The Girl (2012 TV film)

The Girl
Red poster with write writing. Picture of a woman with man in the background. The title The Girl is seen to the right of the image.
Quad poster
GenreBiography
Drama
Based onSpellbound by Beauty
by Donald Spoto
Written byGwyneth Hughes
Directed byJulian Jarrold
StarringToby Jones
Sienna Miller
Theme music composerPhilip Miller
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducerAmanda Jenks
CinematographyJohn Pardue
EditorAndrew Hulme
Running time91 minutes
Production companyBBC/HBO
Original release
NetworkHBO
Release20 October 2012 (2012-10-20)
NetworkBBC Two
Release26 December 2012 (2012-12-26)
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The Girl is a 2012 British television film directed by Julian Jarrold, written by Gwyneth Hughes and produced by the BBC and HBO Films. The film stars Sienna Miller as Tippi Hedren and Toby Jones as Alfred Hitchcock. It is based on Donald Spoto's 2009 book Spellbound by Beauty: Alfred Hitchcock and His Leading Ladies, which discusses the English film director Hitchcock and the women who played leading roles in his films. The Girl's title was inspired by Hitchcock's alleged nickname for Hedren.

The film depicts Hitchcock's alleged obsession with Hedren, the American model and actress he brought from relative obscurity to star in his 1963 film The Birds. Hitchcock becomes infatuated with his leading lady; when she rebuffs his advances, he subjects her to a series of traumatic experiences during the filming of The Birds. Hitchcock's obsession with Hedren continues when she stars in his next production, Marnie. Hedren grows increasingly uncomfortable with his attentions, and decides that she needs to escape the situation. However, she cannot work elsewhere because of her exclusive contract with Hitchcock; this effectively ends her Hollywood career.

The Girl made its television debut in the United States on 20 October 2012 on HBO and aired in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on 26 December. Jones and Miller were nominated for awards at the 2013 Golden Globe Awards and the British Academy Television Awards for their roles in the film, which received mixed reviews from critics.