Tippi Hedren: Alfred Hitchcock "ruined my career, but he didn't ruin my life"

Tippi Hedren poses with a prop bird on Aug. 1, 2012 in Beverly Hills, Calif.

/ AP

(CBS/AP) Tippi Hedren said Wednesday that she survived working with Alfred Hitchcock, but her career did not.

Hedren's experience on the famed British director's films "The Birds" and "Marnie" is dramatized in the new HBO movie "The Girl," starring Sienna Miller as Hedren and Toby Jones as Hitchcock.

Hitchcock is portrayed as obsessed with Hedren and vindictive when the actress rejects his advances.

The director "ruined my career, but he didn't ruin my life," Hedren told a meeting of the Television Critics Association. She had to fight to get out of her contract with Hitchcock and lost roles because of it, she said in an interview.

Miller spoke to the Beverly Hills critics' meeting by telephone. During the session, Miller and Hedren exchanged pleasantries that apparently referred to a newcomer in Miller's life. According to reports, the 30-year-old actress gave birth to a baby girl named Marlow in early July.

"How's Marlow?" Hedren asked.

"She's screaming upstairs," Miller replied.

"The Girl" debuts Oct. 20 on HBO. See a photo from the film below:

Sienna Miller and Toby Jones in "The Girl."

/ HBO

[RocketJay]

I met Tiipi Hedren a few years ago at the premiere of a stage play comedy/parody of "The Birds" in Chicago. I was amazed at how stunningly beautiful she still is. Very gracious and kindly answered questions afterwards along with Veronica Cartwright(Cathy) from the audience. She signed my program, "With fear! Tippi Hedren". Needless to say it's framed and in a prominent spot on my mantle.Veronica mentioned how Hitchcock was telling her during a break, the proper way to make a steak(she must have been all of 12 years old at the time). Loved him as a director but strange guy.