Linda Hamilton says her health issues nearly made her quit acting before landing 'Stranger Things' role
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Linda Hamilton recently revealed she was set to retire from acting before she landed her upcoming role in the fifth and final season of 'Stranger Things'.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, the actress said, “I was actually talking about retirement, not because there isn’t enough to do, but just I’m tired of being tough."
Linda Hamilton says her 'hip was hurting' over the years
Explaining the decision behind her urge to retire from acting, Hamilton said, “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."
The 67-year-old recounted the time she began filming the third season of 'Resident Alien' when she confided in her agent about her doubts due to her health issue.
"'Dude, I don’t even know if I’m going to get there. I'm hurt.' And he’s like, 'Oh, you don’t mean that',” she recalled.
“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," she added.
Linda Hamilton says filming 'Terminator' was both the 'greatest' and 'worst' time of her life
Reflecting on her past role in 'Terminator: Dark Fate', Hamilton expressed her gratitude but also noted that she was exhausted following the filming of the 2019 movie.
“I’m very glad I did it,” she said, adding that it is more likely to have “AI writing the next Terminator movie. And they kill me off before we start [filming].”
“It was the greatest time of my life and the worst time of my life, all rolled into one film,” Hamilton stated. “Every day it was like a triathlon: ‘Now we’re going to swim for two hours and then we’re going to run for two hours.’"
“I read 40 books on that show. That’s all I could do, lie down and read, send my mind somewhere else, and rest my body,” she recalled.
Hamilton shared that she is eager to explore diverse roles that aren't "blood and tangles."
“I have people come up to me my entire career saying, ‘You’re so pretty in person!’ And they’re confused! You never see me smile on film,” she said.
“I’m really happy with the work I’m getting now. It’s not just Resident Alien and Stranger Things."
"I’m getting some good movie roles that allow me to not be the military person. I really just love the challenge," she explained.
