Sigourney Weaver won the Golden Lion Lifetime Achievement Award at the 81st Venice Film Festival. The organizers presented the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the opening ceremony on Wednesday night.
Weaver, of course, is famous for movies such as “Alien,” “Avatar,” and “Gorillas in the Mist.” They honored her for her 45-year career. They presented the award ahead of the world premiere of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.”
In her acceptance speech, Weaver appeared utterly overcome with incredulity and joy. “I’m sure I’m dreaming,” she said, per Deadline. “I want to roar.” She thanked the festival for the jet-fuel of encouragement, adding “I can’t believe I’m here.”
“Now my Golden Lion will accompany me everywhere, which means he will sit next to me on the plane, next to me in the gondola, and my husband will have to get used to having it in bed with us.” Weaver said.
Additionally, the tribute featured an unexpected video message from James Cameron, director of the hit film “Avatar.” Cameron congratulated Weaver, expressing, “I feel blessed to know her as a friend. Each new project has only strengthened our working bond of trust and respect.”
Cameron remembered Weaver’s first Academy Award nomination for “Aliens,” and said she is “way overdue for that Oscar.”
Camille Cottin, the French actress who starred alongside Weaver in “Call My Agent,” said: “She’s confronted everything from aliens to ghosts to gorillas to extra-large soldier pads, as well as glass ceilings and gender stereotypes.” Added Cottin: “And she’s so soft-spoken, so gentle, and she doesn’t give a fuck about the male gaze.”
At an August 28 news conference, Sigourney Weaver became emotional when a reporter connected her “Alien” character Ripley to U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Weaver teared up as she explained how she reacted to the possibility that her work might have helped to inspire Harris’ rise: She said, “We’re all so excited about Kamala, and to think for one moment that my work would have anything to do with her rise makes me very happy because it’s true. I have so many women who come and thank me.”
She then joked, “Sorry, I need my vodka,” as quoted by Variety.
ANI