Living with Lions: The Story Behind the Most Dangerous Film Ever Made

This episode of 'Characters' explores the extraordinary and perilous life of Tippi Hedren, the iconic actress best known for her roles in Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Birds' and 'Marnie.' The story unfolds through her controversial decision to live with a lion named Neil in her Sherman Oaks home in the early 1970s, a move that became the foundation for her ill-fated but legendary film 'Roar.' Filmed over 11 years with real, untrained big cats, 'Roar' became the most dangerous film ever made—inflicting injuries on over 70 cast and crew members, including severe wounds to Hedren and her daughter Melanie Griffith. Despite the film's commercial failure and the personal toll, Hedren transformed her experience into a lifelong mission: founding the Shambhala Preserve in 1972, a sanctuary for rescued big cats, and later the Roar Foundation. Today, at 95, she lives on the preserve, advocating for animal welfare, influencing legislation, and maintaining one of the most ethically sound sanctuaries in the world. The episode presents Hedren not as a cautionary tale alone, but as a complex figure whose recklessness ultimately led to profound redemption and purpose.