Hitchcock’s preference for sophisticated icy blondes is well-known. He claimed that audiences would be suspicious of brunettes, but I think this quote shows a truer insight into his cinematic genius:
Blondes are blondes make the best victims. They’re like virgin snow that shows up the bloody footprints
My favourite Hitchcock blonde has always been Grace Kelly – partly because I love the movie ‘To Catch a Thief’ – it’s not as disturbing as a lot of his movies and makes for wonderful, witty, glamorous viewing. Here’s a run-down of my favourite Hitchcock blondes – I know I haven’t included them all, but I think these are probably the most iconic. Who’s your favourite?
Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly made three films with Hitchcock: Dial M for Murder (1954), Rear Window (1954, with Jimmy Stewart) and To Catch a Thief (1955, pictured below with Cary Grant).
Source and copyright: Some rights reserved by thefoxling
Ingrid Bergman
Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman starred in three Hitchcock films “Spellbound” (1945), “Notorious” (1946), and “Under Capricorn” (1949).
Cary and Ingrid in “Notorious”, 1946, source and copyright: Some rights reserved by thefoxling
Tippi Hendren
Tippi Hendren, whose relationship with Hitchcock was recently the subject of the BBC drama The Girl, starred in 2 Hitchcock movies: The Birds (1963) and Marnie (1964)
Source and copyright: Some rights reserved by cynaragee
Kim Novak
Novak is probably best known for the dual role she played in Vertigo (1958) opposite James Stewart playing both female characters (below).
Source and copyright: Some rights reserved by thefoxling
Eva Marie Saint
Saint played the role of Eve Kendall in North by Northwest with Cary Grant in 1959.
Source and copyright: Some rights reserved by thefoxling
Janet Leigh
Famous for that shower scene in Psycho, Janet Leigh is probably one of the most well-known images of a Hitchcock blonde. Psycho was her only Hitchcock movie in 1960.
Hitchcock and Janet Leigh on the shower set of “Psycho”, 1960. Source and copyright: Some rights reserved by thefoxling
Top original Hitchcock photo source and copyright: Some rights reserved by twm1340
Dear Mary, congratulations by the choices! My only caveat refers to Kim Novak; despite only having starred one single movie from the master of suspense, I find her much more relevant that Tippi Hedren: In addition to far more beautiful, Vertigo is considered (per 100 between 100 major movie critics worldwide) Hitchcook’s masterpiece and ranks among the ten best films ever made… A great 2013 for you and your family !!!
thanks Augustus, Happy New Year to you too! I didn’t really put them in order of preference (although Grace Kelly is my favourite…)
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