Sigourney Weaver: Ripley's Game

Q: Have you ever made any star's life difficult, in public, that is?

A: I saw Tom Cruise downtown and couldn't believe I would have such a reaction, but I just screamed, "Oooooh, it's Tom Cruise!" because I was so thrilled to see him come out of nowhere into this deli. I thought I would die. I now understand why people have a reaction to seeing someone they recognize. I went to John Travolta's birthday party, and I'm on the floor dancing with him to Sergio Mendes, thinking, "Hmm, not a bad dancer. Dancing must be his hobby or something, because he moves really well." Then I realized, "Oh, my God, I'm dancing with Saturday Night Fever!" I'd completely blocked out his early career. I hurriedly said, "Oh, I have to go!" because I knew there was going to be some disaster--like, I was going to fall on my ass.

Q: You mentioned earlier the specter of Alien vs. Predator. Let's imagine other horrifying sequel possibilities involving Ripley and other cultural icons. In a fair fight, would you bet money on Ripley or Godzilla?

A: Oh, I'd embrace him. I'd want to be carried away with him. I'd want to be his Godzuki.

Q: Ripley or Barbarella?

A: I'd win. I'm smarter. But we'd probably only pass each other by in some corridor in space.

Q: Ripley vs. James Bond.

A: Oh, I think she'd want to put on a nice sleek dress and go gambling with him. Poor Ripley she's never had a romance, really. She's busy, busy all the time.

Q: Ripley and Rush Limbaugh.

A: I'd make sure he'd get killed. Or terrified.

Q: Ripley vs. Kathie Lee Gifford.

A: I think it would be like, "Hi, bye. You're on the wrong ship."

Q: Let's talk about money. You were reportedly paid something like $4 million plus back-end participation to do Snow White: A Tale of Terror and $11 million to do Alien Resurrection. When a figure gets reported, does that mean you actually get that money? Or can it mean you will get that money if the movie makes over a certain amount? Are there steps? Contingencies?

A: If it's published, it means you're getting that money up front. On Snow White, one of the reasons Interscope published my salary was to show that the film was happening, that it was a done deal. But I was a little surprised to pick up Variety and see it. I sort of thought it was a private thing. The studios always say they don't want actors' salaries published because then it's harder to deal with all the other actors. On The Ice Storm I hardly took any money because I wasn't there to make money off a small picture.

Q: Did you have that kind of experience on Snow White? What I mean is, what's it like being paid so many millions and then the movie goes direct to cable in America?

A: What?

Q: You didn't know that it was going to debut on Showtime?

A: I didn't even know that. They were afraid to tell me, probably. Listen, Showtime is fine. At least it'll be seen. I think the movie has some of my best work. It was a weird movie, but it was treated like a little orphan. It makes me sad when you work that hard on a movie, then the original producers don't know what to do with it, so they pass the buck. I think there are flaws in it, but why not at least bring it out in theaters in America? Oh, well, on Snow White, at least it was so nice to have long hair and pretty clothing for a change.

Q: What did you make on the first Alien?

A: Do you know, when I finished the movie, I thought I'd made so much money? I thought I could live on my $33,000 forever. I actually went to the Dakota and asked about the cost of buying a unit there. They showed me something on the ground floor--a studio. I never wanted to live there. I thought it was a good investment. You know, I think I'll get an electric boat. It's good for the environment and it's a folly. I need a folly.

Q: Still, you've gotten some great paychecks recently. Did you blow the money on anything terrifically frivolous?

A: Actually, I've been thinking about buying that electric boat, but I haven't done it yet. It's the only big thing I've really considered. I've also been thinking about what charities to donate to, because it feels like I should get rid of some of it. But getting [the Alien Resurrection] salary was a small, important victory for me.

Q: How happy are you these days with career stuff?

A: I'm usually satisfied with my career. What I find difficult is modern life. I have too many things going and my constant plight is, Where do I put my energy? Into acting? Into things I'm producing that are actually going to be shot? Working with writers? My family? It would be easier if I could just concentrate on the acting, but I'm too schizy. I still have a small child and I don't want to miss time with her.

Q: The movie you're interested in doing next is something funny and local, too. Something you've been developing for some time, right?

A: It's Dear Rosie, based on a British short that was nominated a few years ago for an Academy Award. It's just a wonderful, quirky kind of comedy, in which I'll play a serious novelist who attains sudden success when she is coerced into writing a trendy diet book. I'm relieved to finally play someone ridiculous. In fact, she's the closest to myself that I'll probably ever play.

Q: What's your career plan for the next few years?

A: Whenever I've done that, nothing happens. It's almost like a curse. I'm of an age now where I've lost friends, contemporaries, to various diseases. Who needs a three-year, a five-year plan? I'd love to be relaxed enough to live on some peaceful island somewhere, take my electric boat and go crazy. But my engine's running and I can't turn it down. As you get older, you sort of get feverish about spending your time productively, when you'd probably be better off going to that island. So, my solution is: "Don't even make a list. Do everything right now."

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Stephen Rebello interviewed Jonathan Taylor Thomas for the August issue of Movieline.

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