Sigourney Weaver Details Challenging Role Given For ‘Avatar: The Way Of Water'

Sigourney Weaver has been around, taking on different roles. But at 72 years old, the veteran actress admits that her role in “Avatar: The Way of Water” was something that only a few people would give her because they knew her best.

Weaver originally took on the role of Dr. Grace Augustine in the 2009 film. This time around, she will take on a different role as Kiri, the adopted daughter of Jake (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldana).

In an interview with Elizbeth Banks for Interview magazine, Weaver explained how the role was the biggest stretch she has ever had to take on as an actor.

"So Avatar I can't really talk about, but I would say that it's the biggest stretch I get to play in every possible way," Weaver said to Banks. "I think if Jim Cameron didn't know me really well, he wouldn't have cast me as something as goofy as this. I had to work in a completely different way to play this character, a very physical way."

Considering Cameron and Weaver are not strangers to working together, something that dates back to “Alien” in 1986, the former knew that the veteran actress would be up to the challenge.

She looked younger, she had more energy, and she never quite stepped out of Kiri for our whole capture period. She had a glow on her face and lightness in her step and a fun spirit,” Cameron said to Empire Magazine some months back.

Prepping for the role, Weaver had to undergo rigorous training despite her age. This included "a lot of parkour, burpees and freediving.

Now, Weaver can hold her breath longer than six-and-a-half minutes. But what this proves is Weaver is ready for any challenge on the big screen – regardless of the age and conditions that come with it – for as long the one directing it knows her best.