Sigourney Weaver is an American actress and film producer, known for playing Ellen Ripley in the Alien franchise. Following her film debut as a minor character in Annie Hall, Weaver quickly came to prominence in 1979 with her first lead role as Ripley in Alien, subsequently reprising the role in its three sequels Aliens , Alien 3 , and Alien: Resurrection . Her 1986 Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for Aliens is considered a landmark in the recognition of science fiction, action, and horror genres, as well as a major step in challenging the gender role in cinema.