Carrie Henn: From an "Alien" star to dedicated elementary teacher

A new addition to the renowned movie series Alien has just hit the big screens. Cinema enthusiasts will surely recall the second instalment, in which the star was the then 10-year-old Carrie Henn. What has become of the actress who played Newt today?

The careers of child stars from movies and TV series take various paths. Some continue in the profession they chose in their formative years, others unsuccessfully attempt to prolong their "five minutes" of fame, and some treat it as an adventure of a lifetime, focusing on entirely different careers. Moving away from the silver or small screen often works to their benefit without detracting from their initial achievements.

The world of Hollywood has often brutally tested the artistic aspirations of many promising young actors. Carrie Henn, who found herself on the set of a major production at the tender age of 10 in the mid-80s, experienced this harsh reality. At the time, James Cameron directed the second series of the well-received film Alien. This film, which won two Oscars, opened the doors to great fame for her.

Carrie Henn did not grow up in a household where artistic values were paramount. Her mother worked as a nurse in a hospital, while her father was a non-commissioned officer in the United States Air Force. His professional duties forced the family to leave their previous life in the United States and move to England. If it hadn't been for this relocation, the 10-year-old, fascinated by the world of cinema, would never have auditioned for one of the main roles in the science-fiction movie Aliens.

The decision to persuade her parents to submit an application proved to be the right one. The American girl, who performed excellently in front of the cameras, outshone a few thousand competitors. She portrayed Newt, an orphaned girl who was the sole survivor of a Xenomorph attack and ended up under the care of astronaut Ellen Ripley, played flawlessly by Sigourney Weaver.

Few people know that Carrie Henn's parents had double the reason to be proud. The creators of "Aliens" also involved her older brother, Christopher, in the production. However, scenes featuring the teenager only appeared in the film's special edition. It was his sister who emerged as the true star. Carrie’s compelling performance earned her a Saturn Award in 1987 for "Best Performance by a Younger Actor."

Despite the excellent reviews from critics, who praised her performance alongside many adult co-stars, and the significant accolade of the Saturn Award, the girl’s dreams soon took a different direction. Shortly after leaving the set, her father received another assignment at an air base in California, prompting the family’s return to the United States. Carrie didn't even attend the grand premiere of the second part of "Alien," first watching it in a small, local cinema.

Due to her character's death, Carrie Henn had no opportunity to participate in the series' continuation. Disheartened, she abandoned her earlier ambitions and devoted herself entirely to her education. In 1994, she graduated from Atwater High School and six years later earned a bachelor's degree in library science with further studies in pedagogy.

Now at 48, she 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 and who is currently a police officer. Meanwhile, Henn dedicated herself to teaching children and has worked at Shaffer Elementary School in Atwater, California, for many years.

The American actress fondly remembers her experiences from "Aliens." She maintains regular contact with Sigourney Weaver to this day, even publicly wishing her a Happy Mother's Day last year. Although she consciously stepped away from on-camera performances, in 2020, Carrie guest-starred as a voice actress in the animated miniseries "Thunder Island."