Tippi Hedren details assault by Alfred Hitchcock: 'It was sexual, it was perverse."

NEW YORK, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- In her upcoming memoir, Tippi Hedren revealed details of the sexual assault she suffered at the hands of famed director Alfred Hitchcock.

Hitchcock, who discovered Hedren in a commercial for a meal replacement shake, tracked her down and signed her to the lead role in his 1963 horror film, The Birds.

Hedren, 86, claimed Hitchcock developed an obsession with her and ordered her fellow castmates not to touch her and even became "petulant" when they were seen talking to her.

If caught talking to other members of the cast, Hedren noted Hitchcock would look at her with an "expressionless, unwavering stare ... even if he was talking to a group of people on the other side of the soundstage."

Hedren also said the director would often drive past her home and, on one occasion, tried to force himself on her in the back of his limo.

"It was an awful, awful moment," she said of the incident.

Hedren said she kept quiet about the abuse because "sexual harassment and stalking were terms that didn't exist" at the time.

After filming The Birds Hedren worked with Hitchcock on Marnie where, Hedren said, the harassment continued, revealing the director had a secret door installed which connected her dressing room with his office.

Detailing an incident where Hitchcock tried to touch her in her dressing room, Hedren said "The harder I fought him, the more aggressive he became."

"It was sexual, it was perverse," she said.

Hedren's memoir, Tippi, is available on Nov. 1.