KRISTEN Wiig talks about appearing in the ensemble sci-fi comedy Paul and getting to work with Sigourney Weaver.

She also reflects on how the film may offend Christians, what it was like working with a CGI character and what to expect from her next comedy, Bridesmaids.

Q. Were you as big a fan of science fiction as some of your co-stars?
Kristen Wiig: I am but I’m not a huge fan. Of course I grew up watching Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica, but I was never obsessed with it. I’ve definitely got a lot more educated after hanging out with these guys! I know a lot more now [laughs].

Q. You did get to work with the queen of sci-fi, Sigourney Weaver. How was that for you?
Kristen Wiig: It was definitely a big moment for everyone. On the day she showed up we were like: “Is she here yet?” And everyone was super excited. I think everyone had a little crush on her. But she’s gorgeous! And she’s an icon, especially for these guys who grew up with Aliens.

Q. Did you all have fun playing around with the iconic Aliens line?
Kristen Wiig: Well, it’s Blythe [Danner] who actually gets to say it but it was funny watching them. They did have a conversation saying: “How should I say it?” And Sigourney was like: “I said it like this [in Aliens].” Sigourney advised Blythe her a bit, so it was interesting to then hear Blythe say it to Sigourney and then punch her in the face!

Q. How was getting to wrap your tongue around some of the fruitier dialogue your character is asked to say?
Kristen Wiig: Oh yeah, that was fun. We would have serious conversations thinking about new swear words. It was mostly on the page but they also wanted some more PG versions as well! They wanted different alternates to see what would work.

Q. What was it like working with a character who often wasn’t there because he’s CGI?
Kristen Wiig: Well, we often had Joe Lo Truglio [who also plays O’Reilly in the movie] standing in. But it is challenging to have an emotional scene with a tennis ball that’s on a pole. But you just have to pretend I guess. It was green, I suppose, so it helped.

Q. Was it a good acting exercise?
Kristen Wiig: Yeah, I guess so, because you’re not working against anything. There’s no one there giving you a facial expression or anything, so you really have to make it look like you’re talking to someone. But at the same time, they were very specific about where his eyes would be and where he would be if he was shooting.

Q. Are you expecting any kind of backlash from angry Christians?
Kristen Wiig: I don’t know. I’m sure that people will judge it by other things. I mean, certain people get offended by things that people don’t mean to offend them by, so I’m sure some people will have a problem with it. I hope not because the movie certainly isn’t mean-spirited and I don’t really think it makes a comment on it being a negative thing to be a Christian. I think it just asks the question. If anyone is going to be offended, then it’ll probably be in the States.

Q. Is it harder for a female comedian to be successful? And how was it being one of the few women on this set?
Kristen Wiig: I don’t know if I even consider myself a comedian really. I mean I do comedic acting in some films and dramatic in others. But as far as this film and being with people like Joe Lo Truglio, who I’ve known for a while and who I’m such a huge fan of, and Bill [Hader], who I’ve also known forever, as well as Nick Frost and Simon Pegg, it was a lot easier than it should have been. I just walked on set and immediately became friends. Also, working with Greg [Mottola], who I’ve also worked with before [on Adventureland]… he’s so open to your take on things and your version of things and letting you kind of find it yourself. He’s definitely an actor’s director. So, it was the most fun, easy environment.

Q. What was it like shooting in New Mexico? Did you sometimes feel like you were out in the middle of nowhere?
Kristen Wiig: Oh yeah. And the weather was completely different. I’m from New York and the weather there [in New Mexico] is probably different from anywhere in the country. It changes so fast. It can be so hot one day and then you’ll just see this black cloud in the distance and you’ve got to wait it out, it then pours down and it’s gone. But there will be lightning and the sun is out. We had a hale storm in the middle of summer. We also had to wear winter clothes sometimes. And with the altitude our bodies were like: “What is happening?”

Q. Do you believe in aliens?
Kristen Wiig: I don’t know that there isn’t because I haven’t travelled to the end of the universe to check it out but sure, I guess? I can’t imagine we’re the only people here. But at the same time I’ve never seen one! Or maybe I have and I don’t know!

Q. What’s next for you?
Kristen Wiig: I have a movie called Bridesmaids and I’ve been doing the Saturday Night Live stuff.

Q. Can you tell us a little bit about Bridesmaids?
Kristen Wiig: Yeah, I wrote it with my friend Annie Mumolo. It’s basically about two best friends from childhood and one of them gets engaged and the other one, myself, feels a little left behind. Her friend has this great life and new friends, one of which is in the wedding, with whom she butts heads. It’s about friendship and letting go and new friends and old friends and planning the wedding.

Q. Is it like a Hangover for girls?
Kristen Wiig: That’s been going around! But I personally don’t see it like that. But people are describing it that way I think because it’s a movie with a mostly female cast and it’s a little on the wild side, I guess. But the characters are flawed and how women really are. But people are calling it that as well.

Read our review of Paul

Read our interview with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost

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