Sigourney Weaver Snow | White

In 1997, Weaver took on the role of the wicked stepmother in Snow White: A Tale of Terror , a dark fantasy horror film produced by Universal Pictures. Directed by Michael Cohn, the film reimagined the classic fairy tale through the lens of a psychological horror story, heavily inspired by the Brothers Grimm’s original, darker narrative.

Opposite Weaver is Monica Keena as Lillian (Snow White), a more resilient and less naive heroine than the Disney version. She isn’t awakened by a kiss; the film’s climax is a brutal, physical showdown between stepmother and stepdaughter in a collapsing castle. This was Snow White for the post- Thelma & Louise and Basic Instinct era—where the female rivalry was bloody and primal. sigourney weaver snow white

For audiences accustomed to Weaver as the stoic, flame-throwing hero Ellen Ripley in Alien , casting her as a vain, jealous queen was a surprising but brilliant move. In A Tale of Terror , her character is named , not the traditional "Queen Grimhilde." Claudia is the beautiful, icy new stepmother who marries a widowed lord (Sam Neill) and grows dangerously obsessed with the magical heart of a forest creature that grants power. In 1997, Weaver took on the role of