According to Reuters.com, "Sigourney Weaver was an unknown 28-year-old stage actress when she landed the role of Ripley in director Ridley Scott’s now classic sci-fi horror movie 'Alien.'" Weaver told the press, “I thought it was a small movie. It had a tiny cast and a brilliant young director. I liked the part ... I didn’t think I was going to play Henry V, but I thought I can play Ripley.