How Henry Thomas Landed the Role of Elliott in E.T.

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How Henry Thomas Landed the Role of Elliott in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

When Steven Spielberg began casting for E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, he struggled to find the perfect child actor to portray Elliott, the lonely boy who befriends an alien. That all changed when nine-year-old Henry Thomas walked into the audition room.

In what would become one of the most famous casting stories in Hollywood, Thomas was asked to improvise a scene in which government agents tried to take away E.T., the alien. Rather than delivering a rehearsed, polished performance, Thomas tapped into a well of raw emotion that stunned everyone in the room. Drawing from personal experiences, Thomas became visibly upset, even crying on command as he fought to "protect" the imaginary alien.

Spielberg and the casting team were floored. The young actor’s emotional depth, sincerity, and ability to convey the love and desperation Elliott felt for E.T. was exactly what Spielberg was looking for. In the video of the audition, Spielberg can be heard saying, “OK kid, you got the job,” right after witnessing the remarkable performance.

Thomas’s natural vulnerability brought an authenticity to Elliott that would become one of the film’s defining elements. His portrayal of the character helped E.T. connect with audiences on a deeply emotional level, and the movie became one of the highest-grossing films of all time.

The audition remains a shining example of how raw talent can break through and change the course of a film. To this day, it’s remembered as a career-defining moment for Henry Thomas, and a perfect casting decision that helped shape the magic of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

How Henry Thomas Landed the Role of Elliott in E.T.

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[SnapShawwtyTv]

Wow so Henry did not come to play for his audition..he was a young vet