Following the news of Kelly 's unavailability , the role of Marnie became a sought-after commission in Hollywood . Before Marilyn Monroe died , of probable suicide , in 1962 , she expressed interest in playing the title character . “ It ’s an interesting idea , ” Hitchcock admitted in an evasive manner to '' Variety '' Army Archerd . In his book '' Hitchcock and the Making of Marnie '' , Tony Lee Moral revealed that a studio executive at Paramount Pictures suggested actress Lee Remick to Hitchcock for the title role . Hitchcock also considered two other actresses who were , like Hedren , under his personal contract , Vera Miles and Claire Griswold , wife of director/actor Sydney Pollack . Eva Marie Saint , star of Hitchcock 's '' North by Northwest '' ( 1959 ) , and Susan Hampshire unsuccessfully pursued the role as well . In the end , Hitchcock opted to use Tippi Hedren , a one-time model he had seen in a commercial for a diet drink in 1961 , then cast successfully in '' The Birds '' . According to Hedren , he offered her the role of Marnie during filming of '' The Birds '' . Hedren told writer Moral that she was " amazed " that Hitchcock would offer her this " incredible role " , calling it a " once-in-a-lifetime opportunity " . In 2005 , more than 40 years after the film 's release , Hedren declared in an interview that '' Marnie '' was her favorite of the two films she made with Hitchcock , because of the intriguing , complex , challenging character that she played
died , of probable suicide
Death of Marilyn Monroe
Marnie (film)