Picture a movie hero. What do you see? For most of film history, heroes were men. Women played supporting roles. They waited to be rescued. Sigourney Weaver, born on October 8, 1949, helped change that. In 1979, she starred in the science fiction movie Alien. Her character, Ellen Ripley, was the last crew member standing. Ripley was tough, smart, and resourceful. She solved problems on her own. The movie became a huge hit. What made Ripley remarkable was not just her bravery. The role had originally been written for a man. The director, Ridley Scott, decided a woman could play it just as well. This decision was unusual for Hollywood at the time. Weaver went on to star in three more Alien films. She also appeared in Ghostbusters and the movie Avatar. She received three Academy Award nominations. Her success helped open doors for other women in action movies. Today, female heroes are common in films. But in 1979, Ripley was one of the very first.