as the young actress who ran from crazed birds on the silver screen.
