Sigourney Weaver: New TV role is ‘delicious’

>> actress sigourney weaver she makes her television debut in "political animals" playing secretary of state. the pressure of balancing her personal life and career sometimes becomes too pruch.

>> forget the press conference. we'll draw a line.

>> you could have gotten yourself fired for that kind of behavior in front of the president. he's not just a boss. he's not your floor manager at chili's, he is the president of the united states . whether or not this administration is trading on my popularity is not what matters now. all that matters now are the three scared, innocent people sitting in a jail cell in tehran wondering what their country is doing to help them. are we clear?

>> sigourney weaver , good morning to you.

>> good morning. how are you?

>> your first television series . what made you take this lead?

>> the series is about this political family that was in the white house and sort of wants to get back in there again. it's so delicious and juicy. i don't know. i haven't ever been offered material that's like this, you know. a very gifted politician with a strong moral compass . she brings the right kind of leadership to washington , which is part of the appeal to me, because i think more women should run. she's also the matriarch of a very vivid, dysfunctional family . we have such a wonderful cast. in the hands of our creator, the scripts are just -- i would have to say it's like after a couple of years of eating salad, suddenly to get a big juicy steak. it's really been great.

>> a lot of people may recognize some contours of this character. shall we say your character is a former first lady, a former presidential candidate, and a current secretary of state.

>> that's where the comparison ends.

>> okay. some people are going to think is this supposed to be hillary clinton .

>> certainly, you know, we are inspired by mrs. clinton, who is such a remarkable woman and a great secretary of state. she was a great senator for new york state. but it's also inspired by different families who have been in the white house , who want to get back in. there's an idea in spite of how brilliant and talented these people are, being in the white house kind of -- you pay a price for that. it sort of becomes part of your system and you have to get back in there again. it is a tribute to politicians like mrs. clinton, but it's both sides. it's the light and the dark.

>> i know a lot of reporters say to you that you are known for playing strong women. but you look at it a little bit differently?

>> you know, i feel women are strong. look at you, you're my height, 6' tall practically. i'm surrounded by women in my life and in the world who have jobs, who take care of their families, who support their communicates, who champion causes. there's so much we do. i've always felt if you really want to get something done, you ask a mother to do it. so i feel like that's the kind of energy i feel washington needs. i think part of my desire to do this show was to show what that kind of women's energy can do in washington , which is kind of stuck.

>> you have had so many great memorable, unforgettable roles. is there one in particular you hold closest to you that you love the most?

>> right now i have to say it's elaine. usually i'm playing people who i have to say in a nice way are quite eccentric or they have been put on the periphery for some reason. this the first character i've ever played who is so in the mainstream. you could say she was like the perfect girl scout who grew up to be this woman with a great passion to serve the public. and so it's been wonderful to play that, because that's actually not an easy thing for me to do.

>> you make it look easy all the time. sigourney weaver , it 's wonderful to meet you.

>> nice to meet you, too.

>> remind everybody "political animals" premiers this sunday, 10:00 , 9:00 central time on our sister network