Helen Horton
Helen Virginia Horton (November 21, 1923 – September 28, 2007) was an American actress. She was born in Chicago and had a brief career in New York. She married Hamish Thomson and lived near London. She worked extensively in British television, radio and theatre, and had three children; her granddaughter is the English actress Lily James. Horton voiced the ship's computer, "Mother", in the 1979 film Alien. Horton attended Northwestern University where she became lifelong friends with Patricia Neal (Helen Benson in The Day the Earth Stood Still). She was well thought of in the drama department and was cast as Viola, the lead role in Twelfth Night, with Neal cast as Olivia, in a university production of the Shakespeare play. In September 1945, Horton and Neal took a shared apartment in New York and looked for work. They both got parts in a production of Seven Mirrors at the Blackfriars Theatre. Horton took over from Vivien Leigh as Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire after the play's London run was completed and it began to tour the United Kingdom. When Neal mentioned the connection to Leigh, she remarked "No one takes over for me, dear. When I leave a play, it's over."
Filmography
Forgotten Prisoners: The Amnesty Files
as ALA Group Leader
Forgotten Prisoners: The Amnesty Files
as ALA Group Leader
The Woman He Loved
as Martha
The Woman He Loved
as Martha
Reunion at Fairborough
as Mrs Bigard
Reunion at Fairborough
as Mrs Bigard
The Razor's Edge
as Red Cross Lady
The Razor's Edge
as Red Cross Lady
Superman III
as Miss Henderson
Superman III
as Miss Henderson
The Best of Friends
as Mrs Lovsky
The Best of Friends
as Mrs Lovsky
Alien
as Mother (voice)
Alien
as Mother (voice)
Widows' Nest
as Ana
Widows' Nest
as Ana
Auntie Kathleen's Old Clothes
as Nancy
Auntie Kathleen's Old Clothes
as Nancy
Phase IV
as Mildred Eldridge
Phase IV
as Mildred Eldridge
Endless Night
as Aunt Beth
Endless Night
as Aunt Beth
The Pueblo Affair
as Mrs. Bucher
The Pueblo Affair
as Mrs. Bucher
The Chairman
as Susan Wright
The Chairman
as Susan Wright
The Last Shot You Hear
as Dodie Rubens
The Last Shot You Hear
as Dodie Rubens
Satisfaction Guaranteed
as Brenda Claffern
Satisfaction Guaranteed
as Brenda Claffern
Never Take Sweets from a Stranger
as Sylvia Kingsley
Never Take Sweets from a Stranger
as Sylvia Kingsley
The Mark of the Hawk
as Barbara Craig
The Mark of the Hawk
as Barbara Craig
Thunder on Sycamore Street
as Clarice Morrison
Thunder on Sycamore Street
as Clarice Morrison
Let's Be Happy
as Sadie Whitelaw
Let's Be Happy
as Sadie Whitelaw
Strange Stories
as Marie ('Strange Journey')
Strange Stories
as Marie ('Strange Journey')