An 80s child star has revealed why she ditched Hollywood to be a teacher after starring in an acclaimed film.
The young actress was only 12 years old when she starred in the now iconic science fiction film, Aliens, alongside A-List actress Sigourney Weaver.
The film, released in 1986, was written and directed by James Cameron with Sigourney returning to the franchise to reprise her role as Ellen Ripley.
Although it was the second installment, the film is considered by critics and fans as one the best sequels ever made, alongside The Godfather Part II and Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
She then went on to win Best Performance by a Younger Actor/Actress at the Saturn Awards in 1987 for her role.
However, she later became an elementary school teacher instead of pursing an acting career. But can you guess who it is?
An 80s child star has revealed why she ditched Hollywood to be a teacher after starring in an acclaimed film
Carrie Henn, was only 12 years old when she played Newt in the now iconic science fiction film, Aliens, alongside A-List actress Sigourney Weaver
That’s right it’s Carrie Henn who played Newt in Aliens.
Speaking about her decision to change careers, she told Tulsa World: ‘They don’t understand that acting wasn’t my passion. It wasn’t my dream.
‘Did I enjoy it? Yes. Was it an amazing experience? Absolutely. Would I do it again? Of course. But it [acting] wasn’t my passion. Teaching was.
‘As a child, I always enjoyed sort of lining up my dolls, especially my Cabbage Patch Kid and teaching to them and I really enjoyed that kind of stuff.’
Carrie was discovered by casting agents in 1984, while she was at her school cafeteria in Lakenheath, England while in the country due to her father’s Air Force career.
She was then invited to audition at Pinewood Studios for the role of Newt, which she ended up getting.
Newt was a 9-year-old alien massacre survivor in the film.
Aliens is a sequel to the 1979 classic directed by the formidable Ridley Scott.
‘Alien was a B-movie with an A-list cast and an AA monster,’ said British director Ridley about the science-fiction thriller that burst onto our screens in 1979 and became an instant cult classic.
The film, released in 1986, was written and directed by James Cameron with Sigourney returning to the franchise to reprise her role as Ellen Ripley
Carrie went on to win Best Performance by a Younger Actor/Actress at the Saturn Awards in 1987 for her role
But she later became a teacher, speaking about her decision, she told Tulsa World : ‘They don’t understand that acting wasn’t my passion. It wasn’t my dream’ (pictured in 2016)
No one had great hopes for the relatively low-budget $8.4 million movie, filmed at Shepperton Studios near London with a British crew, but it would take over $100 million at the box office and spawn six sequels.
Now one of the most successful – not to say, disturbing – franchises of all time, grossing $1.25 billion to date, arguably Alien has been more influential than Star Wars.
Carrie’s only other acting role is from 2020 – voicing a union worker in the animated movie Thunder Island.
She has one child with husband Nathan Kutcher, whom she married on July 2, 2005.
