Sigourney Weaver on the Midterm Elections: ‘Sisters, We Will Take Our Rights Back’

Sigourney Weaver used her ELLE Women in Hollywood speech at tonight’s Getty Center ceremony to make a powerful point: Now is not the time, following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, to lose faith in your power as a woman—especially not with midterm elections coming up.

While accepting her Legends Award, Weaver reflected on what she has learned in her acting career about power and women’s broader ability to push for change for the better.

Her You Again co-star and friend Kristen Bell, summed it up in her introduction ahead of Weaver’s speech: “If I’ve learned anything, it’s to pay attention to what Sigourney Weaver has to say, because she knows what she’s talking about.”

In her speech, Weaver delivered, telling the crowd: “This fall, we have a lot to accomplish in our country. Doors that we broke down 50 years ago have been slammed in our faces. Endangering families, hurting women all over this country. It is unacceptable. But, you know, we have an amazing opportunity in the next few weeks.”

“Yes, we may be feeling frustrated and furious as individuals, but if we get it on, sisters, we will take our rights back,” she continued. “We will pass the ERA. And we will pass laws that absolutely guarantee our rights for all time.”

Here, read Weaver’s speech in full:

Thank you, Kristen, it’s so generous, I appreciate you coming out tonight for me. I’m so excited to be here with everyone and to hear what everyone has to say. My speech is a little more shallow. I think if I open the gate and let the truth flow out, we would all be drowned (laughs). Since I’ve been in the business 40 years…I have always absolutely forgotten, just like childbirth, all the shit, all the disrespect, and cruelty. That was how I got through it, with a lot of therapy, a great husband, and a wonderful daughter, and great friends.

I want to thank Kristen for being here for me and ELLE for this wonderful recognition. It’s so encouraging at my age to see a sizzle reel like that and realize I have done all these things. I was very lucky. I only found out that I was going to be a legend a couple of days ago, and since then I’ve been pondering questions like, “Can I still wear sweatpants? Can I use this to get out of emptying the dishwasher? Do I tell people that I’m a legend, or do I just hint around?” Anyway, I’m thrilled to be here with all of you, so many creative, powerful, groundbreaking women.

I want to say to my fellow honoree sisters: Each of you is so exceptional, and so gifted, and you’re shaking up this industry into something that is so much more representative, so much more honest, and so much more daring, transforming the business as you go. I’m thrilled to be honored to with each and every one of you, and I hope we all get to have lunch someday. I feel like we’re a sisterhood tonight, we’re here to listen to each other and support each other.

I have a movie coming out this Friday about another sisterhood. It’s called Call Jane. It’s based on a true story about a group of women in the ’60s who ran a clandestine abortion clinic, often performing the abortions themselves. It stars the amazing Liz Banks, Wunmi Mosaku, and a great ensemble including myself, and is directed brilliantly by Phyllis Nagy. I would dearly love all of you to go see it and tell your friends. We’ve gotta do well this weekend.

And now, just a few thoughts now that I’m a legend. I realized recently that I would have five projects coming out the year I was turning 73. They’re all really different and I’m really proud of all of them. And I couldn’t help noticing a few facts:

1) My gender did not keep me from playing a hero.

2) Age is not keeping me from playing competent women who still have a sex life.

3) I play a 14-year-old in Avatar 2, one of the most fun things I’ve ever done. And I can’t help wondering, when John Wayne was my age, did he ever get asked to play a 14-year-old? I don’t think so (laughs).

This fall, we have a lot to accomplish in our country. Doors that we broke down 50 years ago have been slammed in our faces, endangering families and hurting women all over this country. It is unacceptable. But we have an amazing opportunity in the next few weeks in these elections.

Michael Moore said he’s more optimistic about these midterms than any election we’ve seen in years. He says, “Bring five or 10 friends to vote with you. Make it a party. Grab your friends and relatives. Especially those kids who have just turned 18, because this is the greatest gift to be able to give. Take them to the polls to vote.”

You know, a long time ago, I played someone who kicked ass and tried to save the world. In fact, I played her about 400 times, that’s just a rough estimate. And because I have this special unique experience, I know that if one woman can stop the apocalypse, think of what all of us can do. Think about what the women of Kansas did—defeating that abortion ban by a whopping 59 percent. It’s been really infuriating and difficult for women in this country, but I know that if we stay together, we will pass the ERA. And we will pass laws that absolutely guarantee our rights for all time.

Thank you very much.