In Steven Spielberg’s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Elliott’s younger sister is named Gertie.
Gertie is the youngest child in the Taylor family, which also includes Elliott and his older brother Michael. She quickly becomes fascinated by E.T., although she initially treats the alien like a surprising new friend rather than understanding the danger surrounding him.
The role of Gertie was played by Drew Barrymore, who was about six years old during filming. Her performance helped make the family scenes feel lively and believable, especially as the children try to hide E.T. from their mother and the authorities.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was released in 1982 and became one of Spielberg’s best-known films. Gertie is sometimes confused with other child characters in Spielberg movies, but she belongs specifically to Elliott’s family in E.T. The film’s screenplay was written by Melissa Mathison, and Henry Thomas played Elliott.