Model of Egg used in the Film 'Alien'

Model of egg used in the film 'Alien', unsigned, 1979

This alien egg, known as an Ovomorph, is a prop from the original science fiction horror movie Alien, released in 1979. Directed by Ridley Scott and written by Dan O’Bannon, it featured Sigourney Weaver in her breakout role as Warrant Officer Ripley on board the spacecraft Nostromo. The Ovomorph is the first stage in the life cycle of the Xenomorph, the fictional extraterrestrial species in the films.

In the film, a total of 130 eggs were shown in their dormant state. Only one, the ‘hero egg’, opens up and allows the Facehugger, the second stage Xenomorph’s life cycle, to leap out to attack. The rest, like this example, were simply dummy eggs which were not intended to move or open.

Items like this alien egg can inform and inspire not just science fiction fans but real-world science. The fictional Nostromo was hauling valuable ore from a distant planet to Earth. Scientists are exploring space for resources and signs of life. Science fiction encourages audiences to think creatively. It sparks imagination, which drives the development of new technology and further exploration of our world and outer space.

This item was acquired by the museum for the exhibition – “Out of this World” – that explored space science fiction television shows.