Sigourney Weaver Biography

Sigourney adopted her name from a character in F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby'.

She attended Yale Drama School and worked on stage, before landing a role in Ridley Scott's 'Alien', which made her a recognisable screen figure and helped launch her film career.

In the 1986 follow up, 'Aliens', she earned a Best Actress Oscar nomination.

In 1988, Sigourney had starring roles in three hit movies back to back: 'Gorillas in the Mist', in which she portrayed primatologist, Diane Fossey; the Mike Nichols comedy, 'Working Girl'; and 'Ghostbusters II'.

She received her second and third Oscar nominations for 'Gorillas in the Mist' and 'Working Girl'.

In 1997, Sigourney won a Bafta for her role in Ang Lee's critically acclaimed 'The Ice Storm', alongside Kevin Kline, Elijah Wood and Christina Ricci.

Following this, she reprised her role as Lt. Ellen Ripley in 'Alien: Resurrection', the fourth film in the popular series.

She showed a less serious side to herself in 'Galaxy Quest', with Alan Rickman, and 'Heartbreakers', opposite Jennifer Love Hewitt.

Sigourney has a production company, Goat Cay Productions, which is based in New York, and is working to introduce new voices from the theatre into the film industry.