Bill Paxton was a legend of the 1980s and 1990s who frequently worked with James Cameron. With roles in films like Terminator, Titanic, Twister, the more recent Nightcrawler, and Aliens, it is not an exaggeration to state that Bill Paxton has been in some of the finest films ever created.
The latest of these, the follow-up to the sci-fi horror classic Alien from 1979, maybe his best work and include his most recognisable performance. Paxton played the arrogant Colonial Marine Private Hudson in Aliens, one of the finest action films ever produced. Hudson goes with Ripley to the colony on LV-426 to find out why transmissions and communications have been lost.
As the squad learns there are Xenomorphs on the planet and must engage in a valiant battle for survival, Hudson’s brazen attitude swiftly turns to terror and panic. In what is regarded as one of the finest science fiction films of all time (and the best sequels), Paxton gives a really superb performance as the part, and he manages to create one of the most memorable and repulsive characters ever.
Paxton was concerned, nevertheless, in part because of Hudson’s irrational frenzy and terror. Hudson’s wild hysteria and fear were, however, part of Paxton’s concern. “Being the hysteric of the group I was always yelling and screaming. I was worried the audience would think, ‘Oh God, when is this guy going to get killed?’” he said, in a conversation with Starlog magazine
Hudson was – and is – a fan favourite, dispelling Paxton’s fear that the public would despise his character. In fact, Paxton revealed that Hudson was the reason he frequently received fan mail. “Most of the time, they say they really like Hudson. They really identify with him.”
He continued, “He was the most relatable to audiences because he was deathly afraid, as most of us would be. I mean, for every Ripley or Hicks, there are a million Hudsons.”
Other than the fact that James Cameron, the master, wrote Hudson, that is undoubtedly the key to his effectiveness as a character. He was the one who reacted to the circumstance in the most convincing way, and the viewers could feel his shock as well. There’s a good probability that he’ll be the one character you relate to the most when you see Aliens again. Now you can watch Aliens on Disney Plus.