Sigourney Weaver: In the United States as elsewhere, tyranny is not far away

Paris Match: At the Oscars ceremony, you appeared very maternal with Grogu. However, this doesn’t reflect your role as a leader of the resistance in the movie…

Sigourney Weaver: I play a skilled pilot of the rebellion who tirelessly hunts down the hierarchs of the New Republic who secretly collude with The Empire. This is not what one would call a “maternal” woman, but when she meets Grogu and The Mandalorian for the first time, she immediately develops a protective instinct. On set, during takes, where you can have up to five different versions of Grogu, this character is incredible, massive for us actors. I challenge you to find someone who won’t eventually fall for his charm.

You’ve been part of the greatest science fiction sagas, from “Alien” to “Avatar.” What is the unique aspect of the “Star Wars” universe that has endured for over forty years?

It surely speaks to our shared past, of a childhood spent devouring films in movie theaters or TV series. Each with its own era, from classic Saturday night films to current platforms. But the pleasure remains the same. The serials, the westerns, these intrepid heroes who always emerged victorious, when I was young, I too was nourished by this. It’s the DNA of the series for seven years on Disney+. But, arriving in the cinema, Jon Favreau wanted to break away from that and take The Mandalorian towards something else…The film is never in the excess of action. And you will be surprised by its meditative aspect. Even though it remains grand spectacle.

The film and the series return to the roots of George Lucas’ universe, from 1977…

Exactly. There is a very traditional, very seventies side to the film, and that’s what gives it all its charm. We are in the middle of a western, with modern technical means. The film is scattered with homages to the early episodes of the saga but it has its own atmosphere. It’s a different experience.

“Star Wars” spoke of war in a time of pacification. “The Mandalorian and Grogu” evokes fragile peace in a world in chaos. Is science fiction more political than ever?

It’s obvious. The film takes place in a young republic that still must confront the rebels who remain attached to the dictatorship of The Empire, to the worst partisans. The rebellion’s fight says everything about our time: to continue to stand up to protect democracy, to live in a decent, just, and fair world, that respects all differences. What we are experiencing today is so close to what is being told on screen… In the United States, as elsewhere, tyranny is not far away. Freedom and respect must prevail.

From James Cameron to Roman Polanski, you have never chosen between blockbusters and more personal works. What drives you to say yes to a project?

It goes beyond the strict quality of the role or the talent of the director. It’s more about the overall atmosphere. I learned this from my studies in literature. I am attracted by a context, an author, characters, a breath…whatever the nature may be. I am proud of all the films I have made and will continue to defend them and encourage younger generations to go see them. In a theater. That’s where cinema comes to life.

Your characters are often strong women, ahead of their time, from “Working Girl” to “Gorillas in the Mist”…

They are often women who carry their own battle, heroines or traitresses. But I don’t have the time or much desire to study my filmography. [She laughs.] I prefer to be surprised by the proposals. Even to accept James Cameron’s invitation to embody a teenager in “Avatar”! Actors have the chance to live diametrically opposed experiences. Every morning is a pure discovery in this profession.

You have strong ties to France, you speak our language well, you have filmed here several times. Where does this attachment come from?

I spent long moments, as a child, in the south of France where my parents had an apartment. And I discovered a magical world there: the markets, the food, the culture. I remember the Côte d’Azur, Beaulieu-sur-Mer, that bucolic atmosphere… I have been speaking your language since I was 6 years old. And I will never thank my parents enough for that. For me, France remains a country where people help each other, where social fabric means something.

You participated in an episode of the series “Ten Percent”. What memories do you have of that?

I loved it, even though I had to speak in French, which is still a challenge for me. But I have been a big fan of the series from the beginning. I said yes the moment it was offered to me, without even having read a line!