Tippi: A Memoir

In this absorbing and surprising memoir, one of the biggest names of classic Hollywood—the star of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds and Marnie—tells her story, including never-before-revealed experiences on the set of some of the biggest cult films of all time . . . now with a foreword by Melanie Griffith

For decades, Tippi Hedren’s luminous beauty radiated from the silver screen, enchanting moviegoers and cementing her position among Hollywood’s elite—beauty and star power that continue to endure. For too long Hedren’s story has been told by others through whispered gossip and tabloid headlines. Now, Hedren sets the record straight, recalling how a young and virtuous Lutheran girl from small-town Minnesota became a worldwide legend—as one of the most famous Hitchcock girls, as an unwavering animal activist, and as the matriarch of a powerful Hollywood dynasty that includes her movie star daughter Melanie Griffith, and rising star Dakota Johnson, her granddaughter.

For the first time, Hedren digs deep into her complicated relationship with the man who discovered her talent, director Alfred Hitchcock, the benefactor who would become a repulsive and controlling director who contractually controlled her every move. She speaks openly about the dark pain she endured working with him on their most famous collaborations, The Birds and Marnie, and finding the courage she needed to break away.

Hedren’s incandescent spirit shines through as she talks about working with the great Charlie Chaplin, sharing the screen with some of the most esteemed actors in Hollywood, her experiences on some of the most intriguing and troubling film sets—including filming Roar, one of the most dangerous movies ever made—and the struggles of being a single mother—balancing her dedication to her work and her devotion to her daughter—and her commitment to helping animals.

Filled with sixteen pages of beautiful photos, Tippi is a rare and fascinating look at a private woman’s remarkable life no celebrity aficionado can miss.

From Alfred Hitchock’s The Birds to the making of Roar, one of the most controversial movies of all time, Tippi Hedren has had few dull moments, yet she has never told the full tale of her astonishing life in her own words—until now.

In Tippi, she details her rise from humble beginnings to becoming the matriarch of a Hollywood dynasty that includes her daughter Melanie Griffith and granddaughter Dakota Johnson. Here Tippi shares the entire story of her complicated relationship with Hitchcock. Going behind the scenes, she details how her uncompromising spirit finally gave her the courage to break away from Hitchcock’s controlling behavior. Difficult as her experiences with Hitchcock were, they nearly paled in comparison to her time on the set of Roar when a seemingly simple movie evolved into one of the most dangerous film productions of all time. And yet, through it all, Tippi shows how her career and life have continued to embody her unwavering devotion—to her daughter Melanie, to her animal-rights activism, and to her art.

Filled with sixteen pages of beautiful photos, Tippi is a rare look at a private woman’s truly remarkable life.