Veronica Cartwright makes fear look like a sensible response to danger. We value the emotional honesty she brings to horror ensembles, and wish Alien had given her Lambert as much attention as it gives the suspense.
Fi1m perspective
In Alien (1979), Veronica Cartwright’s Lambert is frightened, and Cartwright does not soften that fear to make her more agreeable company. We were unnerved by her distress because she makes the danger feel like something happening to a person, rather than a cue for the next shock. Ridley Scott’s patient build-up gives that response time to register. The ship does much of the work of frightening us, but Lambert reminds us that somebody has to endure being inside it. We value her willingness to let panic look uncomfortable.
Her move from child parts to adult supporting work was not a straight progression. The child performer of The Children’s Hour (1961) and The Birds (1963) had a quieter stretch before Inserts (1975) and Goin’ South (1978) brought adult film roles. Wider recognition came with Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) and Alien, both examples of the science-fiction ensembles in which she became a familiar presence. Her readiness to show anxiety was well suited to these groups facing extraordinary threats.
Our reservation about Lambert is with how little O’Bannon’s script allows her beyond those reactions. Some viewers have found the character overly emotional; we think the more substantial problem is that she is so lightly written. Cartwright makes the fear convincing, but she cannot supply a fully developed character on her own. We would gladly trade some of the film’s repeated suspense for more time with her, particularly when her responses have already made the danger so persuasive.
Philip Kaufman’s The Right Stuff (1983), in which she plays Betty Grissom, is the useful next stop beyond the horror roles. Her effectiveness in that supporting part makes a case for watching her in drama, too. The label of horror specialist is understandable, but it can encourage us to overlook what supporting actors do elsewhere. Start with Alien, then make time for The Right Stuff before deciding that terror is all she has to offer.
Biography
Veronica Cartwright is an English-born American actress. She was born on 20 April 1949 in Bristol, England, and moved to the United States as a child.
As a child actress she appeared in The Children's Hour (1961) and The Birds (1963). She transitioned to adult roles with Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) and played Lambert in Alien (1979), for which she received a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress. Other film credits include The Right Stuff (1983) and The Witches of Eastwick (1987).
Cartwright has received three Primetime Emmy Award nominations for guest roles in ER and The X-Files. Her younger sister is actress Angela Cartwright.
