Sienna Miller as Tippi Hedren in New Movie about Alfred's Hitchcock's Sexual Obsession

For some three years, Tippi Hedren (mother of Antonio Banderas' wife Melanie Griffith) was the subject of Alfred Hitchcock's self-consuming infatuation. And now her story and suffering will be seen in the upcoming movie, The Girl. It was an obsession that eventually destroyed both Tippi's and Alfred Hitchcock's career.

Tippi Hedren and Alfred Hitchcock

Sienna Miller plays the role of Tippi, in a film based on author Donald Spoto's book, Spellbound By Beauty.

Hitchcock’s infatuation with Tippi began in 1961 when he spotted her by chance in a television commercial for a diet drink.

Sienna Miller eager to play the role.

Convinced he had found the next Grace Kelly, the director ignored the fact that Tippi had no real  acting experience and signed her up for the starring role in 1963 film  The Birds.

The director of Psycho  and Vertigo immediately set about  transforming her into the perfect  Hollywood icon and took control of all aspects of her life, including her off-set wardrobe and diet.

Divorcee Tippi – whose daughter Melanie Griffith grew up to be a major Hollywood star in her own right – was initially grateful for the director’s attention.

Tippi Hedren in her prime.

But she grew more and more fearful as his obsession began to spiral out of control, first on the set of The Birds and then during production on their follow-up film, Marnie.

Hitchcock, who had taken to  incessantly staring at Tippi between takes, banned her from sharing  cars with her male co-stars and insisted that all their conversations took place in private so they could be alone together.

As well as bombarding her with unwanted gifts, he had her followed around town and, totally obsessed, even sent examples of her handwriting to graphologists.

Tippi, who had signed a seven-year contract with the director, put up  with his harassment because she was fearful he would blacklist her if she spoke out.

But she finally quit when he made it clear on the set of Marnie that she would never work again unless she gave in to his sexual demands.