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Tippi Hedren says Hitchcock's sexual harassment ruined her career as she offers support to Weinstein victims
'The Birds' star Tippi Hedren has said she is pleased people have begun speaking up about the sexual harassment problem she thinks is endemic in Hollywood.
Ms Hedren accused Alfred Hitchcock of sexual harassment years ago, which occurred when she was starring in his films.
She has now said this harassment ruined her career - and that Hitchcock wasn't the first.
The 87-year-old said: "I'm watching all the coverage on Weinstein. This is nothing new, nor is it limited to the entertainment industry.
"I dealt with sexual harassment all the time, during my modeling and film career. Hitchcock wasn't the first.
"However, I wasn't going to take it anymore, so I simply walked away and didn't look back. Hitch said he would ruin my career and I told him to do what he had to do,.
"It has taken 50 years, but it is about time that women started standing up for themselves as the appear to be doing in the Weinstein case. Good for them!"
She has spoken before about her fraught relationship with Hitchcock, who died in 1980.
In 1973, she said: "He was too possessive and too demanding.
"I cannot be possessed by anyone. But, then, that's my own hangup."
The 2012 film The Girl was about their troubled relationship.
In it, Hitchcock is depicted as lecherously obsessed with the young ingénue.
In 2013, she told the New York Times: "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".