‘ELLIOTT’ ON HIS WELSH HERITAGE
THE star of Steven Spielberg’s 1982 hit film E.T. has told of his Welsh heritage – and it turns out he’s a massive Swansea City fan. Henry Thomas has worked on some huge Hollywood films, including Gangs of New York and Legends of the Fall, but he was unforgettable as Elliott, the young boy who befriends ET in the sci-fi classic.
But who knew that he is also devoted to Swansea City Football Club and to celebrating his Welsh roots?
Speaking to BBC Radio Wales’ Good Evening Wales, Thomas said: “My family comes from different parts of Wales.
“My father’s side is from the north and my mother’s side is from Carmarthenshire.
“The thing is that my family has been in America for a long time and so the information we have is vague relating to Wales.”
He has also been trying his hand at speaking Welsh and has been listening to recordings in his car.
The actor said that, when visiting Wales, he has found essential phrases such as ‘ble mae’r toiledau?’ (where’s the toilet?) particularly handy. “It comes in very useful,” he said. “Before the internet came along I would order books and use those to help me learn the language.”
Parts of America, he said, such as Pennsylvania, have strong Welsh communities.
Thomas said he also makes time to visit Wales when he is in the UK with his acting.
“Invariably I am in London doing press for films so any chance I get to jump on a train to Wales and hire a car to explore, I do.
“I have filmed in Wales before – I was at Manorbier near Tenby.
“That was a film called I Capture The Castle.”
He also told of his love of Swansea FC and how he chose to support the club over Cardiff FC.
“When I heard Swansea had made the Premiership I thought do I support them or Cardiff? “It had to be Swansea.” Adding: “I think the Swans are doing great and the new management has really turned things around.”
Currently filming in Atlanta for Netflix and its re-imagining of Shirley Jackson’s classic 1959 novel, The Haunting of Hill House, he said his phone comes in valuable to keep tabs on how the Swans are performing.
Thomas also says everyone knows him best as “that boy from the ET film”, which he says is great.
“It’s wonderful to have been a part of something so big.”