United Kingdom, March 25 -- E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial's Henry Thomas "wasn't ready" for child stardom.

The actor thinks he handled his global fame "not very well" at the age of 10, following his breakout role as Elliott Taylor, who befriended the titular alien, in the 1982 family sci-fi blockbuster.

Appearing on the latest episode of the It Happened in Hollywood podcast, Henry, 54, explained: "I don't think I dealt with it very well because I wasn't ready for it. I never foresaw it happening.

"I was surprised when people recognised me for the first time. I never thought about being famous. It was very bizarre."

Henry felt there was "some obligation" to keep up his success following the release of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, but he th...