Sigourney Weaver, the iconic actress known for her roles in the “Alien” and “Ghostbusters” movies, recently made an appearance on the talk show hosted by David Letterman. This was not Weaver’s first time on the show, as she had previously appeared many years ago alongside Paul Riser. However, this time she was the main guest.
During her interview, Letterman brought up an interesting topic—a motel in a town called Intercourse. The conversation took an amusing turn as Weaver discussed her experience staying at the motel, which had a humorous name, and even received a plaque to commemorate her visit.
The conversation then shifted to Weaver’s unique first name. She revealed that she had chosen the name Sigourney from a book when she was thirteen years old. Her given name was Susan Alexandra, but she felt the need for a longer name as she grew taller. Weaver found inspiration in “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, where the name Sigourney appeared briefly. With its long structure and numerous vowels, she decided to adopt it as her own.
As the interview progressed, Letterman couldn’t help but notice Weaver’s distinctive earrings and swan candle holders on the set. Their conversation took a lighthearted turn as they jokingly speculated about catching the earrings in their mouths. The lively banter and humor kept the audience engaged throughout the segment.
Letterman delved deeper into Weaver’s background, discussing her family’s interesting naming traditions. Weaver mentioned that her father’s name was Sylvester but went by Pat, while her mother’s name was Desiree, but everyone called her Liz. She also mentioned her uncle Winstead, who was fondly referred to as Doodles. It seemed that unique names ran in the family, and Weaver expressed gratitude to her parents for giving her such a distinctive name.
The conversation then led to Weaver’s impressive career as an actress and her connections to the world of television. Weaver shared that her father, Sylvester Pat Weaver, used to work in this very building and ran NBC in the early 1950s. He was responsible for conceptualizing shows like The Today Show, The Tonight Show, and even The Tomorrow Show. Letterman expressed admiration for her family’s contributions to the television industry.
As the interview continued, Weaver reminisced about her college years. She attended Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York, for a year before transferring to Stanford University in California. At Stanford, she primarily studied English but also had the opportunity to be part of a unique human biology program where students could live alongside primates. Weaver, however, opted not to do this.
The conversation took an unexpected turn as Weaver revealed some amusing anecdotes from her college days. She spoke about wearing elf costumes with her boyfriend and even throwing pies at each other as part of a course in parallel language. The course explored alternative ways of communication, and Weaver seemed to fondly recall these eccentric experiences.
Towards the end of the interview, Weaver discussed her famous role in the “Alien” film franchise. Letterman inquired about the possibility of another installment, to which Weaver responded positively. She mentioned that the alien character, which she battled with on-screen, was played by a talented actor named Tom Woodruff. Weaver shared a humorous incident during the filming process when she overheard the director instructing Woodruff, referring to him as “Tom.” This led to a comical exchange about how the audience might not find the name “Tom” very intimidating for the menacing alien creature.
The interview wrapped up on a light note, with Letterman mentioning the release of Weaver’s latest film, which he jokingly referred to as a big summer blockbuster. The audience got a glimpse of the entertaining and dynamic interaction between Letterman and Weaver, making for an enjoyable and engaging talk show segment.
In conclusion, Sigourney Weaver‘s appearance on David Letterman‘s talk show was filled with laughter, intriguing anecdotes, and glimpses into her life and career. Their witty conversation and lively rapport made for an entertaining and memorable interview. Weaver’s charm and enthusiasm shone through, leaving the audience eagerly anticipating her future projects.
