The 1997 movie that gave Winona Ryder a serious case of imposter syndrome: “I couldn’t hold my own”
Winona Ryder said filming *Alien Resurrection* in 1997 left her feeling out of her depth beside Sigourney Weaver and the film’s special effects. Her experience shows how a demanding role can unsettle even an established actor, particularly when it involves confronting a personal fear.
A scene required Ryder to swim in a large tank while being pursued by aliens, an ordeal made more difficult by her near-drowning as a child. She recalled having an anxiety attack on the first day and thinking she would have to be replaced. The film received mixed reviews but made around $100 million in profit, and Ryder’s performance was widely praised.
In short
- Ryder felt she could not match Sigourney Weaver in *Alien Resurrection*.
- Filming an underwater scene triggered anxiety linked to a childhood near-drowning.
- The 1997 film made around $100 million in profit.
Explained simply
Alien Resurrection is the fourth film in the Alien science-fiction series, which follows people confronting deadly extraterrestrial creatures. Released in 1997, it starred Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley, the central character in the series, and Winona Ryder as Annalee Call, a member of the crew.
The production combined acting with elaborate sets and special effects, and included scenes involving water and the aliens. Ryder had nearly drowned as a child, making the underwater sequence particularly difficult for her. Her account offers background on the pressures performers can face when a role brings them into contact with a personal fear.
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