Sigourney Weaver, who blazed the trail for powerful female actors, given honour

Sigourney Weaver (Ian West/PA)

Sigourney Weaver is being given the Golden Lion for lifetime achievement by the Venice International Film Festival following her blazing the “trail for powerful female actors”.

The 74-year-old American actress – known for the science fiction film series Alien, Dian Fossey biopic Gorillas In The Mist and epic movie Avatar across her five-decade career – will be formally presented with the honour at the 81st edition of the annual event later this year.