Bolaji Badejo became one of cinema's most feared villains almost by accident. After a lengthy casting process, agent Peter Ardram came across Badejo in a pub in London. Thinking that the 6'10" Nigerian matched the thin, insect-like profile director Ridley Scott required, he arranged for the two to meet. (Image: courtesy<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mikesibthorp.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank"> Mike Sidthorp</a>.)
Bolaji Badejo became one of cinema's most feared villains almost by accident. After a lengthy casting process, agent Peter Ardram came across Badejo in a pub in London. Thinking that the 6'10" Nigerian matched the thin, insect-like profile director Ridley Scott required, he arranged for the two to meet. (Image: courtesy Mike Sidthorp.)
courtesy Mike Sibthorp
Badejo, seen here with dresser John Birkinshaw inside Bray Studios. The design for the alien's costume was the brainchild of H.R. Giger, who created concepts for many of the sets. Made from latex, the fitting process was long and arduous, not to mention uncomfortable for Badejo.
Badejo, seen here with dresser John Birkinshaw inside Bray Studios. The design for the alien's costume was the brainchild of H.R. Giger, who created concepts for many of the sets. Made from latex, the fitting process was long and arduous, not to mention uncomfortable for Badejo.
courtesy Mike Sibthorp
The costume's tail was controlled separately and made it difficult for Badejo to sit down between takes. When fully fitted, the creature stood seven feet tall -- not ideal considering the set of the spaceship Nostromo was only 6"7 high.
The costume's tail was controlled separately and made it difficult for Badejo to sit down between takes. When fully fitted, the creature stood seven feet tall -- not ideal considering the set of the spaceship Nostromo was only 6"7 high.
courtesy Mike Sibthorp
The alien Badejo played was the fully-grown iteration on the creature that sprang (spoiler alert!) from <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DJehjqlzXwIQ" target="_blank" target="_blank">John Hurt's chest</a> during the course of the film. According to special effects supervisor Nick Allder, the response to that scene was largely real -- none of the cast knew quite how graphic it would be.
The alien Badejo played was the fully-grown iteration on the creature that sprang (spoiler alert!) from John Hurt's chest during the course of the film. According to special effects supervisor Nick Allder, the response to that scene was largely real -- none of the cast knew quite how graphic it would be.
courtesy Mike Sibthorp
The alien's head, nearly a meter long, was at one point going to be filled with live maggots, says Allder. Whilst he was wearing it Badejo could barely see and had to take it off every 15 minutes to stop himself from overheating.
The alien's head, nearly a meter long, was at one point going to be filled with live maggots, says Allder. Whilst he was wearing it Badejo could barely see and had to take it off every 15 minutes to stop himself from overheating.
courtesy Mike Sibthorp
The gruesome alien played by Badejo as it appeared on screen.
The gruesome alien played by Badejo as it appeared on screen.
Robert Penn/2003 Twentieth Century Fox
Despite his best efforts, the alien that terrorized The Nostromo (another spoiler alert!) never succeeded in finishing off all the crew. The film was Bolaji Badejo's only credit.
Despite his best efforts, the alien that terrorized The Nostromo (another spoiler alert!) never succeeded in finishing off all the crew. The film was Bolaji Badejo's only credit.
Robert Penn/2003 Twentieth Century Fox
Badejo returned to Nigeria where he opened an art gallery some years later. He died from sickle cell disease in 1992. (Image: courtesy<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mikesibthorp.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank"> Mike Sidthorp</a>.)
Badejo returned to Nigeria where he opened an art gallery some years later. He died from sickle cell disease in 1992. (Image: courtesy Mike Sidthorp.)
courtesy Mike Sibthorp