What a Wednesday Whimsy today! Starring the 1980s’ most beloved alien icon, E.T. — and the unexpected muse behind his unforgettable face. Meet the OG influencer herself: Miss Kitty Cat.
Believe it or not, the seminal look of E.T. in E.T. the Extra‑Terrestrial (1982) was inspired by a gato. Special‑effects mastermind Carlo Rambaldi shaped the alien’s expressive features — especially those soulful, wide eyes — after his own Himalayan cat, Kika.
Rambaldi didn’t stop there. He blended Kika’s feline softness with the wrinkles of a pug, plus the wise, weathered qualities pulled from photographs of Albert Einstein, Carl Sandburg, and Ernest Hemingway. A true Frankenstein of tenderness, intellect, and intergalactic charm.
Dig it all out below!
