Memories of the old school for Sigourney Weaver

Sigourney Weaver has never been one to bow to the usual demands that come with being a Hollywood A-lister.

It was her portrayal of the tough and uncompromising Ellen Ripley in Alien that made her name, and throughout her career she has tried to buck expectations.

"I feel so lucky that I got to play Ripley," says Weaver. "When it happened, a lot of women were taking on men's roles in real life, jobs that really had been off limits to them. Ripley was the same – an ordinary woman put in extraordinary circumstances."

Since the first Alien film was released back in 1979, Weaver has rarely been out of work and having turned 61 in October, it seems couldn't be happier.

"I cut out pictures of older women that I see in newspapers who are so alive, know so much and have lived so much. Why would you want to look like you haven't lived? Why would you want your face to be frozen? I don't get it," she says.

"I think there's a lot pressure from society to look young, but who are you kidding? How can you ever look the way you did when you were 20, if you can't move your face?"

In her latest film, a comedy called You Again, Weaver plays Ramona, a successful career woman who, jets in from Europe for the wedding of her niece and the son of her high school rival, Gail, played by Jamie Lee Curtis.

"I think Ramona is someone who is really trying to compensate for her past lacklustre years and so rolls into this town determined to convince everybody she has it all," says Weaver.

"I know people like that and it's a lot of work. Like everyone, I had the awkward high school experience, I was such a loser. Fortunately, some girls took pity on me, they took me under their wing, so I got to hang out with a lot of cool people eventually. And I married a very cool guy (the director, Jim Simpson). Being a late bloomer has its benefits.

"My dearest friends and I, we were such a mess for such a long time. I want girls to know that doesn't mean you'll be a mess forever, it will all work out."

It was only after reading English Literature at Stanford University that Weaver contemplated acting, attending Yale School of Drama alongside a young Meryl Streep. Theatre work led to a small role in Woody Allen's hit, Annie Hall, and a year later came her career-defining role in Alien.

In 1987, she was nominated for her first Oscar for its sequel, Aliens, and two years later was nominated for both Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her pitch-perfect portrayal of Dian Fossey in Gorillas In The Mist, and her screen-stealing role as an ambitious corporate executive in Working Girl.

She's since starred in films as diverse as The Ice Storm, The Village and Avatar and is one of a only a few older females who remain powerful players in Hollywood – although her 20-year-old daughter, Charlotte, remains unimpressed by her star status.

"I'm not sure she's crazy about having a mum who's a movie star," says Weaver. "I think it's a mixed bag. No matter where you go, there are people coming up and asking for an autograph. It doesn't surprise me that she doesn't want to be in the business. I love being a mother. It's hard work but I was lucky to have a wonderful husband who also took time off from his work so she always had one parent with her.

"I think those two things mean everything to me because it's such a nice balance to our profession. This sounds terrible but, although I've always felt Katharine Hepburn was a wonderful actress, to have four Oscars and no children is not worth it."

You Again is on general release.