Former Hollywood actress Tippi Hedren reveals a dark secret

The life story of actress Tippi Hedren is fascinating, to say the least. This blonde bombshell found her way to Hollywood after Alfred Hitchcock spotted her in a commercial. The famed director was so fascinated with her on-screen appearance that he was quick to contact her and offer her a seven-year contract. She became his muse and a leading lady in two of his most prominent movies, The Birds and Marnie. But things between them took the wrong turn, and eventually, that led her career to experience a huge setback.

When Hedren received the call that changed her life forever, she didn’t know whether to laugh, cry or run.

Wikipedia Commons / Hollywood Press Syndicate

“I was not primarily concerned with how she looked in person. Most important was her appearance on the screen, and I liked that immediately. She has a touch of that high-style, lady-like quality which was once well-represented in films by actresses like Irene Dunne, Grace Kelly, Claudette Colbert, and others, but which is now quite rare,” Hitchcock later said.

And yes, Hedren’s appearance was indeed compared to that of gracious Grace Kelly, and Hedren was flattered.

It was very obvious that Hitchcock had great plans with the Minnesota born green-eyed beauty with Swedish, German, and Norwegian roots.

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Once she signed the contract, Hedren did several screen tests that went on for days. “Hitch always liked women who behaved like well-bred ladies. Tippi generated that quality,” production designer Robert F. Boyle said.

Following the testing, Hedren had dinner with Hitchcock and his wife and that’s when he reached to his pocket and took out a golden box wrapped in gift paper.

“I had just finished a screen test for Hitch and I thought, ‘What a nice way for him to tell me he liked it,’” Hedren told Star Tribune.

Inside the box was a gold pin adorned with a seed pearl.

“Hitch said, ‘Look at it closely, my dear.’

“It’s shaped like a bird,” Hedren said.

“Yes, my dear,” Hitchcock explained with his deep voice.

”You have the lead in my next production.”

That’s how Hedren got the role in what the New York Times called “a horror film that should raise the hackles on the most courageous and put goose-pimples on the toughest hide.”

Donaldson Collection/Getty Images

The filming of Birds was as chilling as the film itself.

“They used real birds. In one scene, 2,000 finches come down the fire place chimney and take over my home. But the worst scene took place in the attic. I’m attacked by crows and gulls. One bird scratched me under the eye and bit my lip. It took six days to film a sequence that lasts only two minutes on film. I was very depressed about the horror of the scene and at the end I collapsed. I stayed in bed for days,” Hedren revealed in 1962.

Following The Birds, Hedren was offered the role in Marnie. “I was amazed that he would offer me this incredible role and that he would have that kind of faith in me,” the stunning actress explained in the book Hitchcock and the Making of Marnie.

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Although it seemed that Hedren’s career would skyrocket even further, her relationship with the famous director sort of crumbled because “[Hitchcock] was too possessive and too demanding. I cannot be possessed by anyone. But, then, that’s my own hangup,” the actress said in 1973.

Donald Spoto revealed more details regarding Hedren and Hitchcock’s relationship in his book The Dark Side of Genius which he published in 1983. According to him, the director wanted to have a say about what Hedren should eat, who she should be around, and how she lived her life. He even asked from the crew to stay away from her when they weren’t filming. Suddenly, she felt completely isolated.

“Hitch was becoming very domineering and covetous of ‘Tippi,’ and it was very difficult for her. No one was permitted to come physically close to her during the production. ‘Don’t touch the girl after I call “Cut!”‘ he said to me repeatedly,” Rod Taylor, co-star in The Birds, revealed in the book.

Tippi Hedren and Sean Connery in Marnie (1964).

Herden herself revealed, “Everyone -— I mean everyone -— knew he was obsessed with me. He always wanted a glass of wine or champagne, with me alone, at the end of the day. He was really isolating me from everyone.”

Of course, those close to Hitchcock stood by his side and said they couldn’t recognize the man described in the book as the famous director.

“He ruined my career, but he didn’t ruin my life. That time of my life was over. I still admire the man for who he was,” Hedren told Huffington Post in 2012.

“I’ve been able to separate the two. The man who was the artist. I mean, what he gave to the motion picture industry can never be taken away from him and I certainly wouldn’t want to try. But on the other side, there is that dark side that was really awful.”

Hedren with Alfred Hitchcock in a publicity photograph for Marnie (1964)

Throughout the years, the actress, who is 93 years old, has been married three times. She first wed actor and advertising executive Peter Griffith in 1952, before splitting from him nine years later. Together, they welcomed her only child, daughter and future Hollywood star Melanie Griffith. She then married her agent, Noel Marshall, and following the divorce from him, she tied the knot with Luis Barrenechea, with whom she stayed together until 1995.

Hedren with Alfred Hitchcock in a publicity photograph for Marnie (1964)

These days, she’s devoted to a cause close to her heart for many years, rescuing and caring for big cats through The Roar Foundation and the Shambala Preserve near Acton, California.

Hedren, who is a Golden Globe Award recipient, had her latest film appearance in 2017 in The Ghost and the Whale, an American mystery thriller drama film. As she moved to her 90s, she decided not to take significant roles.

“I am at the time in my life when I have done almost everything I wanted to do,” Hedren told The Hollywood Reporter.

“My constant work here at the preserve to care for my rescued and abandoned big cats fills my days now. I doubt that I will do much work in the motion-picture business or television again, and I suppose that is why this commercial was such a special offer.”

Tippi Hedren, who is one of the last surviving stars from Golden Age of Hollywood cinema, truly is a synonym for grace, class, dignity.

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He became an actor despite his rare congenital disability – now he’s an inspiration for millions

Accepting yourself for who you are, with all your virtues and flaws, seems to be the key to a fulfilled life. At times, we find ourselves in a position to question our looks or our abilities, but once we learn to love ourselves, everything will fall into place.

The story of actor Michael Berryman cannot be a better proof of that.

This man was born with a rare congenital disability known as hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia. This means he doesn’t have fingernails, hair, and teeth, and his head has a unique shape. Despite all this, he did manage to fulfill his dreams and we can all agree that he succeeded that a great deal.

Michael was born in Santa Monica, California, on September 4, 1948. From the start, his life has been full of challenges, but he managed to overcome each and every one of them, although it was never easy.

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Although anyone can be born with hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, in Michael’s case, doctors were able to trace the cause. Namely, his father was a surgeon in the Navy and shortly after the US had dropped their atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, he was sent there to monitor the effects of the radiation. Michael’s mom fell pregnant with him upon his father’s return from Japan.

“I was the second born and I had a whole bunch of birth defects which is, obviously, from the radiation damage to my father from being at ground zero for an atom and hydrogen bomb,” Berryman told Lacomba Express.

He added: “I learned a lot about reality, humanity and medical situations growing up as a child. I dealt with bullying and learned what makes  someone a decent person and what makes someone a tool.”

Besides the struggles, he was determined to succeed in life so he moved out from his parents’ house and attended university. At first, he studied to be veterinarian, but the program was shut down because of lack of funding, so he majored in art history and continued studying theoretical physics.

Eventually, he returned to his hometown but found himself in a crossroad and didn’t know what to do next in life. Then, he decided to open a gift show, and that decision changed his life.

“We didn’t have flowers, we had house plants, and some local artists would bring in their paintings and sculptures, and we would display them,” Berryman recalled.

“It wasn’t a booming business in ’73 or ’74. There was an antique store across the street, however, that catered to the wealthy of Beverly Hills, really upscale people, and they had Ming Dynasty and egg urns, and this and that. We were friendly with our neighbors in business, and there was a big sale going on at the Gala Mofrey, which was this antique store across the street in Venice near our store, so we put in some palms.

“We made the place look nice. So we were waiting for the sale to finish that evening and when it was finished we took our plants that didn’t sell back over to shop, and that’s how I met Producer George Pal.”

betto rodrigues/Shutterstock.com

George Pal, who was a legendary film director, learned about Michael from his son who owned a shop next to Michael’s. It was then that Michael was offered to take part in his upcoming film Doc Savage. Michael said yet to the role of Juan Lopez Morales, the chief coroner in the film. 

“I said, ‘Maybe this’ll be fun,’” Michael recalled. “So I worked for two days at the estate of Herald Lloyd, and I had enjoyed it so much.”

Although he found acting fun, Michael never meant it would turn into a career. He had a plan to go to Alaska and find a job there when he received a call that changed everything. “That phone call was from George Pal’s casting directors, Micheal Fenton and Jane Feinberg. And they were casting for a very famous movie that won seven Oscars, and that movie was called One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

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“They said,’ we saw your picture from George Pal. You have a look we need for a lobotomy patient called Ellis,’” he recalled in a 1995 interview.

“We got to talking; I told them I’d had a medical history. My father was a brain surgeon, my mother was a nurse. So I had a lot of intuitive feelings about hospitals and institutionalization.”

He added: “They said, ‘we’re basically hiring you just for your looks, but now that we’ve talked to you, we realize that you’re intelligent and sensitive enough to do the role.’ So I didn’t have to audition at all.”

Although these acting credits were very significant for his career in the world of film, nothing could really prepare Michael for what followed.

In 1977, he was cast in the horror film The Hills Have Eyes.

“My agent sent me to meet the producers and Wes, and he told me the back story of the Bean family and how that was somewhat factual, and they said, ‘We saw you in Cuckoo’s Nest, and the family perhaps has mutations from living on a bomb range,’ which is kind of ironic,” Berryman said.

“I was born with some defects that were the direct cause of being irradiated, so it sort of dovetailed with the Hills story.”

He added: “They said, ‘We’re hiring you because of your looks,’ and I said, “Okay, perhaps the performance will meet your expectations,’ and I believe it did.”

Youtube/ConventionJunkies

As expected, this role helped Michael rise to stardom and become fan favorite among the lovers of the horror genre. The film remains iconic until this day.

 “It feels great, especially because of the friendships that we made. We had a cult following come about, and it just reflects on Wes’s brilliance in writing, directing, and how he put the film together. It’s just very well executed, and it holds its own,” Michael said of the film. “A lot of the more recent horror films go in and out with the fascination with splatter, special effects, etc., but Hills was just so well put together. It has just been a blessing to have met Wes and worked with him on numerous occasions.”

Other films he took part in are My Science Project, Evil Spirit, The X-Files and Star Trek: The Next Generation, among the rest.

Michael’s life motto is not to take yourself seriously and try to laugh at least once a day. “I want you to be lazy because it takes 27 muscles in your face to frown, and it only takes three to smile,” he says.

Besides being an actor, Michael is also a gardener and chef who adores Rachel Ray.

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Elvis Presley’s private jet from 1962 for sale – the untouched interior is just fantastic

No matter how good someone is when it comes to creating music and performing it, there will always be only one king.

Elvis Presley gave the world some of the best hits like Jailhouse Rock, In The Ghetto, Hound Dog and Love Me Tender, which are incredibly popular until this day and will likely be listened to and enjoyed by many future generations.

Besides being a rock legend, Elvis was known as someone with exquisite fashion style. He also had magic fingers when it came to interior design, and Graceland, his home, is the perfect proof of that.

Recently, the King’s privately-owned jet plane, which he purchased in 1962 and custom-designed it to suit him personally, has been sold. It only takes a glance inside of it to realize how good Elvis’ style was. The Lockheed Jetstar model was owned by Elvis for 35 years, but sadly, following his passing, it was abandoned on a road in Roswell, New Mexico, USA, and converted into a tourist attraction.

The plane was auctioned-off at a Florida auction and was sold for $260,000.

The interior consists of wooden panels, carpet and red velvet chairs. There is also a ‘high-tech’ TV and a small kitchen behind the main room with a microwave which probably isn’t working after all those years.

If you take a look at the bathroom, you’ll spot more more velvet and a luxurious sink.

We can surely imagine Elvis Presley using this plane which is a true representation of his sense of style.

For more, go to the video below.

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Heather Locklear’s daughter is all grown up and people say she’s her mother’s reincarnation

Landing the role of glamorous Sammy Jo Carrington in the long-running TV show Dynasty back in the day, helped actress Heather Locklear secure her place under the Hollywood sky and become a much-loved celebrity figure.

Born in Los Angeles in 1961, Heather rose to stardom during the 80s and has had quite a career. Today, she is 61 years old and looks as stunningly beautiful as ever. What’s most, her only child, daughter Ava Sambora, is a spitting image of her famous mom.

Heather Locklear in 1993 / Wikipedia Commons

Ava, 25, has even taken after her mom a little bit in terms of modeling and acting.

Heather had Ava with her second husband, Bon Jovi lead guitarist Richie Sambora. Previously, she was married to Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, whom she divorced in 1993.

Heather and Richie tied the knot in 1994 in a private civil ceremony in New Jersey. Their formal wedding took place in Paris, and the Melrose Place star wore a candlelight white gown designed by Nolan Miller, who also designed the lavish costumes for Dynasty. 

The couple stayed together for 13 years before calling it quits. As of Ava, being a child of two celebs was quite a ride. When she was young, she could often be seen on stage during the Bon Jovi concerts. Sometimes, she would introduce them to the audience and she even danced with the members while they performed.

Today, Ava is a very successful young woman. In 2020, she graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a bachelor’s in psychology, finishing with a GPA of 4.0, and pursued a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy at the University of Southern California.

When it comes to her acting career, Ava appeared in a handful of movies, including This Is 40, which marked her debut in the world of film. Her latest acting credit is from 2020, when she starred in the independent crime-thriller A Dark Foe with Selma Blair.

As mentioned before, this beauty, which resembles her mom in so many ways, tried herself in modeling too. In 2010 she walked the runway for her father’s clothing line, “White Trash Beautiful,” at Los Angeles Fashion Weekend.

Recently, Ava posted a collage of photos of herself holding flowers. The caption read, “I like flowers,” along with a tag to her friend Sarah Wermers.

As expected, people couldn’t help but comment how Ava looked exactly like Heather, with some writing, “You truly are a stunning beauty, taking after your beautiful mother!!” and “My gosh she is her mother, even her voice sounds like Heather’s.” 

Of course, there were also those who couldn’t see the resemblance.

When it comes to Ava’s private life, what we know is that’s she’s dating Tyler Farrar, an investment associate at Pacific Partners Real Estate Investments. The two have been together since 2019.

Heather did an amazing job raising her daughter.

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She was spat at because of her ginger hair – but look at her today

Ever since we were little children, our parents taught us to never judge people based on their physical appearance. Sadly, there are still those who make assumptions about others based on their looks. 

Jessica Gagen’s childhood wasn’t an easy one because she was constantly teased for her red hair. Her classmates called her names and made her days a living hell. Years later, however, she finally got her revenge when she was crowned Miss England in 2022.

What she looks like today will take your breath away.

Instagram / Jessicaashley

Jessica, who is from Lancashire, England, stood out from the crowd because of her red hair. Sadly, her friends didn’t find this feature a cute one. On the contrary, they mocked her and made fun of her, so she was often left out from the social circles most of her classmates were part of. This made Jessica cry almost every day.

The bullying went so far that her classmates even spat on her and tried to burn her with a lighter because she had ”ginger hair.”

“I was name-called on the daily, and although I don’t think the kids were being malicious in doing, so there were definitely times they were. I was hit, spat at and had things thrown at my head quite a few times, but worst was when a girl burned me for having ginger hair,” she shared with The Mirror.

When she was in year seven, Jessica was forced to eat her lunch in the toilet because whenever she tried sitting next to someone at the cafeteria, they would stand up and walk away.

Not only she didn’t feel beautiful because of the constant teasing, but she even convinced herself that she was ugly.

“I used to get really upset about it all, but I’m determined to show kids who are facing the same thing that it won’t happen forever,” Jessica says.

As years went by, Jessica turned into an enchantingly beautiful young woman. At the age of 18, she applied to a modeling agency and pursued a career as a model. It didn’t take long before she caught the attention of many and was praised to the high heavens for her unique style. Her dream wasn’t only to become successful for herself, but for all the children who were tormented and called names like she was all those years.

She wants her story to serve as an example that we should never stop pursuing our dreams, no matter what others tell us.

In 2021, Jessica applied for the beauty contest “Miss England,” and finished as a runner up. The following year, she won the competition and was titled Miss England, becoming the first red-haired woman to do so.

“I looked back and I was thinking there are not that many redheads on TV. I thought if I could win this, I could empower kids who being bullied for the way that they look and the color of their hair,” she says.

Jessica wants to spread the message that “everybody is unique and nobody has flaws.”

We are so glad for her success and for her having the last laugh.

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Bindi Irwin leaves everyone in tears after heartbreaking update on her father’s 61st birthday

This year would mark 17 years since the passing of one of the greatest animal and nature lovers the world has ever seen, great Steve Irwin.

Irwin died back in 2006, leaving the world mourning his loss. During filming at the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, Steve was pierced through the chest by a stingray.

“He was having trouble breathing. Even if we’d been able to get him into an emergency ward at that moment we probably wouldn’t have been able to save him, because the damage to his heart was massive,” Justin Lyon, an underwater cameraman and Steve’s close friend told Australia’s Network Ten television.

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Through his passion and the out-of-this-world videos and documentaries of incredible species, he made millions look at the nature and the creatures living in the wild and the oceans with fresh eyes. And now, his children are following into his footsteps and continue his legacy the best they can.

Bindi Irwin and Robert Irwin, together with their mother Terri, work as zoo keepers in Australia and are 9nvolved in conservation and promoting and protecting animals.

February 22 marked what would have been Steve Irwin’s 61st birthday. His daughter Bindi shared a touching message to honor her late father.

“Happy Birthday, Dad. Thank you for instilling a love for all species, courage to follow my heart and determination to make a difference in the world for wildlife and wild places,” she wrote. “Your legacy lives on and the world is forever changed because of your dedication to conservation. Mum, Robert and I love and miss you so much.”

Alongside the touching words, Bindi posted a photo of Steve and herself at a very young age.

As expected, many of this famous family’s fans flooded the photo with comments.

“Your dad was a gift to the world and his legacy continues with you and your beautiful family!” one person wrote.

“Sweetest picture, making me cry. l’m sure he’s so proud of his baby girl and what a good mama and person you are! Happy birthday to your dear dad,” another added.

Instagram/Bindiirwin

When her dad passed away, Bindi was just 8 years old, but the love for animals he installed in her lasts a lifetime.

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Kellie Pickler’s husband, Kyle Jacobs was discovered dead inside their Nashville home

Kyle Jacobs, the 49-year-old husband of country singer Kellie Pickler, was found dead inside the couple’s Nashville, Tennessee, home on Friday. The death of Jacobs, who was a songwriter, was being investigated as an apparent suicide.

Following a 911 call, first responders found Jacobs’ lifeless body. “Mr. Jacobs’ wife, Kellie Pickler, reported that she awoke a short time earlier, did not see her husband, and began looking for him,” according to the statement. “After she and her personal assistant were unable to open the door to the upstairs bedroom/office, the assistant telephoned 911.”

Pickler and Jacobs tied the knot in 2011. Over the course of his career, Jacobs collaborated with various country music legends, such as Tim McGraw, Garth Brooks, Darius Rucker, and Kelly Clarkson. Among the rest, he co-wrote Garth Brooks’ 2007 single “More Than a Memory” with Lee Brice and Billy Montana. The song is considered to be the first country song to debut at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Hot Country Songs chart. 

In 2015, the couple starred in I Love Kellie Pickler, a CMT reality series documenting their marriage. They didn’t have any children together.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Kellie Pickler and her family during these times of grief.

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This iconic actress is unrecognizable these days – her legs were once insured for a million dollars

We can only guess what’s it like to be so influential that your name is forever embedded in the pop culture history. Well, one of those people who know this feeling all too well is beautiful Catherine Bach, The Dukes of Hazzard star who had her legs insured for a million dollars.

The moment she landed the role of Daisy Duke, Bach started the trend of wearing daring outfits, among which short cut-off denim shorts that are referred to as “Daisy Dukes” even today by young people who probably have no idea where the name comes from.

American actress Catherine Bach, who played Daisy Duke in the US television series ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’, circa 1985.

Once on the show, Bach required to be given the freedom to create her own outfits instead of wearing a tight white turtleneck, go-go boots, and a poodle skirt as the producers initially wanted her to.

The Cleveland, Ohio native has had quite a career.

Born in Warren, Ohio in 1954, Bach split her childhood days between her father’s ranch in South Dakota and her mother’s California home.

While spending a summer at The Golden State, Bach attended drama school and the moment she got on stage she knew she was meant to make it big in the world of film.

The next step towards what would turn into a stunning career was getting a list of agents and finding one. Eventually, after landing some minor roles, Bach got the role that would change her life forever, that of charming Daisy Duke.

Catherine Bach (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)

Although The Dukes of Hazzard was hated by the critics, it was something the average American loved so the show became an instant hit and was a top-rated television series in the late 1970s. According to many, it had everything a show needed, corny jokes, car races, and a stunningly beautiful leading-lady.

Speaking of her character, Bach said in 1979, “The character is a conglomeration of many people I know. She is half the wildest girl I ever knew in high school. She is part of a couple of girls I was real close to in Georgia. Se’s a lot of Dolly Parton and she’s a lot of me when I was a waitress. She is independent. She is physical. And she can do anything the guys can do.”

The Dukes of Hazzard ended in 1985 and Bach’s career sort of stalled. She starred in African Skies and The Young and the Restless.

Flickr/ThomasHawk

In 2010, Bach suffered a huge loss when her husband Peter Lopez died. The two tied the knot in August 1990, and they were together until his tragic death.

Calling him the love of her life, the actress was left with million questions and she still couldn’t find the answer as to why he took his own life. He was financially stable and didn’t struggle with addictions, so his passing was truly a mysterious one.

“A lot of people in the music business have stress, but Peter was always calm and collected,” Bach told People.

“The further I get away from it, the more I believe he did this to protect us. Something must have happened to him that he couldn’t get past.”

John Schneider, Catherine Bach and Tom Wopat in ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’, circa 1980. They play Bo, Daisy and Luke Duke, respectively. (Getty Images)

At the time, Bach’s daughters were 11 and 14, and she put all her time and energy in raising them and being there for them.

”I realize that these girls are my legacy, they are Peter’s legacy. They are a testament to our love and what we thought of family, and there’s no way that I could ever slack off on that and just think about myself, ” she told Huffinton Post. “I prayed a lot. I went to church a lot. I’m Catholic. I stayed very close to my priest who I really trust… It’s what kept me alive.”

Today, Bach is 68 years old and although she has gained some weight over the years, she still looks as stunning as always. While starring as Daisy Duke, she kept in shape by “dancing three hours a day, hiking and swimming.” As of her current looks, she said, “I’ve put on a little weight, but so what?”

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Last year, Bach was spotted in public wearing large sunglasses, black sneakers, and a cross-body phone case. Many say that she is now hardly recognizable, but considering her age and the 40 years that have passed since she starred in the famous show, it is normal to look different that in the young days.

Catherine Bach is seen on March 25, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by JOCE/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

One thing is certain, Catherine Bach ages like a fine wine.

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