10 Secrets From The Set Of Ridley Scott's Alien

5. Sigourney Weaver Was Allergic To Her Sweat

Alien Lambert
20th Century Fox

Speaking of sweaty experiences on the Alien set, Ellen Ripley found herself shedding more than a few beads as she did everything she could to survive throughout the movie.

Sigourney Weaver didn't originally do all her own sweating on set, however. Glycerin was initially used to make it appear as though Ripley was perspiring when things got a bit intense. This would soon led to a bit of a problem for Weaver, though.

On her first day of shooting opposite one of the four cats playing Jones, Weaver assumed she was allergic after her skin began reacting badly to it. Fearing she would be recast if that was the case - it's easier to replace an actor than find four more identical cats, right? - it was likely quite the relief when she and the crew realised it was the glycerin that was causing the issue.

Had they not figured this out and just assumed Weaver was simply not cat-friendly, perhaps another star would have been brought in to play the iconic role.

 
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Lifts rubber and metal. Watches people flip in spandex and pretends to be other individuals from time to time...