Sigourney Weaver Back In Sci-Fi Mode

(CBS)  With the "Alien" franchise and "Ghostbusters" under her belt, actress Sigourney Weaver is no stranger to science fiction fans.

Now she's back in sci-fi mode for Pixar's animated film "WALL*E," which topped this weekend's box office.

The movie is about the last robot left on Earth, programmed to clean up the planet, one trash cube at a time. He's one of thousands of robots sent by the Buy 'n Large corporation to clean up the planet while humans went on a luxury space cruise. Weaver plays the spaceship's computer.

---

Photos: Memorable Movie Robots

---

"I'm an advertising voice for the big corporation that is behind the Earth being a big garbage pile. And I also become a companion for Jeff, the captain, talking about Earth and what Earth used to be like," Weaver told Early Show co-anchor Julie Chen.

According to Weaver, it was writer/director Andrew Stanton's dream for her to do the role as an homage to the on board computer, MU-TH-R 182, in "Alien." Weaver was happy to oblige.

"I have always been such a big fan of Pixar and I love the way they have enchanting personal stories within a bigger context," she said. "I just fell in love with the story. And the characters are so charming and yet the story of the human race in this movie is very timely because they have to make a decision about whether to go back and take care of the planet. And I think it's -- it shows how resilient we are, how much we do want to take care of our planet, which is a great message for us all to hear. "

WALL*E may be a robot, but he's a robot with feelings who's looking for love in his lonely existence.

"There's a romance between WALL*E, who is this adorable, dirty, little sweet robot and Eve, who is this sleek, modern femme-fatale robot, an action hero like myself in the old days," she said. "She gets irritated and she just destroys things. I found her very admirable."

Weaver said that her work on the film was over much too quickly, but she enjoyed having a chance to develop her character.

"I start out as the voice of the corporation, but I end up really as a more intimate voice in the show. So even within the spindly little time I had, I found it very satisfying."

The busy actress was in Michigan recently to film the Lifetime television movie "Prayers For Bobby," based on a true story. In it she plays Mary Griffith, an ultra-conservative woman who becomes a gay rights activist after her closeted son commits suicide.

The actress also stars in director James Cameron's sci-fi thriller "Avatar" opposite Michelle Rodriguez and Tim Allen's feature directorial debut, "Crazy On The Outside." All three films are due out next year.

[whiskyrocker]

Good actress