Weaver Tears Up at Venice After Reporter Links ‘Alien’s’ Ripley to Kamala Harris: ‘To Think My Work Would Have Anything to Do With Her Rise Makes Me Happy’
Sigourney Weaver, multiple Oscar nominee and bona fide movie star got emotional while talking about Kamla Harris during her press conference at Venice Film Fest ahead of receiving a Golden Lion for lifetime achievement.
Asked about the impact of her acting in empowering women — specifically her Alien character of Ripley — and how it could help make it possible for Harris to become U.S. president, Weaver said she was “so excited about Kamala.”
She then appeared to tear up at the thought of her having any influence. “To think for one moment that my work would have anything to do with her rise makes me very happy, actually, because it’s true,” she said. “I have so many women who come and thank me.”
As she choked up, Weaver reached for her water, joking: “Sorry, I need my vodka.”
Of Harris, she added, “It’s been difficult since 2016, and we’re all very grateful about her.”
Weaver’s experience as a woman in Hollywood was a throughline of the conference, with the actor reflecting on aging in the business as well.
When asked about her tendency to take on tough female characters, Weaver said it’s not a conscious choice but an inherent trait of women.
Weaver was lyrical about Italian cinema and her appetite to do more work in the country. She suggested that alongside the Golden Lion, there should be a “small clause that you get to come to Italy and work with an Italian director, that should be part of the package.”
Weaver didn’t, however, go down the route of veterans in the industry in bashing superhero films, saying that “Marvel is fine and everybody should be doing what they want.” But she asserted that her personal choice would be Italian cinema.
“I haven’t really had enough of what Italian film means and gives us, so get busy Italian filmmakers — I’m available!”
