Bolaji Badejo, a 6' 10" Nigerian, became one of cinema' s most feared villains by accident. He was discovered by agent Peter Ardram in a London pub and cast as the alien in Ridley Scott' s 1979 space horror classic, Alien. Badejo' s physical appearance, with his long limbs and slight figure, made him ideal for the role.

The casting process for the alien was lengthy and challenging. Director Ridley Scott and associate producer Ivor Powell were looking for someone with a unique physical presence. They considered several options, including basketball players, mime artists, and even a 6' 3" German model. However, none of them fit the bill.

That was until Ardram walked into a London pub and saw Badejo. He immediately knew that he had found the right person. Badejo was tall, slender, and had a quiet confidence that made him stand out. Ardram arranged for Badejo to meet Scott, and the rest is history.

Badejo' s transformation into the alien was not easy. He had to undergo physical training to build up muscles in certain areas of his body. He also took mime classes to learn slow, deliberate movements that would bring the alien to life.

The alien costume, designed by H. R. Giger and completed by Carlo Rambaldi, was a masterpiece of horror design. However, it was also incredibly uncomfortable and restrictive. Badejo could barely see and had to take breaks every 15 minutes to avoid overheating. The costume' s head, nearly a meter long, was initially planned to be filled with live maggots, but KY Jelly was used instead to create the alien' s acidic saliva.