Sigourney Weaver's Colbert Questionert

Summary

---

Podcast Summary:

The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert – Sigourney Weaver's Colbert Questionert
Date: January 20, 2026
Host: Stephen Colbert
Guest: Sigourney Weaver

---

Episode Overview

In this episode, Stephen Colbert sits down with Sigourney Weaver, star of Avatar: Fire and Ash, for the infamous Colbert Questionert—a series of probing, rapid-fire questions designed to reveal a guest's soul and psyche through humor and candor. The conversation ranges from nostalgic childhood memories to whimsical observations about life, with Weaver’s wit and sincerity shining throughout.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Best Sandwich

• Sigourney’s Choice: Cheddar cheese and tomato sandwich on white toast.
• Memory Attached: After a grueling screen test for Alien, it was the "most delicious food I’ve ever had in my life," marking the momentous occasion of landing her iconic role.

  “I was so starving. And that’s the sandwich I ordered. And it was the most delicious food I’ve ever had in my life.” — Sigourney Weaver (03:15)

2. First Concert Experience

• The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl (Age 12):
  • Vivid memories of "girls screaming all around me," yet not really hearing the band.
  • She is captured in Ron Howard’s Beatles documentary thanks to archive footage from the event.

  “My hair is huge because I put it on, you know, beer cans all day, straightened it… all these girls are screaming.” — Sigourney Weaver (05:32)

3. Scariest Animal

• "Man. And I didn’t say woman."
  Colbert and Weaver both acknowledge the pointed, humorous undertone in this response.

  "No, you didn't. I noticed that." — Stephen Colbert (06:37)

4. Bananas vs. Apples or Oranges

• Weaver answers with playful literalism: "Bananas."
  Judges (i.e., Colbert) accept it.

  “Judges. They will allow it.” — Stephen Colbert (06:47)

5. Fan Encounters and John Lennon Letter

• Too shy to ask for autographs, but wrote a many-page letter to John Lennon at age twelve, left at a restaurant he frequented.
  • She jokes about the absurdity and intensity of her youthful fandom.
  • Vivid recollection of seeing the Beatles’ limo after the concert, lying awake in excitement afterward.

  “Dear John. It was like five pages, front and back… I hope they threw it away.” — Sigourney Weaver (07:08)

6. Thoughts on the Afterlife

• Recent grief from losing friends leads to reflection.
• Shares a comforting image from friend Doug McGrath: heaven as a "big, cozy bar," full of joy and familiar faces.

  “I keep expecting them to walk back in. I just don’t understand where they’ve gone.” — Sigourney Weaver (09:07)
  "He was really sure it was heaven… a big, cozy bar, and everyone having the most wonderful time." (09:21)

7. Favorite Action Movie

• Classic Pick: The Great Escape
• Modern Guilty Pleasure: John Wick 4
  • Playful back-and-forth with Colbert about casting and which film "John Wick 4" actually is.

  “And John Wick four.” — Sigourney Weaver (10:13)
  “Do you know what they could have used in The Great Escape? John Wick.” — Stephen Colbert (11:04)

8. Travel Preferences and Sensory Experiences

• Window or Aisle: Window
• Favorite Smell: New puppy
• Least Favorite Smell: New puppy (jokingly, but then settles on "probably hearts").

9. Earliest Memory

• Weaver recounts a tragic accident with a baby chick on her family’s farm, instilling a life-long empathy and responsibility for living things.

  “I held it very tightly so it wouldn’t fall… it doesn’t take much to kill a tiny little chick. I cried and cried and cried.” — Sigourney Weaver (12:30)

10. Cats or Dogs

• Firmly dogs, citing her “new puppy” once again.

11. Only One Song for the Rest of Your Life

• "Summer in the City"

  “Hot town, Summer in the city. Oh, nice.” — Stephen Colbert (13:45)

12. Regrets and Alternate Histories

• Colbert and Weaver compare career origins: his at Second City, hers at Yale School of Drama.
  • Weaver playfully suggests she should have chosen comedy and improv at Second City.

  “Yeah. That's where I should have gone instead of Yale.” — Sigourney Weaver (14:02)

13. The Number Guessing Game

• Colbert’s playful tradition: “What number am I thinking of?”
  • Weaver guesses 8, then 4 (only one guess allowed). Colbert maintains the game's integrity.

  “What number am I thinking of?” — Stephen Colbert (14:47)
  “Eight.” — Sigourney Weaver (14:53)

14. Life in Five Words

• Weaver’s answers: "Forest, ocean, garden, family, friends. Dog."
  • She humorously acknowledges that's six words.

  “I know. That’s six.” — Sigourney Weaver (15:34)
  “I'll allow it.” — Stephen Colbert (15:41)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Starstruck Childhood:
  “Honestly, I think we both went home and just lay on our backs and looked at the ceiling for 24 hours.” — Sigourney Weaver (08:06)

• On Finding Joy in the Afterlife:
  “He was really sure it was heaven… a big, cozy bar.” — Sigourney Weaver (09:21)

• On Early Trauma and Empathy:
  “And then you get very worried about hurting anything for the rest of your life, so…” — Sigourney Weaver (12:47)

---

Important Timestamps

• [02:38] – The Colbert Questionert begins
• [03:15] – Best sandwich and Alien audition story
• [04:29] – Beatles concert memory
• [06:23] – Scariest animal: "Man."
• [07:08] – Letter to John Lennon and fan stories
• [09:07] – Thoughts on the afterlife
• [09:59] – Favorite action movie(s)
• [12:30] – Earliest memory: Chick story
• [13:32] – The one song: "Summer in the City"
• [14:02] – Colbert and Weaver on drama school vs. improv
• [14:47] – Colbert’s number guessing tradition
• [15:28] – Life in five (six) words

---

Tone & Atmosphere

• The exchange is playful, warm, and occasionally poignant.
• Weaver’s openness and gentle humor invite empathy, while Colbert’s wry wit guides the conversation.
• The mood fluctuates between laughter, nostalgia, and deeper reflection, encapsulating the spirit of Colbert’s signature segment.

---

Perfect for fans of quick, personal interviews, this episode offers a revealing and heartwarming portrait of Sigourney Weaver—one memorable answer at a time.

Transcript

[IXL Advertiser]

The holidays are behind us and school routines are back. Now is the time to help your kids start the new semester strong. IXL helps students refresh what they learned in the fall so they head into the new year feeling confident and prepared with new units and new goals. IXL is the simplest way to build better habits and stay on top of lessons without the stress. As teachers dive into new material, kids can practice those exact same skills at home to make sure the lessons really stick. IXL is an award winning platform covering math, language arts, science and social studies for Pre K through 12th grade. It's personalized, interactive and actually fun. Keep your kids motivated for the second half of the year at ixl.com don't miss out. One in four students in the US are learning with IXL. IXL is used in 96 of the top 100 school districts in the US make an impact on your child's learning. Get IXL now and listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ixlearning.com audio visit ixlearning.com audio to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price.

[Tommy John Advertiser]

Guys, it's no use putting it off. The best time for an underwear refresh is now. Tommy John underwear is designed for a perfect fit that stays put all day. They're zero chafe, thanks to four times more stretch than competing brands and their innovative horizontal quickdraw fly is a game changer. With over 30 million pairs sold. There are thousands of men out there more comfortable than you. Don't settle for less. Go to tommyjohn.com today for 25% off your first order with code comfort. That's tommyjohn.com, code comfort. Tommy John Comfort perfected.

[Sigourney Weaver]

It's the Late Show Poncho with Stephen Colbert.

[Stephen Colbert]

Hey, everybody. You know who this is is the star of Avatar Fire and Ash, Sigourney Weaver. Sigourney, you know I always like talking to you. I'm a big fan. But you're also just a delightful company. And I often think I wish I spent more time with Sigourney Weaver. I'd like to get to know her better. But there's hardly ever time for the things we want in this life. And so instead we've come up with something called the Colbert Questionnaire. Okay, The Colbert Questionnaire. The people know. They know. It's a series of psychodynamic investigative tools that penetrate straight to the heart, soul and psyche of a person so that they are completely revealed to the world. You will have no secrets when this is over. Sigourney Weaver, are you willing to be known?

[Sigourney Weaver]

I hope so. I hope I have a soul.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay, let's find out. Sigourney Weaver, what is the best sandwich?

[School Spirits Narrator]

Oh.

[Stephen Colbert]

These are tough questions. We don't kid around.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Starting with the tough ones, eh?

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Well, I have to say my favorite is a cheddar cheese and tomato sandwich on white toast. Because I had just finished this long day of doing scenes for Alien. In my. In my screen test, Ridley Scott had built a whole set at Shepperton. And I spent the whole day doing this fabulous run through. But then I was going to, you know, have to find out if I got it. I was the only one they were auditioning. But anyway, I got back to my hotel room and I was so starving. And that's the sandwich I ordered. And it was the most delicious food I've ever had in my life.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow. And wait a second. Okay, so you've just. You've essentially auditioned for a part that only you are auditioning for at this.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Point, as far as I knew.

[Stephen Colbert]

And you're going back to the hotel, you have this delicious sandwich. When does he call?

[Sigourney Weaver]

He actually doesn't call for three days. And I'm back in New York and I'm in my living room listening to Lena Horne. I've got the world on a string and the phone rings and it's Ridley Scott telling me I have the part.

[Stephen Colbert]

I actually happen to have. There you are. There you are. Is Ripley right there?

[Sigourney Weaver]

That's right.

[Stephen Colbert]

I just always keep it back there. Okay, what was the first concert you attended?

[Sigourney Weaver]

The Beatles. No, at the Hollywood bowl.

[Stephen Colbert]

What year?

[Sigourney Weaver]

1962.

[Stephen Colbert]

Is that right? No, that's too early. They were here at 64.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Okay, then I'm just trying to think. I was 12 and I was at the Hollywood Bowl. Girls screaming all around me. You couldn't hear them at all.

[Stephen Colbert]

My sister saw them in D.C. on the feast of the Assumption.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

And they had to get special dispensation from my mom to go to the Beatles because their brothers were saying, you're gonna go to hel. Missing mass at the Feast of the Assumption, which is a holy day of obligation. And my mom said, no, no, no, no. I take my parental consent or whatever. You get to go. And they said they couldn't hear a thing. Yeah, could not hear a damn thing.

[Sigourney Weaver]

All these girls screaming. It's like the Trojan Women.

[Stephen Colbert]

My sisters did not make that reference, but I'm sure they would agree. What do you Remember, other than the screaming.

[Sigourney Weaver]

I. The whole thing. I was at the very back of the Hollywood bowl and it's in Ron Howard's documentary about the Beatles. Because the Hollywood bowl went through all its archives and I suddenly get an email about 10 years ago saying, we think this is you. And there I am. My hair is huge because I put it on, you know, beer cans all day, straightened it, and I'm wearing my one nice dress and all these girls are screaming. And every now and then I go. I didn't really want to scream, but they all seemed so. I mean, honestly, it was so. But anyway, it's in the movie. That's fantastic. I know. It's weird, right?

[Stephen Colbert]

What is the scariest animal?

[Sigourney Weaver]

Man. And I didn't say woman.

[Stephen Colbert]

No, you didn't. I noticed that. I noticed that. Apples or oranges?

[Sigourney Weaver]

Bananas.

[Stephen Colbert]

Judges. They will allow it. They will allow it. Have you ever asked someone for their autograph?

[Sigourney Weaver]

I think I was too shy. But I did leave again for John Lennon. I wrote a several page letter on lavender stationery with purple ink. Dear John. It was like five pages, front and back. And I folded it up, I put an envelope and I dropped it off at this restaurant that I heard he went to. I really can't imagine what I said for four or five pages back in the front. Oh, my God, I hope they threw it away.

[Stephen Colbert]

Did you ever meet him?

[Sigourney Weaver]

No. But, you know, after the concert, I was walking home with a girl I'd met at the concert and we were walking on a grassy sort of thing in the middle of the road and their limo came by. And honestly, John went and Paul went. And I don't remember what the other two did because we were so excited that we'd come close, like 10ft away as the car went by, that. Honestly, I think we both went home and just lay on our backs and looked at the ceiling for 24 hours.

[Stephen Colbert]

I get it. I'm excited just hearing the story.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Yeah, I mean, it was. It was meant to be.

[Stephen Colbert]

Did you have like the. Did you have like any of the dolls or the board games or anything like that? My sisters had like the felt board where you could dress up the Beatles and stuff like that. They had everything.

[Sigourney Weaver]

No, but I did kind of fall in love with John because I read in a fan magazine that he used to work at the airport and for VIPs he made a plate of sandwiches. And just before he sent them out, he'd put his foot, his shoe in them and then put it back together and put it on the platter And I thought that was so cool. I know.

[Stephen Colbert]

You're an awful child. You were.

[Sigourney Weaver]

I know.

[School Spirits Narrator]

I know.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay. I knew they were a bad influence. What do you think happens when we die?

[Sigourney Weaver]

Oh, I wish I knew. I have lost three close friends in the last several years, and I keep expecting them to walk back in. I just don't understand where they've gone. But my friend Doug McGrath, who We lost three years ago, used to say that he was really sure it was heaven. Was a big, cozy bar, and you'd walk in and have, like, a wonderful drink, and you'd look around and you'd see all your best friends and family and everyone having the most wonderful time. And I think that would be very nice. I'd like to also go outside and not be in the bar all the time. Only at night.

[Stephen Colbert]

Favorite action movie?

[Sigourney Weaver]

Oh, Great Escape.

[Stephen Colbert]

Fantastic. Jim Garner.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Oh, I don't remember him. Oh, yes, I do.

[Stephen Colbert]

James Garner.

[Sigourney Weaver]

James Garner.

[Stephen Colbert]

James garner, yeah. The McDonald planist. You don't remember him in the movie. Steve McQueen. I'm throwing other people at you.

[Sigourney Weaver]

And John Wick four.

[Stephen Colbert]

Which one is he?

[Sigourney Weaver]

Oh, he's John Wick four. Is.

[Stephen Colbert]

But who is he in the Great Escape?

[Sigourney Weaver]

You're awful. What did I do? Because, you know, he wasn't in the Great Escape.

[Stephen Colbert]

I did not. That's why I'm confused.

[Sigourney Weaver]

John Wick four.

[Stephen Colbert]

John Wick four.

[Sigourney Weaver]

John Wick four. You know.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, John Wick four.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Thank you. I'll try to.

[Stephen Colbert]

I thought he was some, like, actor. Some British actor. I didn't know. John Wick 4. John Wick 4. No, I. John Wick. Of course. All the John Wicks.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Yeah. But for.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah. Do you know what they could have used in the Great Escape? John Wick. We would have gotten him out of there.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah. Window or aisle, madam?

[Sigourney Weaver]

Window.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay. Favorite smell?

[Sigourney Weaver]

New puppy.

[Stephen Colbert]

Least favorite smell.

[Sigourney Weaver]

New puppy. Probably hearts.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay. Earliest memory.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Oh, it's a bad one.

[Stephen Colbert]

It's a bad one.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Yeah. It wasn't my fault.

[Stephen Colbert]

What did you. Was it the Hindenburg?

[Sigourney Weaver]

No, not that old, am I?

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, no, not yet.

[Sigourney Weaver]

No. What happened was my parents, we lived on a farm, and we had a poultry farm on the farm. And when I was about two, I went over to the poultry farm because the little. We had pheasants, turkeys, and we were raising, incubating a new group of chicks. And so the man who was taking care of them said, hold out your hands. And he put a little chick in my hand. And then a chick started to try to, you know, get Away. And so I held it very tightly so it wouldn't fall. And I. I mean, it doesn't take much, you know, to kill a tiny little chick. I know. I know. I was upset, too. I mean, I cried and cried and cried.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, no.

[Sigourney Weaver]

You know.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, no.

[Sigourney Weaver]

And then you get very worried about hurting anything for the rest of your life, so.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, gosh. Wow.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Get that out of here.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry to have asked. I'm so. I apologize. Do we have a grief counselor standing by? Wow. That's an amazing story.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Yeah. I wish I had a lovely memory, but.

[Stephen Colbert]

No, it's very human memory.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Yes, it is.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yes. Cats. Cats or dogs?

[Sigourney Weaver]

Dogs. Okay. New puppy.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, very good. You only get to listen to one song for the rest of your life. What is it? You don't have to listen to it continually, but when you go to listen to music, this is the song you get. What would it be?

[Sigourney Weaver]

That's really a tough question.

[Stephen Colbert]

Hey, they don't call it the Colbert Easonair.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Summer in the city.

[Stephen Colbert]

Hot town. Summer in the city. Oh, nice. Yeah.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Yeah. I'm glad you like it.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah. I trained.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

Not at the Yale School of Drama, but I. But I trained.

[Sigourney Weaver]

I have a trained, in fact. You went to Second City.

[Stephen Colbert]

I went to Northwestern, and then I went to. Then I was at the Second City for many years.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Yeah. That's where I should have gone instead of Yale.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, yeah. Because you knew those Second City folks, too. You knew your Ackroyd's and your Murrays and your Rams.

[Sigourney Weaver]

But I would have had much more fun there.

[Stephen Colbert]

It was a lot of fun. It was like going to graduate school with a product at the end of every day, you had to go do something for the audience.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Really?

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah. It was really wonderful. Highly recommend it.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Never too late. Well, they'd be lucky to have you. Squarney Weaver.

[Sigourney Weaver]

I'd love to try.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow. I know people.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Hour would be fun.

[Sigourney Weaver]

It would be super fun.

[Stephen Colbert]

Sure. Just one show.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

With some. Like, Giants. I don't mean physically. I mean, you're. What number am I thinking of?

[Sigourney Weaver]

Between one and ten.

[Stephen Colbert]

What number am I thinking of?

[Sigourney Weaver]

Eight.

[Stephen Colbert]

No.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Four.

[Stephen Colbert]

Only one guess per.

[School Spirits Narrator]

No.

[Sigourney Weaver]

You know, 11.

[Stephen Colbert]

No, you're eight. You're thinking. I'm thinking of eight. That's interesting.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Eight's a good number.

[Stephen Colbert]

It is a wonderful number.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Switch could say, you're my guest. I'm going to say, sure, it was eight.

[Stephen Colbert]

It would not be fair to all the other people who have taken the Colbert questionnaire.

[IXL Advertiser]

Guessed it.

[Stephen Colbert]

Let's move on. Describe the rest of your life in five words.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Forest, ocean, garden. Family, friends. Dog. I know. That's six.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'll allow it.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Okay. Thank you.

[Stephen Colbert]

Congratulations. You are known. Thank you for listening to the late show pod show with Stephen Colbert. Just one more thing. If you want to see more of me, come to The Late Show YouTube channel for more clips and exclusives.

[IXL Advertiser]

I'm back.

[Sigourney Weaver]

I'm really back.

[School Spirits Narrator]

School spirits returns.

[Stephen Colbert]

Why am I here?

[Sigourney Weaver]

Not dead. Right.

[Stephen Colbert]

This place is an absolute death trap.

[Sigourney Weaver]

We need to get out of here now.

[School Spirits Narrator]

School Spirits new season streaming January 28th, only on Paramount Plus.

[IXL Advertiser]

I'm back.

[Sigourney Weaver]

I'm really back.

[School Spirits Narrator]

School spirits returns.

[Stephen Colbert]

Why am I here?

[Sigourney Weaver]

Not dead. Right.

[Stephen Colbert]

Disruption on this campus will not be.

[School Spirits Narrator]

Tolerated on January 28th.

[IXL Advertiser]

If I look crazy, it's because that's how I feel.

[Sigourney Weaver]

I don't know how to live in two worlds.

[School Spirits Narrator]

Secrets lurk. There are others beneath the surface.

[Sigourney Weaver]

They're not like us.

[Tommy John Advertiser]

We need to get out of here now.

[School Spirits Narrator]

School Spirits new season streaming January 28th, only on Paramount Plus.