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You know that you're part of a Spielberg production when you've got some aliens involved, but you really know when you're sitting there at a table read, and they say, 'Steven really wanted it this way.'

'Alien' is a C film elevated to an A film, honestly, by it being well done and a great monster. If it hadn't had that great monster, even with a wonderful cast, it wouldn't have been as good, I don't think.

It used to annoy and frustrate me to have to come in and audition. I would say to my agents, 'Haven't they seen this film and this film and this film? They know what I look like... They must.' Until I directed an episode of 'Roswell.' And all of a sudden, I realized why that was such an important thing.

I don't think there have been many alien movies where the actors have actually seen the aliens.

I think I would not be described as a character actor in that I don't take on characteristics which are very alien to me.

There were so many people who wanted me for their films.

The most amazing thing you can ask for as an actor from a director is that you're being seen, that the choices made are informed.

I was always realistic about the fact I wanted to be involved with big films.

For 'Prometheus,' I came back to a very simple question that haunted me that appears in the first 'Alien,' and no one answered in subsequent Alien films: who was the 'Space Jockey' - the big guy in the seat? If you really go into that, it becomes the basis for a pretty interesting story.

An agent said he didn't know what to do with me, I wouldn't be able to play any parts but lesbians and aliens.