
08/11/2025
In 1982, Tippi Hedren — best known for her iconic roles in Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds (1963) and Marnie (1964) — was living at her Shambala Preserve in Acton, California, a wildlife sanctuary she founded to house big cats and other exotic animals.
The famous images of her with her pet tiger from that period come from a time when she and her family were deeply involved in the filming and promotion of Roar (1981), a film that featured dozens of lions, tigers, and other big cats. Many of the animals actually lived with them for a time, leading to remarkable — and often dangerous — photo opportunities.
Hedren has since reflected on this period with a mix of fondness and caution, acknowledging that while she loved the animals, keeping such predators in a domestic setting posed serious risks (indeed, many people on the Roar set were injured).
The 1982 tiger photos are both striking and surreal — an elegant Hollywood star casually interacting with a full-grown predator in her own home.
I can also tell you about the specific tiger in the photo and its connection to Roar, if you’d like the deeper story.