Tippi Hedren Rescuing animals for 40 years
The much-loved actress has devoted herself to looking after all kinds of cats in need
Whether its gulls at the seaside or ducks in the park, our feathered friends are everywhere! Most consider them harmless, a benign part of the landscape. But anyone who has seen Hitchcock’s thriller TheBirds knows the kind of fowl play these creatures get up to!
Star of the 1963 movie, Tippi Hedren, now 86, has been at the receiving end of those sharp little beaks.
“Mechanical birds were used in a lot of scenes but for the one in the attic, real birds were introduced. As you can imagine, the flapping wings and pecking beaks were, to say the least, daunting! It took five days to shoot and by the end, I was suffering extreme exhaustion. My doctor insisted I took time out to recuperate.”
Tippi’s relationship with the man known as “The Master of Suspense” has been well documented, but now the actress is eager to share her passion for predators of the feline family.
“I adore all cats, I named my kittens after my leading men! Unfortunately, all, including Sean Connery, Marlon Brando and Rod Taylor have passed on. Although the one I call Johnny Depp, is still around. I’d never worked with Johnny but I decided to give this one his name in the hope that I might!”
However, Tippi’s real passion is cats with a capital C. At the Shambla Preserve, where she spends most of her time, there’s currently over 25 exotic animals.
Some have been confiscated from roadside zoos. Others have been abandoned. Two of the residents, Bengal tigers Sabu and Thriller who once belonged to Michael Jackson, even have celebrity status. Sadly Thriller has since died from lung cancer.
“I’ve been rescuing animals for over 40 years. At the sanctuary we care for
“I adore all cats and I named my kittens after my leading men!”
their welfare. But I’m also an activist and determined to stop the practice of breeding these amazing creatures for profit. They may look cute as cubs but when they mature, these animals are dangerous. Big Cats do not make good pets!”
Tippi knows a lot about the species. She learned her lesson the hard way.
“In the 1981 film Roar, we used real animals and some of the crew were attacked and injured. My daughter Melanie had to have surgery after a lion raked her face. I too was bitten.”
When a trainer suggested Tippi get to know her subject in a domestic setting she brought a fully grown lion to live in her home. Fortunately, the lion was a gentle creature. Known as Neil, he loved hanging out with Tippi’s daughter who was 13 at the time. What does she think of her decision now?
“It was a crazy, stupid idea and one I really regret.”
When she isn’t working, Tippi likes nothing better than spending time with family, especially daughter Melanie Griffiths and granddaughter Dakota Johnson.
“I enjoy being with them, going to dinner, shopping or just hanging out. Both Melanie and my granddaughter Dakota, have made acting their career. We have lots to talk about. They are amazing women and talented actresses. I’m very proud of them.”
At 86 she shows no sign of slowing down and is happy to share her secret for health and happiness.
“It sounds simple but a well-balanced diet really is good for the body. It’s important to keep active. I don’t take myself too seriously because a sense of humour is vital!”
For a certain generation, Tippi Hedren will always be associated with the Hitchcock thrillers. Filming The Birds was traumatic. Do the feathered species give her nightmares?
“No, I’m fine with birds. Spiders -– now that’s another matter!”