Catching up with "Aliens" star: Carrie Henn's unexpected journey

The careers of child stars from movies and TV series develop in various directions. Some continue in the entertainment industry, others struggle to extend their "five minutes" of fame, and the rest see it as an adventure of a lifetime and pursue completely different professions. For many, moving on from their early acting careers works to their advantage.

Hollywood has brutally altered the artistic plans of many promising young actors. Carrie Henn experienced this firsthand when, as a 10-year-old, she found herself on the set of a significant production in the mid-80s. At that time, James Cameron directed the second installment of the well-received film Alien. The movie, awarded two Oscars, opened the door to great fame for her.

Carrie Henn did not grow up in a home where artistic values dominated. Her mother was a nurse, and her father was a non-commissioned United States Air Force officer. His professional commitments forced the whole family to move to England. Without this move, the 10-year-old, captivated by cinema, would never have participated in the casting for one of the main roles in the science fiction movie "Aliens."

Persuading her parents to send an application was a brilliant idea. The American, who excelled in front of the cameras, beat thousands of competitors. She played the character of Newt, an orphaned girl who was the only one in her family to survive the Xenomorph attack and ultimately ended up under the care of astronaut Ellen Ripley, portrayed flawlessly by Sigourney Weaver.

Few people know that Carrie Henn's parents had double the reason to be proud. The creators of "Aliens" also decided to involve her older brother, Christopher, in the production. However, scenes featuring him only appeared in the film's special edition. It was Carrie who grew up to be a true star. Her stirring performance earned her the Saturn Award in 1987 for "Best Performance by a Younger Actor."

Despite excellent reviews from critics highlighting her performance against many adult screen partners and the prestigious award, Carrie’s dreams seemed fulfilled. Unfortunately, shortly after leaving the set, her father was reassigned to an air base in California, causing the family to return to the United States. Carrie didn't even attend the ceremonial premiere of the second part of "Alien," but instead watched the film in a small, local cinema for the first time.

Due to her character's death, Carrie Henn didn't have the opportunity to participate in the series' continuation. Disheartened, she abandoned her acting plans and focused entirely on her education. She graduated from Atwater High School in 1994, and six years later, she earned a bachelor's degree in library science. She also studied pedagogy.

Now 48, Carrie Henn enjoys a well-ordered family life. Next year, she will celebrate the 20th anniversary of her marriage to Nathan Kutcher, whom she met during her studies. Nathan is currently a police officer. Meanwhile, Henn has dedicated herself to teaching children and has been working at Shaffer Elementary School in Atwater, California, for many years.

Carrie still fondly remembers her experiences from participating in "Aliens" and maintaining regular contact with Sigourney Weaver. She publicly wished Weaver a Happy Mother's Day last year. Although she consciously withdrew from on-camera performances, in 2020, Carrie guest-starred as a voice actress in the animated miniseries "Thunder Island."