Nathalie Kay”Tippi” Hedren was born on 19 January 1930, in New Ulm, Minnesota USA, of Swedish, Norwegian, and German descent. Tippi is an actress, former fashion model, and an animal rights activist, best known for her successful modelling career during her 20s. She has also appeared in two Alfred Hitchcock films and all of her efforts have helped put her net worth to where it is today.
How rich is Tippi Hedren? As of late-2016, sources estimate a net worth that is at $20 million, mostly earned through successful careers in modelling and acting. Her work has been honored with a Jules Verne Award, and a Hollywood Walk of Fame Star. She’s also an advocate of animal rescue, and all of these have ensured the position of her wealth.
Tippi Hedren Net Worth $20 million
When she was four years old, her father gave her the nickname “Tippi”. During her teens, she started appearing in department store fashion shows, and by the age of 20 had moved to New York City to join the Eileen Ford Agency. Throughout the 1950s, became very successful as a model, being featured in magazines such as “Glamour”, “Life”, and “The Saturday Evening Post”, establishing her net worth.
In 1961, an agent contacted her to tell her that Alfred Hitchcock was interested in hiring her; she accepted and signed a seven-year contract. Hitchcock notably wanted her high-style and lady-like quality which was once well-represented in films. After going through an extensive screen test and performing scenes from previous films, Hitchcock started to heavily invest in her lifestyle. He then offered her the lead in his upcoming film “The Birds”.
“The Birds” became Hedren’s screen debut, and Hitchcock was responsible for coaching Tippi in many aspects of acting. She portrayed the role of Melanie Daniels, and had one of the most difficult scenes in which she is attacked by multiple live birds (beaks clamped shut with elastic bands). Her performance proved to be successful and critically acclaimed. Tippi started to rise to star quality, and received a Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year. Tippi was then offered a lead in Alfred’s next film, “Marnie” which was based on a novel by Winston Graham. In the film, she plays an emotionally battered woman who travels various cities to steal from her employers. The film had mixed reviews and low box-office returns, mainly because it was way ahead of its time, as over the years, it has become acknowledged as one of Hitchcock’s best works.
After “Marnie”, Hedren and Hitchcock’s collaboration would end; it was rumoured that he became very strict with Tippi’s lifestyle, which became very difficult for her especially during the filming of “Marnie” – Hitchcock was reported to be obsessed with her and was highly protective of her, to the point of being possessive. He threatened to end her career and later the two only communicated through a third party to complete the film. She refused all other film offers from him, and her contract was eventually sold to Universal Studios; later the film “The Girl” was released about their relationship. Her first feature film after “Marnie” would be “A Countess from Hong Kong” starring Marlon Brando.
Tippi would do more projects over the next few years, and her next major film would be “Roar”, which was about a family’s misadventures in a research park. For the film, they raised a lion and eventually bought a ranch, rescuing several other wild animals. The filming took five years to complete, and seventy members of the cast were injured including the actors. In 1978, a flood killed three lions and set the movie back for several years. This film led to her creating The Roar Foundation, which aimed to take care of animals. She went on to do several low budget roles to support her foundation later on.
For her personal life, it is known that Tippi’s daughter is actress Melanie Griffith whose father is advertising executive Peter Griffith(m. 1952-61). In 1964, she married agent Noel Marshall but they divorced in 1982. Three years later, she married Luis Barrenechea and their marriage lasted until 1995. In 2002, she was engaged to veterinarian Martin Dinnes but they broke up in 2008.
