10 Things You Didn't Know About Iconic Movie Character Costumes

Perfecting the look of Alien's titular extraterrestrial was a lengthy process. Director Ridley Scott initially tried using circus performers, and then several men in one suit to play the Xenomorph, but neither were deemed frightening enough. Eventually, inspired by a photograph of Leni Riefenstahl standing beside a Nuba man, Scott decided that the character should be played by somebody very tall and thin. He subsequently hired a six-foot-ten graphic designer named Bolaji Badejo for the role after spotting him in a local pub.

The alien's mock-up was made of a variety of bizarre items, such as car parts, snake vertebrae, a real human skull and copious amounts of lubricant. Likewise, the tendons in the alien's mouth which can be seen in the film were actually made from shredded condoms.

The creation of the creature known as the face-hugger was equally strange, as it was made from latex filled with clams, oysters, caviar and fish parts. Furthermore, the alien eggs were filled with pigs’ innards sourced from a local abattoir and covered in cows' stomach lining.