To Protect and Preserve :: A Conversation with Tippi Hedren

Actress Tippi Hedren, who famously co-starred with some of our fine feathered-though deadly-friends in Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds," has long been an animal advocate. Specifically, she has devoted a great deal of her life to the protection and preservation of big cats and elephants at her Shambala Preserve, located in the desert community of Acton, California.

The one-time fashion model turned actress was launched into Hollywood's stratosphere by her star making turn as Melanie Daniels, in the aforementioned 1963 avian scarefest, followed by her spin as the titular character in 1964's "Marnie." Film efforts had her following in the footsteps of Grace Kelly, Kim Novak, Janet Leigh and Eva Marie Saint, as the archetypal "Hitchcock blonde," a term used for the famed director's shall we say, "somewhat ardent" use of icy, yet beautiful and rather mysterious women characters with fair hair.

Many may think her early film experiences would have been a case of "absolutely fabulous." However, there was behind-the-scenes strife when the master filmmaker became "obsessed" with Hedren and sexually assaulted her on the set of "Marnie" when she was alone in her dressing room. These instances were detailed in the 2012 HBO movie "The Girl," as well as in her memoir.

Hedren was anything but icy when she spoke with The Rage Monthly. She was very warm and open when speaking about the genesis of her animal activism, how The Shambala Preserve came about, her strained working relationship with Hitchcock, as well as her family and the release of her autobiography "Tippi: A Memoir."

One has to wonder if the situations tarnished her experience of working twofold with Hitchcock, with whom she was under contract and who at the time threatened to ruin her career. "It really doesn't, I loved doing those two films and I was very grateful to have been in a situation where they happened in my life." Hedren said. "No matter what vocation you take, you're going to have to deal with men. This isn't unique at all and I had dealt with it as a fashion model. I learned very early on to cut it short, don't drag it on and get it out of your life. I think this happens a lot more frequently than people are aware of. I hope it helps women gather a little bit of strength; I would feel really good about that."

She called herself a lifelong animal lover, which she eventually parlayed into The Roar Foundation and Shambala Preserve. "I think people are born with it. I've been an animal advocate and animal lover since I can remember, starting out with kittens and puppies. I've always had those animals. I couldn't imagine my life without animals, not for a minute."

She continued, "I had a man up in Acton call me and say, 'Tippi, I've got a litter of kittens... Can you help me find homes for them?' I said, 'Sure, we've got a lot of animal lovers coming here, bring them over.' He brought them over in a box and he opened the lid and I kept all of them!"

The organization, Shambala Preserve, which "provides sanctuary to exotic felines who have suffered from gross mistreatment and neglect" came about in a very Hollywood fashion back in 1981. Hedren described how it all began: "It came out of a movie that we did called 'Roar,' and we were going to use Hollywood acting animals. None of the 'humans' who had these animals would let their cats work with a cat they didn't know because their natural instinct is to fight," she explained. "Several of them suggested we acquire our own animals to do the movie, and that's how it started. We had all these animals and I fell in love with them. We already had the property, so it was a no-brainer."

The film "Roar" saw the actress and her family, including daughter Melanie Griffith, working with 150 untrained lions, tigers, cougars and elephants. This resulted in over 70 attacks on cast and crew, and thus having the film labeled as "one of the most dangerous movies ever made." To that categorization, she responded with a laugh. "Well, because it was. I think they were right and the fact that none of us were killed was amazing! I mean to put a label on it like that... it's just truth. Our nine-month shoot turned into five years, we've got stamina here and we are not quitters!"

As for the day-to-day operations of the 45-year-old Shambala Foundation, (whose name is, according to their website, "Based on elegant ancient Sanskrit words that mean: A meeting place of peace and harmony for all beings, animal and human"), it is, as Hendren says, a well-oiled machine. "I've got it pretty well organized now. I am the boss and the president, with some really wonderful people who have been with me for a long time, which is excellent," she said. "In fact, one of them, Chris Gallucci, has been with me so long that he runs the place now, because I'm 87," Laughing as she said, "I thought that I'd really be able to have a break."

Hendren continued, "It's a great story, he was so great with the elephants, he was a Hell's Angel, a tough guy... and I think they saved his life. When the cow and the bull [elephant] died of old age, Chris was sort of left like a man without a country and I thought, 'I've gotta do something that's going to give him a meaning to his life after these animals, because they were so important to him and he's doing an incredible job... absolutely fabulous!"

Hedren's daughter Melanie Griffith and granddaughter Dakota Johnson ["Fifty Shades of Grey"] have followed in her Hollywood footsteps. "I think it's fabulous and I had nothing to do with that," Hedren said. "If I could take credit for it, I would, but I don't. They did it on their own, and they have made a success out of it. I'm not a big advice giver. I try to live a life that will maybe rub off on them, and that works for me."

As for her previously-mentioned autobiography, Hedren found the process to be quite cathartic. As she explained, "I loved it, because I have had an extraordinary life. To actually put it down on paper and enjoy doing so, I think that came through in the book." She said of her creative process, "I've loved my life and it was exciting doing it. Every now and then I think, 'Ooh, I should have put that in the book! I should write another one.' "

If there is one thing that she would like for readers to take away from her book, it's that "They should really look at opportunities. In fact, I almost titled it 'The Open Door,' because I've looked over my life," she continued, "And it was like opening a door and thinking, 'I like what's over there and I'm going to walk through.' There were a lot of times when that door was open that I would slam it shut, too. It saved my life a lot."

It can certainly be said that what Hedren does, by protecting and preserving the animals' lives in her charge, is a two-way street as far as the saving department. By doing the work that she does, Hedren is advocating for animals and giving them a voice. She is resolute, too, in the fact that they have enriched her life and she wouldn't have it any other way. "First of all, you have to really study the animals and really get to know them," she explained. "The more you know about them before you encounter them, the better. It's a learning experience for the rest of your life. They're like people. You know them, and you become friends, and it's a constant working relationship... certainly, one that is unique. I feel very, very fortunate in being handed this to me during my lifetime."

Hedren's book, "Tippi: A Memoir" is currently available. For information on The Roar Foundation and Shambala Preserve, call 661.268.0380 or go to shambala.org