ADVERTISEMENT

Sigourney Weaver

American actress known for science fiction roles

Sigourney Weaver is an acclaimed American actress known for her roles in science fiction films. She has received numerous awards and nominations, including an Academy Award nomination for her iconic role as Ellen Ripley in the Alien franchise. Weaver has also been recognized for her work in Broadway, television, and voice acting in animated films and documentaries.

Related

Keanu Reeves Steven Spielberg Bruce Willis Scarlett Johansson Anne Hathaway Elizabeth Warren Marilyn Monroe Jane Goodall J. K. Rowling Audrey Hepburn

Timeline

Birth of Sigourney Weaver

Sigourney Weaver, born Susan Alexandra Weaver, is an American actress known for her roles in science fiction and popular culture. She has received numerous accolades and nominations for her performances in various films and plays.

Adoption of the Name 'Sigourney Weaver'

At the age of fourteen, Sigourney Weaver adopted the name 'Sigourney Weaver' after a character in F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby.

Graduation from Stanford University

Sigourney Weaver graduated from Stanford University with a bachelor of arts degree in English in 1972. She was already involved in acting during her time at Stanford, living in the co-ed Beta Chi Community for the Performing Arts.

Performance in The Frogs

Sigourney Weaver performed in the first production of the Stephen Sondheim musical The Frogs while at Yale in 1974, alongside notable fellow students.

Titanic Off Broadway Play

Sigourney Weaver performed in the Off Broadway play 'Titanic' in 1976, where she played various roles including a character hiding a hedgehog in her vagina. The play received mixed reviews, and Weaver was particularly affected by a comment from an Actors Studio teacher.

Film Debut in Annie Hall

Sigourney Weaver made her film debut in the movie Annie Hall in 1977, where she played the role of Alvy's Date Outside Theater.

Portrayal of Ellen Ripley in Alien

Sigourney Weaver portrayed Ellen Ripley, a no-nonsense resourceful heroine, in the landmark science-fiction film Alien. The film was a blockbuster and launched a successful franchise.

Acting in Beyond Therapy

Sigourney Weaver appeared in an off-Broadway production of Durang's comedy Beyond Therapy in 1981, directed by then-fledgling director Jerry Zaks.

The Year of Living Dangerously

Weaver appeared as British Embassy officer Jill Bryant in The Year of Living Dangerously, which was released to critical acclaim.

Ghostbusters Release

The movie 'Ghostbusters' featuring Bill Murray, John Rothman, Timothy Carhart, Jordan Charney, Alice Drummond, Michael Ensign, Slavitza Jovan, Jennifer Runyon, Steven Tash, David Margulies, Ernie Hudson, William Atherton, Annie Potts, Rick Moranis, Harold Ramis, and Sigourney Weaver is released. It is an English language action, comedy, adventure, and fantasy film.

Marriage to Jim Simpson

Sigourney Weaver has been married to stage director Jim Simpson since October 1, 1984.

Sigourney Weaver starred in Aliens, the sequel to Alien, and received her first Academy Award nomination for best actress. She became one of the biggest female movie stars of the 1980s.

Portrayal of Dian Fossey in Gorillas in the Mist

Sigourney Weaver portrayed American zoologist Dian Fossey in the biopic Gorillas in the Mist and earned an Oscar nomination for best actress.

Birth of Charlotte Simpson

Sigourney Weaver and Jim Simpson's daughter, Charlotte Simpson, was born on April 13, 1990.

Weaver returned to the big screen with Alien 3, continuing her role as Ellen Ripley in the Alien franchise.

Sigourney Weaver had a role in the film Dave in 1993.

Death and the Maiden

Sigourney Weaver appeared in the film Death and the Maiden in 1994.

Weaver played the role of agoraphobic criminal psychologist Helen Hudson in the movie Copycat, demonstrating her ability to take on complex characters.

Founding of The Flea Theater

Together with her husband, Jim Simpson, Sigourney Weaver founded The Flea Theater in 1996.

Sigourney Weaver appeared in the film The Ice Storm in 1997.

BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Sigourney Weaver won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in The Ice Storm.

Weaver co-starred in the science fiction comedy Galaxy Quest, showcasing her versatility across different genres.

Weaver played the lead role of a con-artist alongside Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ray Liotta, Gene Hackman and Anne Bancroft in the comedy Heartbreakers.

The subject voiced the Female Planet Express Ship in the animated series Futurama, which aired in 2002.

Voted Number 20 in Channel 4's countdown

In 2003, Sigourney Weaver was voted as Number 20 in Channel 4's countdown of the 100 greatest movie stars of all time, reflecting her enduring impact and influence in the film industry.

Infamous Release

The movie 'Infamous' featuring Sandra Bullock and Sigourney Weaver is released. It is an English language biography film.

Gorillas Revisited

Weaver returned to Rwanda for the BBC special Gorillas Revisited in 2007, reuniting with the Rwandan apes from the film Gorillas in the Mist, some 20 years later.

Trickle Up Program annual gala

On April 8, 2008, Sigourney Weaver hosted the annual gala of the Trickle Up Program, a non-profit organization focusing on those in extreme poverty, mainly women and the disabled, in the Rainbow Room.

Starring in Avatar

Sigourney Weaver reunited with James Cameron in Avatar in 2009, one of the highest-grossing films of all time.

Return to Avatar: The Way of Water

It was confirmed that Sigourney Weaver would be returning to Avatar: The Way of Water, with James Cameron stating that 'no one ever dies in science fiction.'

Red Lights Release

The film 'Red Lights' starring Robert De Niro, Sigourney Weaver, Cillian Murphy, Joely Richardson, Elizabeth Olsen, Toby Jones, and Leonardo Sbaraglia is released. It is an English language horror, drama, and thriller movie.

Appearance in Doc Martin

Weaver appeared in two episodes of the UK television series Doc Martin in 2015 and 2017 playing an American tourist.

Voice role in Finding Dory

Sigourney Weaver performed a voice role in the Pixar film Finding Dory in 2016.

Portrayal in Avatar: The Way of Water

Principal photography for Avatar: The Way of Water and Avatar 3 started simultaneously on September 25, 2017; Weaver portrayed Kiri, Jake and Neytiri's daughter, and reprised her role as Dr. Grace Augustine.

Reprising Role in Ghostbusters: Afterlife

Sigourney Weaver confirmed that she would reprise her role as Dana Barrett in Ghostbusters: Afterlife, which was released on November 19, 2021.

Reuniting for The Good House

Variety reported that Sigourney Weaver and Kevin Kline are set to reunite for The Good House, a drama from Steven Spielberg's Amblin Partners and Universal Pictures.

Filming Challenges for Sigourney Weaver in Avatar 2

In 2020, Sigourney Weaver and the cast of Avatar 2 faced challenges while filming underwater scenes. They had to learn to control natural reactions like squinting and clamping their mouths shut while submerged in a water tank. Weaver wore weights around her waist and had professional divers assisting her to resurface for air at regular intervals.

Sigourney Weaver Plays a Teenager in ‘Avatar 2’

Sigourney Weaver is set to play a teenager in the upcoming film 'Avatar 2'. She expressed her excitement and thrill for being given such a challenging role.

Sigourney Weaver's Recent Roles

Sigourney Weaver has recently appeared in diverse roles, including a teenager in 'Avatar: The Way of Water' and an abortion-rights activist in 'Call Jane'. She expressed her reliance on instincts in her acting career.

Avatar: The Way Of Water Release

The film 'Avatar: The Way Of Water' featuring Michelle Yeoh, Zoe Saldana, Kate Winslet, Sigourney Weaver, Oona Chaplin, Sam Worthington, and Jemaine Clement is released. It is an English language action, adventure, sci-fi, and fantasy movie.

International Goya Award

Sigourney Weaver was awarded the International Goya Award by the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Spain in 2024 for her remarkable career and portrayal of complex female characters.

End of the Timeline
Sigourney Weaver

Popular

American retired Navy SEAL and ultramarathon runner.

David Goggins

Short-form video hosting service

TikTok

Jamaican retired sprinter, world record holder

Country in West Asia and the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia

Provider of coworking spaces

ADVERTISEMENT

Recently Added

Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.

English professional football club in Brighton and Hove

Professional football club in West London

Burnley F.C. is a football club in Lancashire

A.F.C. Bournemouth

Football club with roots dating back to 1890

Gustave Courbet

French Realism painter and innovator

ADVERTISEMENT