Shares 0 0 0 0 0 0 This interview has been edited for clarity. Strong female protagonists have often led the charge in science fiction cinema, breaking barriers and challenging stereotypes. Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley in Alien (1979) and Carrie Fisher’s Princess Leia in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) not only defined their respective franchises but also challenged the traditional roles of women in film.
More recently, characters like Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games (2012) and Charlize Theron’s Imperator Furiosa from Mad Max: Fury Road (2014) have carried on this legacy, each adding layers of resilience that continue to inspire audiences and shape the genre. In this tradition, Alien: Romulus introduces Rain Carradine , portrayed by Cailee Spaeny ( Civil War , Priscilla ), a young woman thrust into the nightmarish world of Xenomorphs and survival on the Renaissance space station, echoing the fierce spirit of the iconic heroine Ripley while charting her own course in the Alien saga. While she’s no stranger to big-budget sci-fi films (her breakout role, was, after all, the resourceful and spunky Amara Namani in Pacific Rim: Uprising ), this role offered Spaeny a unique opportunity to delve into the raw, visceral world of practical horror.
“It’s something I’ve never gotten to experience before, but I’ve fallen in love with [practical effects] through some of my favourite movies, like obviously Alien , but also The Thing.