Recently, photos taken for LIFE magazine in 1971 of a young Melanie Griffith just chilling in her mansion with a pet lion resurfaced. Her mother, Alfred Hitchcock muse Tippi Hedren (The Birds) loved the lion, named Neil, at the time, but now admits it was pretty damn stupid.
"‘I cringe when I see those pictures now. I have to tell you we were stupid beyond belief. We should never have taken those risks. These animals are so fast, and if they decide to go after you, nothing but a bullet to the brain will stop them," Hedren said. She is pictured in the pool, playfully spitting water at Neil and even wrestling with him. The lion also sometimes slept in 13-year-old Griffith's bed with her.
Neil was an animal trained to be around humans and Hedren said he was always shadowed by his owner and trainer, Ron Oxley. Hedren and her family were never hurt by Neil, but she had a change of heart after they were injured by a series of big cats they took in after Neil. She now runs the Shambala Preserve, which provides sanctuary for about 32 big cats in California and is an outspoken critic of keeping them as house pets.
You can see the amazing LIFE photos here.
[via the Daily Mail]
