'Stranger Things' Actress Linda Hamilton Was on the Verge of Retirement Before Being Contacted by the Duffer Brothers

Linda Hamilton, widely celebrated for her role as Sarah Connor in the Terminator series, disclosed that she was contemplating leaving acting prior to being cast in Stranger Things by the Duffer Brothers. At that point, I was seriously considering retirement because of my hip, Hamilton told Entertainment Weekly. I was limping, and I thought, unless the character is limping, I cant deliver my best work or guarantee Im ready for every day on set. I had to step back.

The actress admitted that she hadnt considered Stranger Things until Matt and Ross Duffer approached her for the role of Dr. Kay. She described the process as rare: They reached out to my agent to see if I was interested. Three months later, the call came no more talk of retirement. They asked, Is Linda Hamilton available from June to June? and my agent said yes immediately because we were thrilled.

The Duffer Brothers have expressed admiration for The Terminator, drawing inspiration from it for the final season of the Netflix hit. Hamilton noted that they didnt directly discuss these influences with her. They pretty much wore some James Cameron film T-shirt every day. I dont think it was for me, she explained. We didnt discuss the origins or the character extensively. That made it fun and a bit risky not knowing the full plan. The writing was so strong I knew exactly how to approach it, then I added my own touch.

In the series, Hamilton portrays Dr. Kay, a formidable government scientist collaborating with the military to track Eleven. Despite her initial concerns about her hip, she committed a full year to physical training to stay ahead of the roles demands. We called it PT, but I went to the gym three times a week to remain mobile and prepared. Im older now, so I might be done with stunt rehearsals. But I worked hard to stay fit. In the end, she didnt limp, Hamilton said.

Although Dr. Kay takes inspiration from Hamiltons iconic Sarah Connor, the actress emphasized that the character is intentionally different. I enjoy portraying a variety of women. I dont want to repeat the same tough, strong woman role endlessly. Im grateful for those past roles, but its refreshing to explore something new, she shared.

Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 1 is currently available on Netflix.

Author: Sophia Brooks