 The Girl is based on Donald Spoto 's 2009 book , Spellbound by Beauty : Alfred Hitchcock and His Leading Ladies , which examines the relationships between Alfred Hitchcock and the female stars of his films . Spoto wrote that Hitchcock attempted to turn Tippi Hedren ( star of The Birds and Marnie ) into his perfect woman , choosing the clothes and lipstick he thought she should wear . Hedren told Spoto that Hitchcock fantasised about running off with her . 
