Sigourney Weaver took center stage on the opening night of the 2024 Venice Film Festival .

Prior to the world premiere of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” Weaver, renowned for her roles in films such as “Alien,” “Avatar” and “Gorillas in the Mist”, was honored with the Golden Lion for lifetime achievement, recognizing her exceptional contributions spanning 45 years in the film industry.

“I’m sure I’m dreaming,” she said on receiving the award. “Thank you for this jet fuel of encouragement.” She later said that her Golden Lion was “the most astonishing honor I can imagine,” adding that the statue would be “sitting next to me on the plane, it will be next to be in the gondola and my husband will have to get used to having it in bed with us.”

Before receiving the award, Weaver was surprised by a video message from James Cameron, the director of “Avatar”, who stated that she was “way overdue for that Oscar.”

Earlier that day, Weaver became emotional during the festival press conference when a reporter suggested that her groundbreaking portrayal of Ripley might have contributed to the foundations of female empowerment on screen, potentially paving the way for Kamala Harris to become U.S. president.

Weaver expressed her excitement about Kamala, and her voice quivered with emotion as she contemplated her potential influence. “To even think that my work could have played a role in her rise makes me truly happy, because it's the truth,” she shared. “I've had so many women come up to me and express their gratitude.”

Regarding Harris, she added, “It's been challenging since 2016, and we're all incredibly grateful for her.”