Linda Hamilton Almost Retired Before She Landed One Big Role
Linda Hamilton, best known for her roles in The Terminator franchise and Resident Alien, admitted that she was about to retire before she got the role of a lifetime. Hamilton is set to appear in eight episodes of the final season of Netflix‘s hit show Stranger Things, which will premiere in 2025.
While talking about her upcoming role, Hamilton admitted that she doesn’t usually watch shows or movies that she acts in. In fact, it has been years since she has seen any of the Terminator films. She admitted, “Years. Yeah. I’m a reader. I don’t turn to the telly a lot. Certainly, I can watch something once, but I’m not watching something over and over again … the glory days? No. None of that.”
Linda Hamilton has been cast in ‘Stranger Things’
James Dittinger/Syfy/Everett Collection
Hamilton opened up about how she was thinking about retirement and was ready to slow down when she got the role in Stranger Things. She explained, “I literally felt like I was an actress getting my first meaningful part [with Stranger Things]. It’s funny, how it recycles. It’s not that I felt forgotten, but I was actually talking about retirement, not because there isn’t enough to do, but just I’m tired of being tough. My hip was hurting for a couple of years and I was like, ‘I’m just so tired of being tough, and I just want to be able to make plans and make sure I can be there,’ because actors never, ever can be there when they say they’re going to be there.”
Netflix/Everett Collection
She continued, “So I had complained to my agent. I was getting ready to do season three of Resident Alien. I was like, ‘Dude, I don’t even know if I’m going to get there. I hurt.’ (Laughs.) And he’s like, ‘Oh, you don’t mean that.’ When I said retirement, cut to two weeks or so later, Stranger Things called him and said, ‘Is Linda Hamilton available from June to June?’ And he went, ‘Yes.’ He didn’t even ask me.”
Syfy/Everett Collection
Of course, she said that she is very happy with his decision and is pleased that she will be able to reach a new audience. She also talked about how the Terminator fans are fantastic and shared that they “treat me like I saved the world.” Hamilton added that now that she isn’t thinking about retirement, she might like to do a Western or a period drama next. Are you excited to see Hamilton in Stranger Things?
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