View source for Sigourney Weaver

{{Short description|American actress (born 1949)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Sigourney Weaver
| image              = Sigourney Weaver at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (cropped).jpg
| caption            = Weaver in 2025
| birth_name         = Susan Alexandra Weaver
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1949|10|8}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Sigourney Weaver Net Worth 2025: Career Highlights and Achievements - Enforbs |url=https://enforbs.com/sigourney-weaver-net-worth/ |website=enforbs.com |access-date=12 January 2025 |date=3 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sigourney Weaver {{!}} Biography, Education, Films, Theater, & Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sigourney-Weaver#:~:text=Sigourney%20Weaver%20(born%20October%208,landmark%20science%2Dfiction%20film%20Alien%20( |website=www.britannica.com |access-date=12 January 2025 |language=en |date=25 December 2024}}</ref>
| birth_place        = [[New York City]], U.S.
| education          = [[Stanford University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[Yale University]] ([[Master of Fine Arts|MFA]])
| occupation         = Actress
| years_active       = 1971–present
| spouse             = {{marriage|Jim Simpson|1984}}
| children           = 1
| parents            = [[Pat Weaver]] (father)<br>[[Elizabeth Inglis]] (mother)
| relatives          = [[Doodles Weaver]] (paternal uncle)
| works              = [[List of Sigourney Weaver performances|Full list]]
| awards             = [[List of awards and nominations received by Sigourney Weaver|Full list]]
| signature          = Sigourney Weaver signature.svg
}}

'''Susan Alexandra''' "'''Sigourney'''" '''Weaver'''  ({{IPAc-en|s|ᵻ|ˈ|g|ɔːr|n|i}} {{respell|sig|OR|nee}}; born October 8, 1949) is an American actress. Prolific in film since the late 1970s, she is known for her pioneering portrayals of action heroines in [[Blockbuster (entertainment)|blockbusters]] and for her various roles in [[independent films]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Sigourney Weaver |url=http://www.walkoffame.com/sigourney-weaver |website=Hollywood Walk of Fame |access-date=2019-06-24 |archive-date=2019-03-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330070913/http://www.walkoffame.com/sigourney-weaver |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Ross|first=Jane|date=May 23, 2019|title=Sigourney Weaver marks 'Alien' anniversary: 'I thought it was a small movie'|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-film-alien-anniversary/sigourney-weaver-marks-alien-anniversary-i-thought-it-was-a-small-movie-idUSKCN1ST2PA|work=Reuters|access-date=May 30, 2020|archive-date=June 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624033453/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-film-alien-anniversary/sigourney-weaver-marks-alien-anniversary-i-thought-it-was-a-small-movie-idUSKCN1ST2PA|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Brooks|first=Xan|date=October 12, 2019|title=The first action heroine|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/oct/13/ridley-scott-alien-ripley|work=The Guardian|location=London|access-date=June 4, 2020|archive-date=May 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200520202551/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/oct/13/ridley-scott-alien-ripley|url-status=live}}</ref> She is the recipient of [[List of awards and nominations received by Sigourney Weaver|numerous accolades]], including a [[British Academy Film Award]], two [[Golden Globe Awards]], and a [[Grammy Award]], in addition to nominations for three [[Academy Awards]], four [[Primetime Emmy Awards]], and a [[Tony Award]].

Born in [[New York City]], Weaver is the daughter of American television executive [[Pat Weaver]] and English actress [[Elizabeth Inglis]]. She made her screen debut with a minor role in the romantic comedy film ''[[Annie Hall]]'' (1977), before landing her [[breakthrough role]] as [[Ellen Ripley]] in the science fiction horror film ''[[Alien (film)|Alien]]'' (1979). She reprised the role in the sequel ''[[Aliens (film)|Aliens]]'' (1986) earning a nomination for the [[Academy Award for Best Actress]], and in [[Alien (franchise)|two more films]] for the franchise. Ripley is regarded as a significant female protagonist in cinema history. Weaver's other franchise roles include [[Dana Barrett]] in the [[Ghostbusters (franchise)|''Ghostbusters'' films]] (1984–2021) and Dr. Grace Augustine and Kiri in the [[Avatar (franchise)|''Avatar'' film series]] (2009–present), which rank among the [[highest-grossing films of all time]].

In 1989, Weaver won two Golden Globes and [[List of actors nominated for multiple Academy Awards in the same year|two simultaneous Oscar nominations]] for her roles as [[Dian Fossey]] in ''[[Gorillas in the Mist]]'' and as an executive in ''[[Working Girl]]'' (both 1988); she also became the first actor to win two Golden Globes for acting in the same year. She then won the [[BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role|British Academy Film Award for Best Supporting Actress]] for her role in ''[[The Ice Storm (film)|The Ice Storm]]'' (1997). Other film roles include ''[[The Year of Living Dangerously (film)|The Year of Living Dangerously]]'' (1982), ''[[Copycat (1995 film)|Copycat]]'' (1995), ''[[Galaxy Quest]]'' (1999), ''[[The Village (2004 film)|The Village]]'' (2004), ''[[Vantage Point (film)|Vantage Point]]'' (2008), ''[[Chappie (film)|Chappie]]'' (2015),  ''[[A Monster Calls (film)|A Monster Calls]]'' (2016), and [[The Gorge (film)|''The Gorge'']] (2025). She also had voice roles in the [[Pixar]] animated films ''[[WALL-E]]'' (2008) and ''[[Finding Dory]]'' (2016).

On stage, Weaver's [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] performances include ''[[The Constant Wife]]'' (1975), ''[[Hurlyburly]]'' (1984), ''[[Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike]]'' (2013), and ''[[The Tempest]]'' (2025); her performance in ''Hurlyburly'' earned her a nomination for the [[Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play]]. On television, she received Emmy Award nominations for her roles in the horror film ''[[Snow White: A Tale of Terror]]'' (1998), the drama film ''[[Prayers for Bobby]]'' (2009), the miniseries ''[[Political Animals (miniseries)|Political Animals]]'' (2013), and for narrating the [[National Geographic]] documentary ''[[Secrets of the Whales]]'' (2021). Her other television projects include the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] superhero miniseries [[The Defenders (miniseries)|''The Defenders'']] (2017) and the drama miniseries ''[[The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart]]'' (2023).

== Early life and education ==
Weaver was born in [[New York City]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.loc.gov/nls/about/organization/standards-guidelines/uvwx/#w |title=Say How: W |publisher=National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped |access-date=May 7, 2018}}</ref><ref name = BIO>{{cite web |title=Sigourney Weaver |url=https://www.biography.com/actor/sigourney-weaver |website=Biography |date=April 2, 2014 |access-date=January 1, 2021}}</ref> the daughter of English actress [[Elizabeth Inglis]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Elizabeth Inglis, 94, an actress who appeared... |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-sep-07-me-passings7-story.html |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=September 7, 2007 |access-date=January 1, 2021}}</ref> and American television executive [[Pat Weaver]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Sylvester Weaver, 93, Dies; Created 'Today' and 'Tonight' |first=Thomas J. |last=Lueck |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/18/nyregion/sylvester-weaver-93-dies-created-today-and-tonight.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 18, 2002 |access-date=January 1, 2021}}</ref> Her father served as president of [[NBC]] from 1953 to 1955, during which time he created ''[[The Today Show]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver |url=https://www.emmys.com/bios/pat-weaver |website=[[Television Academy]] |access-date=January 1, 2021}}</ref> Pat's brother, [[Doodles Weaver]], was a comedian and contributor to ''[[Mad (magazine)|Mad]]''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sigourney Weaver: 'I want to do an Irish accent' |first=Tara |last=Brady |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/sigourney-weaver-i-want-to-do-an-irish-accent-1.2902783 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=December 17, 2016 |access-date=January 1, 2021}}</ref> She is of Dutch, English, German, Irish and Scottish descent through her father.<ref>Interview by Sigourney Weaver, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, August 25, 2008.</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/weavers%20scottish%20ancestry%20mix-up_1075133 |title=Sigourney Weaver&nbsp;– Weaver's Scottish Ancestry Mix-Up |magazine=Contactmusic.com |access-date=July 12, 2010}}</ref>

At the age of 14, Weaver began using the name "Sigourney" after she took it from a minor character in ''[[The Great Gatsby]]''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sigourney Weaver: My family values |first=Elaine |last=Lipworth |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/may/01/sigourney-weaver-family-values-avatar |newspaper=The Guardian |date=May 1, 2010 |access-date=January 1, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Why Sigourney Weaver gave herself a new name |url=https://www.cbc.ca/archives/sigourney-weaver-1981-1.6171685 |website=CBC Archives |access-date=September 27, 2021 |date=September 16, 2021 |quote=I was reading ''The Great Gatsby'' and I picked it out of the book," she told CBC talk show host Bob McLean in 1981.}}</ref> She briefly attended the [[Brearley School]] and [[Chapin School]] in New York before arriving at the [[Ethel Walker School]] in [[Simsbury, Connecticut]], where she developed an early interest in performing.<ref name=INT2012>{{cite web |title=New Again: Sigourney Weaver |first=Christopher |last=Durang |url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/culture/new-again-sigourney-weaver |website=Interview |date=July 9, 2012 |access-date=January 1, 2021}}</ref> One of her early roles was in a school adaptation of the poem "[[The Highwayman (poem)|The Highwayman]]", and on another occasion she played a [[Rudolph Valentino]] character in an adaptation of ''[[The Sheik (film)|The Sheik]]''. She was also involved in theatrical productions of ''[[A Streetcar Named Desire]]'' and ''[[You Can't Take It with You (play)|You Can't Take It with You]]'' during one summer in [[Southbury, Connecticut]].<ref name=INT2012/> Known for her height, she reportedly reached {{cvt|180|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} by the age of 11, which had a negative impact on her self-esteem; she recalled feeling like "a giant spider" and never having "the confidence to ever think [she] could act".<ref name=Parade>{{cite web |title=Sigourney Weaver Reminisces on Her Career, Alien, Avatar and the New Ghostbusters |first=Mara |last=Reinstein |url=https://parade.com/888940/maramovies/sigourney-weaver-career-highlights/ |website=Parade |date=June 7, 2019 |access-date=January 2, 2021}}</ref>

In 1967, shortly before turning 18, Weaver visited [[Israel]] and [[Kibbutz volunteer|volunteered on a kibbutz]] for several months.<ref name=Observer>{{cite web |title=The Badass: Sigourney Weaver Still Larger Than Life |first=Drew |last=Grant |url=https://observer.com/2016/12/sigourney-weaver-interview-a-monster-calls-alien-5/ |website=The New York Observer |date=December 21, 2016 |access-date=January 1, 2021}}</ref> Upon returning to the United States, she attended [[Sarah Lawrence College]]. After her freshman year, she transferred to [[Stanford University]] as an English major.<ref name=Stanford>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stanforddaily.com/2015/02/19/throwback-thursday-sigourney-weaver-on-campus-protests-nov-6-1989/|title=Throwback Thursday: Sigourney Weaver on campus protests (Nov. 6, 1989)|date=February 19, 2015|access-date=January 1, 2021}}</ref> At Stanford, she was extensively involved in theater. She performed with a group in [[Palo Alto]] named ''The Company'',<ref name=Observer/> doing [[Shakespeare]] plays and "[[commedia dell'arte]] in a covered wagon" around the [[Bay Area]],<ref name=Observer/> the nature of which she considered "outrageous". She "dressed like an elf and lived in a tree house"<ref name=Observer/> and avoided Stanford's drama department as she believed their productions were too "stuffy" and "safe".<ref name=Observer/><ref name=Stanford/> She had planned to enter Stanford's Ph.D. English program and eventually pursue a career as a writer or a journalist, but changed her mind after getting frustrated by the "deadly dry" honors courses. She eventually graduated in 1972 with a [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]] in English.<ref name=INT2012/><ref name=Stanford/> She subsequently applied to the [[Yale School of Drama]], performing [[Bertolt Brecht]]'s ''[[Saint Joan of the Stockyards]]'' at her audition, and was accepted.<ref name=Observer/>

Weaver admitted that she had a difficult time at Yale. She was not fond of the shows at [[Yale Repertory Theatre]],<ref name=INT2012/> and had little luck getting lead roles in school productions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Out From The Shadows – Action star and comedienne Sigourney Weaver finally earns her rightful title – dramatic lead actress – with A Map of the World. |first=Scott |last=Proudfit |url=https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/shadows-action-star-comedienne-sigourney-weaver-finally-earns-34048/ |website=Backstage |date=February 21, 2001 |access-date=January 2, 2021}}</ref> Some of her acting teachers referred to her as "talentless" and advised her to stick to comedy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sigourney Weaver Goes Her Own Way |first=Frank |last=Bruni |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/10/19/t-magazine/sigourney-weaver.html |website=The New York Times |date=October 19, 2020 |access-date=January 2, 2021}}</ref> She later said she pulled through due to her time at the [[Yale Cabaret]], and with the help of friends such as [[Christopher Durang]], who kept casting her in his plays.<ref name=INT2012/> She graduated from Yale with an [[Master of Fine Arts|MFA]] in 1974.<ref name=Observer/>

== Career ==
=== 1970s: Initial work and breakthrough ===
Weaver performed in the first production of the [[Stephen Sondheim]] musical ''[[The Frogs (musical)|The Frogs]]'' while at Yale in 1974, alongside [[Larry Blyden]] and fellow students [[Meryl Streep]] and Durang.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rothstein|first=Mervyn|date=July 22, 2020|title=Flashback to When Nathan Lane Resurrected Stephen Sondheim's The Frogs|url=https://www.playbill.com/article/flashback-to-when-nathan-lane-resurrected-stephen-sondheims-the-frogs-com-120649|access-date=January 2, 2021|website=Playbill}}</ref> She was briefly an understudy in a [[John Gielgud]] production of ''[[Captain Brassbound's Conversion]]'' thereafter.<ref name="INT2012" /> She also acted in numerous original plays by Durang.<ref name="INT2012" /> In 1974 she made her [[Broadway (theatre)|Broadway]] debut in the [[William Somerset Maugham]] play ''[[The Constant Wife]]'' acting opposite [[Ingrid Bergman]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://playbill.com/production/the-constant-wife-shubert-theatre-vault-0000010470|title= The Constant Wife (Broadway, 1974)|website= Playbill|access-date= July 23, 2024}}</ref> Before her on-screen breakthrough, she had appeared only in commercials, a few television roles (including an appearance in the soap opera ''[[Somerset (TV series)|Somerset]]''), and had a small part in the [[Woody Allen]]-directed romantic comedy-drama ''[[Annie Hall]]'' (1977).<ref name="InterviewMarch2015">{{cite journal|last=Curtis|first=Jamie Lee|author-link=Jamie Lee Curtis|date=March 2015|title=Sigourney Weaver profile|url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/sigourney-weaver/#_|url-status=live|journal=Interview|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226113122/http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/sigourney-weaver#_|archive-date=February 26, 2015|access-date=February 27, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Lack|first=Hannah|date=May 13, 2020|title=From the Archive: Sigourney Weaver on Her Most Iconic Roles|url=https://www.anothermag.com/fashion-beauty/12511/from-the-archive-sigourney-weave-on-her-most-iconic-roles|access-date=January 2, 2021|website=Another Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Levine|first=Stuart|date=March 6, 2012|title=Sigourney Weaver set for 'Animals'|url=https://variety.com/2012/tv/news/sigourney-weaver-set-for-animals-1118051137/|access-date=January 2, 2021|website=Variety}}</ref> Her originally more substantial ''Annie Hall'' role was scaled back due to her commitment to the Durang play ''[[Titanic (play)|Titanic]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Shaw|first=Dorsey|date=September 28, 2010|title=Last Night on Late Night: Sigourney Weaver Turned Down Woody Allen To Hide a Hedgehog in Her Vagina|url=https://www.playbill.com/article/flashback-to-when-nathan-lane-resurrected-stephen-sondheims-the-frogs-com-120649|access-date=January 2, 2021|website=Vulture}}</ref> {{quote box
| quote = "One of the real pleasures of ''Alien'' is to watch the emergence of both Ellen Ripley as a character and Sigourney Weaver as a star."<!-- https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-alien/135280951/ -->
| source = - Ty Burr, ''The Boston Globe'', 29 October 2003
| align = right
| width = 25em
}}

Weaver appeared two years later as Warrant Officer / Lieutenant [[Ellen Ripley|Ripley]] in [[Ridley Scott]]'s [[Blockbuster (entertainment)|blockbuster]] film ''[[Alien (film)|Alien]]'' (1979), in a role initially designated to co-star British-born actress [[Veronica Cartwright]] until a late change in casting. Cartwright stated to World Entertainment News Network (WENN) that she was in England ready to start work on ''Alien'' when she discovered that she would be playing the navigator Lambert in the project, and Weaver had been given the lead role of [[Ellen Ripley]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/syspages/--headline--.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161215121757/http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/syspages/--headline--.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 15, 2016 |title=Veronica Cartwright still puzzled about Alien snub |newspaper=[[Newshub]] |date=July 8, 2011 |via=www.newshub.co.nz}}</ref> Reviews of the film were initially mixed, but it has since been ranked among the greatest science fiction horror films and is Weaver's first film to be inducted into the [[National Film Registry]] by the [[Library of Congress]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Critic |first=Peter Howell Movie |date=2015-09-03 |title=Why Alien is one of the most influential movies ever made: Howell |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/why-alien-is-one-of-the-most-influential-movies-ever-made-howell/article_9ec668ca-a15f-5bb9-893a-10c36fdff6b3.html |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=Toronto Star |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Librarian of Congress Adds 25 Films to National Film Registry |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-02-176/librarian-of-congress-adds-25-films-to-national-film-registry/2002-12-17/ |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA}}</ref> Film critic [[Gene Siskel]] called Weaver "an actress who should become a major star,"<ref>[[Siskel, Gene]] (May 25, 1979). "Faint praise: Alien' succeeds in the scare department". ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''. Section 3, p. 2.</ref> and [[Peter Bradshaw]] of ''[[The Guardian]]'' said that Weaver "begins the action looking girlish and serious, but changes into the toughly self-reliant woman who defined her subsequent roles. Her career evolves before our very eyes."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bradshaw |first=Peter |date=2019-03-01 |title=Alien review – Ridley Scott's masterpiece is lethally contemporary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/mar/01/alien-review-ridley-scott-lethally-contemporary-masterpiece |access-date=2024-08-17 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Among other accolades, she was nominated for [[BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles|Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles]] at the [[33rd British Academy Film Awards]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Film in 1980 {{!}} BAFTA Awards |url=https://awards.bafta.org/award/1980/film/ |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=awards.bafta.org}}</ref>

=== 1980s: Stardom and acclaim ===
[[File:Sigourney Weaver with her father Pat Weaver 1989.jpg|thumb|Weaver and her father [[Pat Weaver|Pat]] at the [[61st Academy Awards]] in 1989, where she received [[List of actors nominated for multiple Academy Awards in the same year|simultaneous nominations]] for [[Academy Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]] and [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]]]]
Weaver appeared in an [[off-Broadway]] production of Durang's comedy ''[[Beyond Therapy]]'' in 1981, which was directed by then-fledgling director [[Jerry Zaks]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Gussow |first=Mel |date=January 6, 1981 |title=Stage:'Beyond Therapy by Durang at Phoenix |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/01/06/theater/stage-beyond-therapy-by-durang-at-phoenix.html |access-date=August 4, 2017 |work=The New York Times |page=C11}}</ref> She next appeared opposite [[Mel Gibson]] as British Embassy officer Jill Bryant in the [[Peter Weir]] directed romantic drama ''[[The Year of Living Dangerously (film)|The Year of Living Dangerously]]'' (1982) which was released to critical acclaim.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/year_of_living_dangerously|title= The Year of Living Dangerously|website= Rotten Tomatoes|access-date= July 23, 2024}}</ref> Roger Ebert opined, "Weaver has a less interesting role but is always an interesting actress".<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-year-of-living-dangerously-1983|title= The Year of Living Dangerously|website= Rogerebert.com|access-date= July 23, 2024}}</ref> In 1984 she returned to Broadway acting in the [[David Rabe]] play ''[[Hurlyburly]]'' acting opposite [[William Hurt]], [[Harvey Keitel]], [[Cynthia Nixon]], [[Jerry Stiller]], [[Ron Silver]], and [[Judith Ivey]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://playbill.com/production/hurlyburly-ethel-barrymore-theatre-vault-0000004315|title= Hurlyburly (Broadway, 1984)|website= Playbill|access-date= July 23, 2024}}</ref> The production was directed by [[Mike Nichols]] with Weaver taking on the role of Darlene, a scatterbrained [[photojournalist]] who gets involved with two roommates.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1984/07/18/arts/inside-the-ensemble-play-of-hurlyburly.html|title= INSIDE THE ENSEMBLE PLAY OF 'HURLYBURLY'|website= [[The New York Times]]|date= July 18, 1984|access-date= July 23, 2024|last1= Bennetts|first1= Leslie}}</ref> The role earned Weaver a nomination for the [[Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play]].<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.tonyawards.com/nominees/year/1985/category/any/show/any/|title= 1985 Tony Award Nominations|website= American Theater Wing|access-date= July 23, 2024}}</ref> That same year she took the female leading role Dana Barrett in the comedy films ''[[Ghostbusters]]'' (1984) and reprised her role in ''[[Ghostbusters II]]'' (1989) acting alongside [[Bill Murray]], [[Dan Aykroyd]] and [[Harold Ramis]].<ref name="InterviewMarch2015" />

Weaver reprised the role of Ellen Ripley seven years later in the sequel to ''Alien'', similarly titled ''[[Aliens (film)|Aliens]]'' (1986) directed by [[James Cameron]]. Critic Roger Ebert wrote "Weaver, who is onscreen almost all the time, comes through with a very strong, sympathetic performance: She's the thread that holds everything together."<ref>Ebert, Roger July 18, 1986 ''Sun Times'' [http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19860718/REVIEWS/607180301 ''Aliens'' review by Roger Ebert], suntimes.com; retrieved September 21, 2010.</ref> [[Variety (magazine)|''Variety'']] said that, at that point, she was the only actress who could "open" an action movie.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ebert |first=Roger |title=Alien movie review & film summary (1979) {{!}} Roger Ebert |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-alien-1979 |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=RogerEbert.com |language=en}}</ref> For ''Aliens'', she won the [[Saturn Award for Best Actress]] and earned her first nominations for the [[Academy Award for Best Actress]] and the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama]].

In 1988, Weaver starred as primatologist [[Dian Fossey]] in the biographical drama ''[[Gorillas in the Mist]]''. The same year, she appeared opposite [[Harrison Ford]] in a supporting role as main antagonist Katharine Parker in the comedy-drama ''[[Working Girl]]''. Both these films earned Weaver [[Golden Globe Awards]] for [[Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama]] and [[Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture]] for her two roles that year. At [[46th Golden Globe Awards|the Golden Globes that year]], Weaver was one of three actresses to win in Best Actress, alongside [[Jodie Foster]] and [[Shirley MacLaine]], in [[Golden Globe Awards#Acting|a three-way tie]]. Weaver received [[List of actors nominated for multiple Academy Awards in the same year|simultaneous Academy Award nominations in 1988]]{{emdash}}Best Actress for ''Gorillas in the Mist'' and Best Supporting Actress for ''Working Girl''.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-lists/20-stars-whove-never-won-oscars-24228/ |title=20 Stars Who've Never Won Oscars |first1=Jordan |last1=Hoffman |date=February 25, 2016 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref> She was the first of four actresses (as of 2023) to have won two Golden Globes in the same year.

=== 1990s: Continued awards success ===
Weaver returned to the big screen with ''[[Alien 3]]'' (1992) and Ridley Scott's ''[[1492: Conquest of Paradise]]'' (1992) in which she played the role of Queen Isabella. In the early 1990s, Weaver appeared in several films including ''[[Dave (film)|Dave]]'' opposite [[Kevin Kline]] and [[Frank Langella]]. In 1994, she starred in Roman Polanski's drama ''[[Death and the Maiden (film)|Death and the Maiden]]'' as Paulina Escobar.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/death-and-the-maiden-1995 |title=Death And The Maiden Movie Review (1995) – Roger Ebert |first=Roger |last=Ebert |website=www.rogerebert.com}}</ref> She played the role of agoraphobic criminal psychologist Helen Hudson in the film ''[[Copycat (1995 film)|Copycat]]'' (1995).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/1995/film/reviews/dogged-weaver-smart-copycat-1200443431/ |title=Dogged Weaver, Smart 'Copycat' |first1=Todd |last1=McCarthy |date=October 16, 1995}}</ref> Weaver also concentrated on smaller and supporting roles such as ''[[Jeffrey (1995 film)|Jeffrey]]'' (1994) with Nathan Lane and Patrick Stewart.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Travers|first1=Peter|date=August 18, 1995|title=Jeffrey|magazine=Rolling Stone|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/jeffrey-246719/}}</ref>

In 1997, she appeared in [[Ang Lee]]'s ''[[The Ice Storm (film)|The Ice Storm]]'' as Janey Carver, a bored but stylish housewife trapped in a failed marriage. Weaver earned her second [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture]] nomination for the role and won a [[BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role]].<ref name="goldenglobes.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/person/sigourney-weaver |title=Sigourney Weaver |website=www.goldenglobes.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://awards.bafta.org/keyword-search?keywords=Sigourney+Weaver+ |title=BAFTA Awards Search – BAFTA Awards |website=awards.bafta.org}}</ref> In 1999, she co-starred as Gwen DeMarco in the science fiction comedy ''[[Galaxy Quest]]''<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/comic-con/2017/07/25/sigourney-weaver-interview-alien-avatar-marvel-defenders-galaxy-quest/ |title=Sigourney Weaver Reflects on Her Pop Culture Legacy, From 'Alien' to 'Avatar' |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref> and as Alice Goodwin, a mother and school nurse whose negligence results in the accidental drowning of a friend's toddler in the drama ''[[A Map of the World (film)|A Map of the World]]'', earning her a third nomination for the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama]] for the latter.<ref name="goldenglobes.com" /> She also received a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] that same year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sigourney Weaver |url=https://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/sigourney-weaver/ |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chad |date=2019-10-25 |title=Sigourney Weaver |url=https://walkoffame.com/sigourney-weaver/#:~:text=Address%207021%20Hollywood%20Blvd. |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=Hollywood Walk of Fame |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sigourney Weaver |url=http://www.walkoffame.com/sigourney-weaver |access-date=June 24, 2019 |website=Hollywood Walk of Fame}}</ref>

=== 2000s: Blockbusters and voice roles ===
[[File:Sigourney Weaver at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival.JPG|thumb|Weaver at the 2008 [[Tribeca Festival|Tribeca Film Festival]]]]
In 2001, Weaver appeared in the comedy ''[[Heartbreakers (2001 film)|Heartbreakers]]'' playing the lead role of a con-artist alongside [[Jennifer Love Hewitt]], [[Ray Liotta]], [[Gene Hackman]] and [[Anne Bancroft]]. She was included on [[Channel 4]]'s "[[100 Greatest (TV series)|100 Greatest Movie Stars]]" in 2003.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last=Muir |first=Hugh |date=May 6, 2003 |title=Pacino, godfather of movie stars |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/may/06/filmnews.arts |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> She appeared in several films throughout the decade including ''[[Holes (film)|Holes]]'' (2003), the [[M. Night Shyamalan]] horror film ''[[The Village (2004 film)|The Village]]'' (2004), ''[[Vantage Point (film)|Vantage Point]]'' (2008), and ''[[Baby Mama (film)|Baby Mama]]'' (2008).

In February 2002, she featured as a guest role in the ''[[Futurama]]'' episode "[[Love and Rocket]]", playing the female Planet Express Ship.<ref>{{cite web|last=Handlen|first=Zack|title=Futurama: "Love And Rocket"/"Less Than Hero"|url=https://www.avclub.com/futurama-love-and-rocket-less-than-hero-1798184117|website=TV Club|date=June 18, 2015 }}</ref> In 2006, she was the narrator for the American version of the BBC [[Emmy Award]]-winning documentary series ''[[Planet Earth (2006 TV series)|Planet Earth]]''; the original British series version was narrated by [[David Attenborough]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Skipworth|first=Hunter|date=June 9, 2010|title=Attenborough victorious in the battle of narrators|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturenews/7803409/Attenborough-victorious-in-the-battle-of-narrators.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturenews/7803409/Attenborough-victorious-in-the-battle-of-narrators.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In 2007, Weaver returned to Rwanda for the BBC special ''Gorillas Revisited'', in which Weaver reunites with the Rwandan apes from the film ''Gorillas in the Mist'', some 20 years later.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kalina |first=Paul |date=April 26, 2007 |title=Gorillas she missed |url=https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/gorillas-she-missed-20070426-ge4qpn.html |website=The Age}}</ref>

In 2008, Weaver was featured as the voice of the ship's computer in the Pixar and Disney release ''[[WALL•E]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sigourney Weaver voices a ship's computer in 'WALL-E'|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-ca-walle4-2008may04-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|date=May 4, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Ide|first=Wendy|date=July 17, 2008|title=Sigourney Weaver in WALL E: the sci fi legend Ripley, believe it or not|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/sigourney-weaver-in-wall-e-the-sci-fi-legend-ripley-believe-it-or-not-6lxnk5qm5qd|via=www.thetimes.co.uk}}</ref> Also in 2008, she voiced a narrating role in the animated film ''[[The Tale of Despereaux (film)|The Tale of Despereaux]]'' (2008), based on the [[The Tale of Despereaux|novel]] by [[Kate DiCamillo]]. The film opens with Weaver as narrator recounting the story of the pastel-hued Kingdom of Dor.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dargis|first=Manohla|date=December 18, 2008|title=Matthew Broderick Provides the Hero's Voice in the Screen Version of Kate DiCamillo's Book|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/19/movies/19tale.html}}</ref> She also made a rare guest appearance on television playing herself in season 2 episode of the television series ''[[Eli Stone]]'' in the fall of 2008.<ref>{{cite web|date=August 15, 2008|title=Sigourney Weaver Puts Eli Stone on the Couch|url=https://www.tvguide.com/News/Sigourney-Weaver-Eli-26417.aspx|access-date=August 15, 2008|work=[[TV Guide]]}}</ref>

In 2009, Weaver starred as Mary Griffith in her first [[television film]] ''[[Prayers for Bobby]]'', for which she was nominated for an [[Emmy Award]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.emmys.com/celebrities/sigourney-weaver |title=Sigourney Weaver Emmy Nominated |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=November 3, 2012}}</ref> Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award. Also in 2009, she reunited with ''Aliens'' director James Cameron for his film ''[[Avatar (2009 film)|Avatar]]'', playing a major role as Dr. Grace Augustine, leader of the AVTR (avatar) program on the film's fictional moon Pandora. It became the [[List of highest-grossing films|highest-grossing film of all time]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/starsandstories/6761163/Sigourney-Weaver-interview-for-Avatar.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/starsandstories/6761163/Sigourney-Weaver-interview-for-Avatar.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Sigourney Weaver interview for Avatar |first= David |last=Gritten |date=December 8, 2009 |via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-04-05 |title=Avengers: Endgame tops Avatar to be highest grossing film {{!}} Film {{!}} The Guardian |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/jul/21/avengers-endgame-tops-avatar-to-be-highest-grossing-film |access-date=2023-03-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405094735/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/jul/21/avengers-endgame-tops-avatar-to-be-highest-grossing-film |archive-date=April 5, 2020 |last1=Yedroudj |first1=Latifa }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/movies/2017/07/14/sigourney-weaver-avatar-sequels/ |title=Sigourney Weaver Says There's a 'Very Good Reason' Why There Are 4 'Avatar' Sequels |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=July 4, 2017}}</ref>

=== 2010s: Television focus and Broadway ===
[[File:Sigourney Weaver by Gage Skidmore.jpg|thumb|Weaver at the 2016 [[San Diego Comic-Con]]]]
Weaver has hosted two episodes of the long-running NBC sketch show ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'': once on the 12th-season premiere in 1986, and again, on a season 35 episode in January 2010. In March 2010, she was cast for the lead role as Queen of the Vampires in [[Amy Heckerling]]'s ''[[Vamps (film)|Vamps]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/36447/sigourney-weaver-queen-vamps-where-do-we-sign-up-be-bitten |title=Sigourney Weaver Queen of the Vamps! Where Do We Sign Up to be Bitten? |publisher=Dreadcentral.com |date=March 17, 2010 |access-date=July 12, 2010}}</ref> She was honored at the [[2010 Scream Awards]] earning The Heroine Award which honored her work in science fiction, horror and fantasy films.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000244/awards |title=Sigourney Weaver |website=IMDb |access-date=November 21, 2016}}</ref> In December 2013, Weaver was a guest narrator at [[Disney's Candlelight Processional]] at [[Walt Disney World]].<ref>[https://www.baltimoresun.com/os-disney-epcot-candlelight-processional-2013-20130715-story.html ''BaltimoreSun.Com'' Weaver Among Candleligth Narrators] retrieved 08-21-23</ref>

In 2012, she took a leading role as Elaine Barrish, the recently divorced [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] and former [[First Lady of the United States|First Lady]] and [[Governor of Illinois]] who fights various political opponents in the [[USA Network]] political miniseries ''[[Political Animals (miniseries)|Political Animals]]'' acting opposite [[Carla Gugino]], [[Sebastian Stan]], [[Ciaran Hinds]], and [[Ellen Burstyn]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.cnn.com/2012/07/13/showbiz/tv/political-animals-sigourney-weaver-premiere/index.html|title= Sigourney Weaver, cast, and producers on the private lives of 'Political Animals'|author-first1=Umika|author-last1=Pidaparthy|website= [[CNN]]|date= July 13, 2012|access-date= July 23, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.npr.org/2012/07/19/156980965/sigourney-weavers-stately-role-in-political-animals|title= Sigourney Weaver's Stately Role In 'Political Animals'|website= [[NPR]]|date= July 19, 2012|access-date= July 23, 2024}}</ref> When talking about the character Weaver told ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'', "She sort of has some superficial resemblance, obviously, to [[Hillary Clinton]] but really Elaine has made some decisions that distinguish her from Mrs. Clinton — who we all admire".<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/political-animals-sigourney-weaver-348533/|title= 'Political Animals' Star Sigourney Weaver on Channeling Hillary Clinton (Video)|website= [[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date= July 12, 2012|access-date= July 23, 2024}}</ref> Critic Brian Lowry of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' praised its ensemble, specifically Weaver citing her as "representing an inspired choice to portray Elaine, someone brimming with integrity, pain and grit all at once."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2012/tv/reviews/political-animals-1117947888/|title= Political Animals|website= Variety|date= July 12, 2012|access-date= July 23, 2024}}</ref> For her performance she was nominated for the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie|Primetime Emmy Award]], [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film|Golden Globe Award]], [[Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Movie/Miniseries|Critics' Choice Television Award]], and [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie|Screen Actors Guild Award]] for Outstanding Actress in a Miniseries or Movie.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2239947/awards/?ref_=tt_awd|title= Political Animals (TV Miniseries, 2012) - Awards|website= IMDB|access-date= July 23, 2024}}</ref>

In 2013, Weaver returned to [[Broadway (theatre)|Broadway]] in the [[Christopher Durang]] play ''[[Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike]]'' (2013) alongside [[David Hyde Pierce]], [[Kristine Nielsen]], and [[Billy Magnussen]] at the [[John Golden Theatre]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://playbill.com/production/vanya-and-sonia-and-masha-and-spike-john-golden-theatre-vault-0000013999|title= Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (Broadway, 2013)|website= Playbill|access-date= July 23, 2024}}</ref> Charles Isherwood of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote "Ms. Weaver holds her own amid this skilled comic company".<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/15/theater/reviews/vanya-and-sonia-and-masha-and-spike-at-john-golden-theater.html|title= Underneath Pajamas, Naked Depression|website= [[The New York Times]]|date= March 15, 2013|access-date= July 23, 2024|last1= Isherwood|first1= Charles}}</ref> Marilyn Stasio of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' wrote, "Weaver, as funny as you’ve ever seen her".<ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2013/legit/reviews/legit-review-vanya-and-sonya-is-silly-smart-mashup-1200194855/|title= Legit Review: 'Vanya and Sonia' Is Silly, Smart Mashup|website= Variety|date= March 15, 2013|access-date= July 23, 2024}}</ref> The production went onto the [[Tony Award for Best Play]] at the [[67th Tony Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.tonyawards.com/press/the-2014-tony-award-nominations/|title= The 2014 Tony Award Nominations|website= American Theater Wing|access-date= July 23, 2024}}</ref>

In 2014, Weaver reprised the role of Ripley for the first time in 17 years by voicing the character in the video game ''[[Alien: Isolation]]''. Her character has a voice cameo in the main story, and has a central role in the two [[Downloadable content|DLCs]] set during the events of ''Alien'', with most of the original cast voicing their respective characters.<ref name="isolation1">{{cite web |url=https://metro.co.uk/2014/07/09/alien-isolation-has-best-pre-order-bonus-ever-sigourney-weaver-and-cast-in-special-movie-missions-4792286 |title=Alien Isolation has best pre-order bonus ever: Sigourney Weaver and cast in special movie missions |date=July 9, 2014 |publisher=Metro}}</ref><ref name="isolation2">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jul/09/sigourney-weaver-to-appear-in-alien-isolation-video-game |title=Sigourney Weaver to appear in ''Alien Isolation'' video game |newspaper=The Guardian |date=July 9, 2014 |access-date=April 19, 2016}}</ref> Weaver appeared in the film ''[[Exodus: Gods and Kings]]'' (2014) playing [[Tuya (queen)|Tuya]], directed by [[Ridley Scott]], alongside [[Christian Bale]], [[Joel Edgerton]] and [[Ben Kingsley]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Ridley Scott In 'Exodus' Talks With Ben Kingsley, John Turturro, Sigourney Weaver, Aaron Paul |url=https://deadline.com/2013/08/ridley-scott-in-exodus-talks-with-ben-kingsley-john-turturro-sigourney-weaver-aaron-paul-572676/ |access-date=September 16, 2013 |newspaper=Deadline |date=August 27, 2013}}</ref> In 2015, she co-starred in [[Neill Blomkamp]]'s science-fiction film ''[[Chappie (film)|Chappie]]'', and stated that she would agree to appear in an [[Alien (franchise)|''Alien'' sequel]], provided that Blomkamp directs.<ref>{{cite news |title=More on Neill Blomkamp's Alien; Sigourney Weaver Speaks Up |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/89658/neill-blomkamps-alien-sigourney-weaver-speaks |access-date=February 13, 2015 |newspaper=Deadline}}</ref>

On February 18, 2015, it was officially announced that an ''Alien'' sequel would be made, with Blomkamp slated to direct.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/new-alien-movie-confirmed-at-fox-with-director-neill-blomkamp-1201436551 |title=New 'Alien' Movie Confirmed with Director Neill Blomkamp |first=Justin |last=Kroll |magazine=Variety |date=February 18, 2015 |access-date=April 19, 2016}}</ref> On February 25, 2015, Weaver confirmed that she would reprise her role as Ellen Ripley in the new ''Alien'' film.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lesnick |first=Silas |date=February 25, 2015 |title=Neill Blomkamp's 'Alien' Sequel Will Give Ripley 'A Proper Ending' |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/trailers/413935-neill-blomkamps-alien-sequel-will-give-ripley-a-proper-ending |access-date=February 25, 2015 |publisher=ComingSoon.net}}</ref> However, in a later response to a fan question on Twitter asking what the chances were of his ''Alien'' project actually happening, Blomkamp responded "slim".<ref>{{cite web |date=January 24, 2017 |title=Alien 5 director has eliminated all hope the sequel will happen |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/alien-5-alien-covenant-sigourney-weaver-ripley-release-date-is-it-happening-neill-blomkamp-ridley-a7542936.html |website=Independent.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet |number=822685837418635264 |user=NeillBlomkamp |title=@jamesportella slim |first=Neill |last=Blomkamp |date=January 21, 2017}}</ref> In 2015 and 2017, Weaver played an American tourist in two episodes of the British television series ''[[Doc Martin]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ling |first=Thomas |date=9 November 2017 |title=Fans STILL can't believe Sigourney Weaver is in Doc Martin |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/doc-martin-sigourney-weaver-itv/ |access-date=26 January 2023 |work=Radio Times |location=}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

In 2016, Weaver voiced herself in a cameo in the Pixar film ''[[Finding Dory]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/801929/how-sigourney-weaver-became-a-finding-dory-scene-stealer|title=How Sigourney Weaver Became a Finding Dory Scene Stealer|first=Zach|last=Johnson|website=E! Online|date=October 19, 2016|access-date=April 6, 2022}}</ref> That same year, she received the [[Donostia Award]] at the [[San Sebastián International Film Festival]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rolfe |first=Pamela |date=2016-09-21 |title=San Sebastian: Sigourney Weaver Accepts Donostia Award |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/san-sebastian-sigourney-weaver-accepts-931675/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> Weaver played Alexandra, the leader of [[The Hand (comics)|the Hand]], in [[Netflix]] and [[Marvel Entertainment|Marvel]]'s miniseries [[The Defenders (miniseries)|''The Defenders'']], released in 2017. On June 7, 2019, Weaver confirmed that she would reprise her role as [[Dana Barrett]] in ''[[Ghostbusters: Afterlife]]'', which was released on November 19, 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/ghostbusters-afterlife-release-date-summer-1234812430/ |title='Ghostbusters' Sequel Moves to Summer 2021 |website=Variety |first=Rebecca |last=Rubin |date=October 21, 2020 |access-date=October 21, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/movies/2019/06/07/ghostbusters-sequel-2020-sigourney-weaver-dana-barrett/ |title=Sigourney Weaver Confirms Return for New Ghostbusters, Bill Murray Likely Involved |first=Kofi |last=Outlaw |date=June 7, 2019 |work=comicbook.com}}</ref> On September 23, 2019, Variety reported that Weaver and Kevin Kline are set to reunite again (after ''Dave'' and ''The Ice Storm'') for ''[[The Good House (film)|The Good House]]'', a drama from [[Steven Spielberg]]'s [[Amblin Partners]] and Universal Pictures.<ref>{{Cite web|last=McNary|first=Dave|date=September 23, 2019|title=Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver to Star in Drama 'The Good House'|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/kevin-kline-sigournery-weaver-good-house-1203346751/|access-date=October 5, 2020|website=Variety|language=en}}</ref>

=== 2020s: Return to film and West End debut ===
[[File:Avatar The Way of Water Tokyo Press Conference James Cameron & Sigourney Weaver (52563503708).jpg|thumb|[[James Cameron]] with Weaver promoting ''[[Avatar: The Way of Water]]'' in 2022]]
In September 2011, it was confirmed that Weaver would be returning to ''[[Avatar: The Way of Water]]'', with [[James Cameron]] stating that "no one ever dies in science fiction."<ref>{{cite news |date=September 18, 2011 |title=BBC News – Sigourney Weaver Avatar 2 role confirmed |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14964191 |access-date=September 18, 2011 |work=BBC News}}</ref> ''The Way of Water'', alike to its predecessor, was released to critical and commercial success.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Dellatto |first1=Marisa |last2=Ray |first2=Siladitya  |date=January 22, 2023 |title='Avatar: The Way Of Water' Crosses $2 Billion In Box Office Sales After Six Weeks |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisadellatto/2023/01/22/avatar-the-way-of-water-crosses-2-billion-in-box-office-sales-after-six-weeks/ |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> Principal photography for ''Avatar: The Way of Water'' and ''[[Avatar: Fire and Ash]]'' started simultaneously on September 25, 2017; Weaver portrayed Kiri, Jake and Neytiri's daughter, and reprised her role as Dr. Grace Augustine.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-07 |title=Sigourney Weaver Plays Jake And Neytiri's Adopted Teenage Na'vi Daughter In Avatar 2 – World-Exclusive |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/sigourney-weaver-plays-jake-and-neytiris-teenage-navi-daughter-in-avatar-2-world-exclusive/ |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=Empire |language=en}}</ref><ref name="breathecast.com">{{cite news |date=September 16, 2014 |title=Avatar 2 Movie Spoilers, Release Date: Sigourney Weaver Alive, Will Play Crucial Role in New Trilogy |url=https://www.breathecast.com/articles/avatar-2-movie-spoilers-release-date-sigourney-weaver-is-alive-to-play-crucial-role-in-upcoming-trilogy-films-19750 |access-date=October 2, 2014 |newspaper=BreatheCast}}</ref><ref name="Weaver return">{{cite news |date=September 18, 2011 |title=BBC News&nbsp;– Sigourney Weaver ''Avatar 2'' role confirmed |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14964191 |access-date=September 18, 2011 |work=BBC News}}</ref> The film became [[List of highest-grossing films|the third-highest-grossing film of all time]], and it received a nomination for the [[Academy Award for Best Picture]].

In 2023, Weaver starred in and executive-produced the Australian miniseries ''[[The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=2021-05-18 |title=Sigourney Weaver To Star In & EP 'The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart' Series Adaptation For Amazon; Made Up Stories, Amazon Studios & Endeavor Content To Produce |url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/sigourney-weaver-the-lost-flowers-of-alice-hart-amazon-1234758827/ |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> Robert Lloyd of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' wrote: "it’s a special treat to see Weaver, who does not overplay her assumed Australian accent, in such a substantial part; if the series seems a little long, one may at least appreciate the greater time it affords us to spend in her company."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-04 |title='The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart' review: In this moving drama, mysteries abound |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-08-04/the-lost-flowers-of-alice-hart-sigourney-weaver-review |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> At the [[13th AACTA Awards]], Weaver was nominated for [[AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama|Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keast |first=Jackie |date=2023-12-08 |title='The New Boy', 'Talk to Me', 'The Newsreader', 'The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart' lead AACTA nominees |url=https://if.com.au/the-new-boy-talk-to-me-the-newsreader-the-lost-flowers-of-alice-hart-lead-aacta-nominees/ |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=IF Magazine |language=en-AU}}</ref> 

In 2024, the [[Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Spain]] awarded her with the [[International Goya Award]] for "her impressive career full of unforgettable films and inspiring us by creating complex and strong female characters."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sigourney Weaver recibe el Goya Internacional 2024 » Premios Goya 2024 |url=https://www.premiosgoya.com/38-edicion/articulos/ver/sigourney-weaver-recibe-el-goya-internacional-2024/ |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=www.premiosgoya.com}}</ref> She received the [[Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement]] at the [[81st Venice International Film Festival]], alongside [[Peter Weir]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-28 |title=Biennale Cinema 2024 {{!}} Sigourney Weaver Leone d'Oro alla carriera |url=https://www.labiennale.org/it/news/sigourney-weaver-leone-d%E2%80%99oro-alla-carriera |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=La Biennale di Venezia |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-09 |title=Biennale Cinema 2024 {{!}} Peter Weir Leone d'Oro alla carriera della Biennale Cinema 2024 |url=https://www.labiennale.org/it/news/peter-weir-leone-d%E2%80%99oro-alla-carriera-della-biennale-cinema-2024 |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=La Biennale di Venezia |language=it}}</ref> On May 7, 2024, Weaver returned to the stage reprising her role as Masha in the one night benefit performance of ''Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike'' alongside [[David Hyde Pierce]], [[Kristine Nielsen]], and [[Linda Lavin]] at the [[Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater]] in [[Lincoln Center]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.lct.org/shows/2024-gala-vanya-and-sonia-and-masha-and-spike/|title= ANNUAL BENEFIT - VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE|website= [[Lincoln Center Theater]]|access-date= July 31, 2024}}</ref>

Weaver made her [[West End (theatre)|West End]] debut as [[Prospero]] in the revival of the [[William Shakespeare]] play ''[[The Tempest]]'' directed by [[Jamie Lloyd (director)|Jamie Lloyd]] at the [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane]] in 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://playbill.com/article/sigourney-weaver-tom-hiddleston-hayley-atwell-are-bringing-shakespeare-back-to-theatre-royal-drury-lane|title= Sigourney Weaver, Tom Hiddleston, Hayley Atwell Are Bringing Shakespeare Back to Theatre Royal Drury Lane|website= Playbill|access-date= July 31, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bamigboye |first=Baz |date=2024-07-30 |title=Breaking Baz: Sigourney Weaver Conjures Spells For West End Debut As Prospero, Joining Tom Hiddleston & Hayley Atwell In A Season Of Shakespeare Directed By 'Sunset Boulevard's' Jamie Lloyd At Theatre Royal Drury Lane This Winter |url=https://deadline.com/2024/07/sigourney-weaver-west-end-tempest-1236026153/ |access-date=2024-08-03 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Weaver has been married to stage director Jim Simpson since October 1, 1984.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sigourney Weaver- Together they co-founded the Flea Theater in New York City. Biography |url=https://movies.yahoo.com/person/sigourney-weaver/biography.html |work=Yahoo! Movies |access-date=April 26, 2013}}</ref> The two live in the [[Manhattan]] borough of New York City, where they founded [[The Flea Theater]] together in 1996.<ref name=Parade/> They have one child born in 1990, Shar, an author who as of 2024 worked as an adjunct assistant professor of the Digital Storytelling Lab at the [[Columbia University School of the Arts]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nardino |first=Meredith |date=December 13, 2022 |title=Sigourney Weaver Reveals Her Only Child Charlotte Is Nonbinary |url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/news/sigourney-weaver-reveals-her-child-charlotte-is-nonbinary/ |access-date=December 14, 2022 |website=Us Weekly |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Three Movies and an Empty Nest for Sigourney Weaver |first=Donna |last=Freydkin |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/BeautySecrets/story?id=4713043&page=1 |website=ABC News |date=April 23, 2008 |access-date=January 2, 2021}}</ref><ref name="SouthChinaWhoShar">{{cite web |title=Who is Shar, actress Sigourney Weaver's non-binary kid? The Alien star's only child with Jim Simpson is an author, adjunct professor at Columbia, and appeared on-screen with their mum in The Guys |first=Sumnima |last=Kandangwa |url=https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3276959/who-shar-actress-sigourney-weavers-non-binary-kid-alien-stars-only-child-jim-simpson-author-adjunct |website=[[South China Morning Post]] |date=September 4, 2024 |access-date=February 28, 2025}}</ref> In a 2010 interview, Weaver revealed that she underwent therapy to help with the guilt she felt for frequently travelling away from her family for work, stating that "Going to New Zealand to make ''Avatar'' when [Shar] was applying to colleges almost killed me."<ref name="SouthChinaWhoShar"/> In Simpson's 2002 film adaptation of the play ''[[The Guys]]'', he and Shar appear as the husband and child of Weaver's character.<ref name="SouthChinaWhoShar"/>

Weaver is close friends with fellow actresses [[Jamie Lee Curtis]] and [[Selina Cadell]].<ref name=":1">{{cite magazine|title=Doc Martin stars Sigourney Weaver and Selina Cadell reveal their 40-year friendship|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2018-01-26/doc-martin-sigourney-weaver-selina-cadell/|magazine=Radio Times|access-date=January 26, 2018}}</ref> In a 2015 interview, Curtis admitted to Weaver that she never saw ''Alien'' in its entirety because she was too scared.<ref name="InterviewMarch2015" />

=== Activism ===
[[File:Reagan Contact Sheet C27275 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Weaver with [[Ronald Reagan]] and [[Fahd of Saudi Arabia]] in 1985]]After making ''[[Gorillas in the Mist]]'', Weaver became a supporter of the [[Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund]], and later became its honorary chairperson.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Dian Fossey&nbsp;– Info about the Life of Dian Fossey&nbsp;– DFGFI |url=http://www.gorillafund.org/dian_fossey/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612232428/http://gorillafund.org/dian_fossey/ |archive-date=June 12, 2010 |access-date=July 12, 2010 |publisher=Gorillafund.org}}</ref> She was honored by the [[Explorers Club]] for her work and is considered to be an [[environmentalist]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Center for Health and the Global Environment |url=http://chge.med.harvard.edu/events/#NYC_Dinner |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050723084045/http://chge.med.harvard.edu/events/#NYC_Dinner |archive-date=July 23, 2005 |access-date=July 12, 2010 |publisher=Chge.med.harvard.edu}}</ref>

In October 2006, Weaver gave a news conference at the start of a [[United Nations General Assembly]] policy deliberation where she outlined the threat to ocean habitats posed by [[Bottom trawling|deep-sea trawling]], an industrial method for catching fish.<ref>{{cite web |title=Press Conference on High Seas Fishing Practices |url=https://www.un.org/press/en/2006/061003_UNEP.doc.htm |website=un.org |publisher=UN}}</ref>

On April 8, 2008, in the [[Rainbow Room]], Weaver hosted the annual gala of the [[Trickle Up]] Program, a non-profit organization focusing on those (mainly women and disabled people) in extreme poverty.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sigourney Weaver's Charity Work, Events and Causes at Look To The Stars |url=https://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/1386-sigourney-weaver |access-date=November 3, 2012 |publisher=Looktothestars.org}}</ref>

== Acting credits and awards ==
{{Main|List of Sigourney Weaver performances|List of awards and nominations received by Sigourney Weaver|l2=awards and nominations received}}[[File:Sigourney Weaver @ 2010 Academy Awards (cropped).jpg|thumb|Weaver at the [[82nd Academy Awards]] in 2010]]Weaver's most positively-reviewed films, according to the review-aggregation website [[Rotten Tomatoes]] and a number of media rankings, include:<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 5, 2019|title=Sigourney Weaver's 10 Best Movies, According To Rotten Tomatoes|url=https://screenrant.com/sigourney-weavers-best-movies-according-rotten-tomatoes/|access-date=November 26, 2021|website=ScreenRant|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Laws|first1=Zach|last2=Beachum|first2=Chris|date=October 8, 2018|title=Sigourney Weaver movies: 15 greatest films, ranked worst to best, include 'Aliens,' 'Avatar,' 'Working Girl'|url=https://www.goldderby.com/feature/sigourney-weaver-greatest-films-ranked-worst-to-best-aliens-avatar-working-girl-news-1202647581/|access-date=November 26, 2021|website=GoldDerby|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=May 6, 2021|title=Sigourney Weaver's 20 best films – ranked!|url=http://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/may/06/sigourney-weaver-20-best-films-ranked|access-date=November 26, 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sigourney Weaver {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/sigourney_weaver |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lang |first=Robert |date=2024-08-28 |title=Sigourney Weaver Career In Photos: From 'Aliens', 'Working Girl' & 'The Ice Storm' To 'Avatar' |url=https://deadline.com/gallery/sigourney-weaver-movies-career-photos/mcdgoho-rt001/ |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>
{{Div col|content=* [[Alien (film)|''Alien'']] (1979)
* ''[[The Year of Living Dangerously (film)|The Year of Living Dangerously]]'' (1982)
* ''[[Ghostbusters]]'' (1984)
* ''[[Aliens (film)|Aliens]]'' (1986)
* ''[[Gorillas in the Mist]]'' (1988)
* ''[[Working Girl]]'' (1988)
* ''[[Alien 3]]'' (1992)
* ''[[Dave (film)|Dave]]'' (1993)
* ''[[Death and the Maiden (film)|Death and the Maiden]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Copycat (1995 film)|Copycat]]'' (1995)
* ''[[The Ice Storm (film)|The Ice Storm]]'' (1997)
* ''[[Galaxy Quest]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Holes (film)|Holes]]'' (2003)
* ''[[Infamous (2006 film)|Infamous]]'' (2006)
* ''[[WALL-E]]'' (2008)
* ''[[Avatar (2009 film)|Avatar]]'' (2009)
* ''[[The Cabin in the Woods]]'' (2011)
* ''[[Cedar Rapids (film)|Cedar Rapids]]'' (2011)
* ''[[A Monster Calls (film)|A Monster Calls]]'' (2016)
* ''[[Finding Dory]]'' (2016)
* ''[[Call Jane]]'' (2022)
* ''[[Avatar: The Way of Water]]'' (2022)
* ''[[Dust Bunny (film)|Dust Bunny]]'' (2025)
* ''[[Avatar: Fire and Ash]]'' (2025)
|colwidth=20em}}
Weaver has received three Academy Award nominations, three BAFTA nominations, seven Golden Globe Award nominations, one Grammy Award nomination, four Primetime Emmy Award nominations, three SAG nominations and a Tony Award nomination. From these, she has won a BAFTA, a Grammy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards. In addition, she has received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the International Goya Award from the Spanish Film Academy, and the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{sister project links|commons=category:Sigourney Weaver|n=no|v=no|voy=no|b=no|q=Sigourney Weaver|species=no|wikt=no|mw=no|d=q102124|s=no}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{IBDB name}}
* {{IOBDB name}}
* {{TCMDb name}}
* {{Emmys person|sigourney-weaver}}
* [https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4795787.stm BBC News article on Sigourney Weaver]
* [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/3557169/Sigourney-Weaver-that-alien-feeling.html Daily Telegraph interview with Sigourney Weaver]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAVcprNObpU&t=0 Weaver talks about her first screen role, in ''Annie Hall'']

{{Navboxes
| title = [[List of awards and nominations received by Sigourney Weaver|Awards for Sigourney Weaver]]
| list =
{{BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress 1985–2009}}
{{Donostia Award}}
{{GoldenGlobeBestActressMotionPictureDrama 1981–2000}}
{{GoldenGlobeBestSuppActressMotionPicture 1981–2000}}
{{Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement}}
{{International Goya Award}}
{{Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Actress}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress}}
}}
{{Ghostbusters}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Weaver, Sigourney}}
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century American actresses]]
[[Category:Activists from New York (state)]]
[[Category:People from the Upper East Side]]
[[Category:Actresses from Manhattan]]
[[Category:American environmentalists]]
[[Category:American film actresses]]
[[Category:American people of Dutch descent]]
[[Category:American people of English descent]]
[[Category:American people of German descent]]
[[Category:American people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:American people of Scottish descent]]
[[Category:American stage actresses]]
[[Category:American television actresses]]
[[Category:American voice actresses]]
[[Category:American women environmentalists]]
[[Category:Audiobook narrators]]
[[Category:Best Supporting Actress BAFTA Award winners]]
[[Category:Best Drama Actress Golden Globe (film) winners]]
[[Category:Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe (film) winners]]
[[Category:Brearley School alumni]]
[[Category:Chapin School (Manhattan) alumni]]
[[Category:David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sarah Lawrence College alumni]]
[[Category:Science Fiction Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Stanford University alumni]]
[[Category:Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement recipients]]