American actress Susan Alexandra ‘Sigourney’ Weaver was born 76 years ago in New York City, is married and has a daughter.
Sigourney attended private schools and college, then proceeded with her studies at university where she obtained a BA in English. Some time before her 18th birthday, she travelled to Israel to work as a volunteer in a kibbutz. After a few months, she returned to the US where she continued her education and succeeded in getting an MFA in 1974.
During her school years, Weaver showed interest in drama and in fact did take part in several stage plays and performed with a theatrical group. In actual fact, she originally wanted to become a journalist or writer, however, she got frustrated with the courses offered and chose drama instead.
In 1974, she debuted on Broadway in a theatrical play and afterwards appeared in commercials and some TV productions. She made a career breakthrough when she portrayed Lieutenant Ripley in the famous blockbuster sci-fi horror 1979 movie ‘Alien’, immediately rising to fame and becoming an acclaimed actress.
During the 80s, Sigourney starred in 10 movies including ‘The Year of Living Dangerously’ alongside Mel Gibson and ‘Ghostbusters’. In 1986, she reprised her role as Lieutenant Ripley in ‘Aliens’ and 2 years later acted in ‘Gorillas in the Mist’ and ‘Working Girl’.
From the beginning of the 90s to date, Weaver appeared in over 50 films, 14 TV shows and 11 theatrical productions. She also voiced several animated movie/documentary characters, read audio books and appeared in a couple of video games and soundtrack discography. Some of her most acclaimed films, including the ones already mentioned above, are ‘Copycat’, ‘Holes’, ‘Cedar Rapids’, ‘Finding Dory’, ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ and ‘The Gorge’.
Later on this year, Sigourney will be starring in an epic sci-fi movie named ‘Avatar: Fire & Ash’, to be released on 19th December and in 2026, she is expected to appear in the film ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’, release date 22nd May.
Weaver supports numerous charitable organisations including one that supports women living in extreme poverty and also that which protects endangered mountain gorillas.
During her long career, Sigourney won 6 awards: 2 Golden Globe, a Grammy, 2 Saturn and a Goya. In 1999, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame plus 9 other Special Awards including a Lifetime Achievement and a Diamond.
*Image: no infringement intended. Source: Rotten Tomatoes