What Is Sigourney Weaver's Net Worth and Salary?
Sigourney Weaver is an American actress who has a net worth of $60 million. Sigourney Weaver's breakthrough role came in 1979 when she portrayed the fierce and determined Ellen Ripley in Ridley Scott's sci-fi horror film "Alien." This iconic performance catapulted her to stardom and established her as one of the leading actresses in the genre. Weaver continued to impress audiences with her commanding presence and range of roles. She portrayed Dana Barrett in the supernatural comedy "Ghostbusters" (1984) and its sequel, showcasing her comedic abilities alongside her dramatic skills. In James Cameron's "Aliens" (1986), she returned as Ripley, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress and solidifying her status as an action film star.
Throughout her career, Weaver has exhibited her versatility by taking on a wide range of roles. She has played complex and strong-willed characters in films such as "Gorillas in the Mist" (1988), "Working Girl" (1988), "A Map of the World" (1999), and "The Ice Storm" (1997). Sigourney also demonstrated her talent for comedy in films like "Heartbreakers" (2001) and "Galaxy Quest" (1999).
Weaver's illustrious career includes numerous accolades and recognition. To date, she has received three Academy Award nominations, multiple Golden Globe nominations, and a Tony Award nomination.
Early Life
Sigourney Weaver was born Susan Alexandra Weaver on October 8, 1949, in Manhattan, New York City. She adopted the stage name Sigourney Weaver, after being inspired by a character in F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel "The Great Gatsby." Raised as the only child of English actress Elizabeth Inglis and NBC president and executive Pat Weaver, Sigourney was almost destined to pursue a career in the entertainment world.
After attending an all-girls preparatory school, Weaver went to private schools in Manhattan. By the time she was 14, she towered over her classmates at 5'10. At the age of 18, Sigourney traveled to Israel on a volunteering trip. After studying English at Stanford, she graduated in 1972 with a BA. During her college years, Sigourney fell in love with acting and subsequently attended Yale's School of Drama. In 1974, she graduated from Yale with an MFA. While at Yale, Weaver appeared in a number of plays alongside future film stars such as Meryl Streep.
Career
Weaver's career began with a non-speaking role in Woody Allen's "Annie Hall," which was released in 1977. Her breakthrough came two years later when she starred in Ridley Scott's 1979 movie, "Alien." Although Veronica Cartwright was originally slated to appear in the role, a last-minute change gave Sigourney the opportunity she had been waiting for. "Alien" proved to be a massive blockbuster hit, grossing over $203 million on a budget of around $10 million. Critics singled Weaver out for praise, celebrating her strong yet sympathetic performance. Weaver went on to appear in several more "Alien" films.
The first sequel did not come until 1986, and this time James Cameron spearheaded a film that grossed over $180 million at the box office and received widespread critical acclaim. The film also resulted in Sigourney's first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. "Alien 3" did not receive the same warm reception from critics, although it still performed well at the box office with well over $150 million in earnings. Weaver's final appearance in the "Alien" franchise was in "Alien: Resurrection," a film that grossed over $160 million at the box office and received generally strong reviews. Since "Alien: Resurrection" in 1997, Sigourney has stated that she is open to reprising her role as Ripley in the future as long as she likes the script.
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Outside of her work with the "Alien" franchise, Sigourney remained very busy as an actress, especially after making her breakthrough with the first "Alien" movie. Her next big project was "The Year of Living Dangerously" alongside Mel Gibson, and she followed up with a central role in "Ghostbusters" and "Ghostbusters II." Although she was gaining a reputation as a science-fiction actress, Sigourney was determined to defy expectations. Towards the end of the '80s, she appeared in "Gorillas in the Mist," portraying the real-life primatologist Dian Fossey. That year, she also joined the cast of "Working Girl" alongside Harrison Ford. She won a number of awards for both performances.
After giving birth to her first child in 1990, Weaver followed up with "1492: Conquest of Paradise," "Death and the Maiden," and "Copycat." Although Sigourney transitioned to supporting roles throughout the '90s with movies like "Jeffrey" and "The Ice Storm," she once again returned to the spotlight with films like "Galaxy Quest" and "Map of the World."
Throughout the 2000s, Weaver gained recognition for her roles in films like "Heartbreakers," "Holes," "The Village," "Vantage Point," and "Baby Mama." In 2009, she appeared in the film "Avatar," which became the second-highest-grossing film of all time. Just two years later, it was announced that Weaver would play an important role in all three of the film's upcoming sequels. In 2015, Sigourney appeared in the film "Chappie." In 2019, it was reported that she would appear in a new "Ghostbusters" movie slated for release in 2021.
Outside of her film career, Weaver has become an established voice actress. She famously voiced the ship's computer in the film "Wall-E" and also guest-starred on the animated series "Futurama." In addition, Sigourney reprised her role as Ripley in the video game "Alien: Isolation." In terms of live-action television roles, she is famous for playing the Queen of the Vampires in the series "Vamps."
"Alien" Salary
For her role in the first "Alien" movie, Sigourney Weaver was paid a relatively meager salary of $30,000. She was not contractually obligated to appear in a sequel. James Cameron, hot off the success of "The Terminator" was tapped to write and direct the sequel, which was called "Aliens." Cameron staunchly refused to do a sequel without Weaver. She ultimately negotiated an upfront salary of $1 million plus a percentage of the box office profits.
Sigourney returned to the franchise several more times. She was paid a base salary of $4 million for 1992's "Alien 3" and $11 million for 1997's "Alien: Resurrection."
Personal Life
Sigourney Weaver married stage director Jim Simpson in 1984. Over the course of their relationship, they have had one child together.
