BEVERLY HILLS, California: Tippi Hedren said Wednesday she survived working with Alfred Hitchcock, but her career was another matter.

Hedren's experience on the famed British film director's "The Birds" and "Marnie" is dramatized in the new HBO movie, "The Girl."

Hitchcock is portrayed as obsessed with Hedren and vindictive when the actress rejects his advances.

The director "ruined my career, but he didn't ruin my life," Hedren told a meeting of the Television Critics Association. She had to fight to get out of her contract with Hitchcock and lost roles because of it, she said in an interview.

Sienna Miller, who spoke to the Beverly Hills critics' meeting by telephone, plays Hedren and Toby Jones portrays Hitchcock in "The Girl," which debuts Oct. 20 on HBO.

During the session, Miller and Hedren exchanged long-distance pleasantries that apparently referred to a newcomer in Miller's life. According to reports, the 30-year-old actress gave birth to a baby girl, Marlow, in early July.

"How's Marlow?" Hedren asked.

"She's screaming upstairs," Miller replied.