How ‘Stranger Things’ saved Linda Hamilton from retirement: “I’m tired of being tough”
There seems to be two fates for most stars of classic 1980s action films: adapt and grow, or fade into obscurity. After all, the 1980s was over four decades ago, which is a long time to try and sustain a career. So, you either make it big with a capital B or you do small things here and there and retire.
For Linda Hamilton, one of the most iconic female leads in action film history, the latter was looking like it was nigh until Stranger Things made her reconsider.
Hamilton will always be renowned for playing Sarah Connor in The Terminator, in the same way Sigourney Weaver will always be known as Ripley. Women like them brought a different kind of hero to the silver screen, one who was tough, headstrong and, for want of another word, badass.
But as with many things in this industry, it’s just harder being a woman. Male action leads always seemed to go on to something else quite big, and while ‘Arnie’ might not exactly be an Oscar winner, he’s still very much a household name. Hamilton, on the other hand, was shuffled out of the spotlight.
Of course, she returned to the world of The Terminator twice, once in the equally successful sequel Terminator 2: Judgement Day and again for the most recent, but majorly less successful, Terminator: Dark Fate. But otherwise, most of her subsequent roles have been on the small screen, with the likes of Beauty and the Beast and Resident Alien. The latter she’s still seemingly smitten with.
However, this didn’t stop her from considering retirement. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, she said, “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.”
As one of the most beloved tough women out there, it’s no wonder she was tired so far into her career. Especially considering she’s mostly remained in action, which is unsurprisingly strenuous work. And you might expect that the one thing that would put a pause to this thought would be a return to playing Connor, but she’s been clear that her days facing The Terminator are over. No, instead it was Stranger Things. In 2023, it was announced that she would be part of the upcoming and final season of the show, and in the very recent teaser, we catch a glimpse of her familiar face.
Given her famously reclusive nature and desire to just be left alone, it’s an interesting choice to step directly back into the spotlight, given the sheer hype of the show. But at the same time, it makes perfect sense. The Sarah Connor appearing in the ’80s nostalgia show!? It’s something we know that ‘The Party’ would be absolutely crazed about. Especially considering the imminent end of the world as they know it in season five. Could Hamilton be set to save the world for a second (third?) time in November?
Seemingly, this perfect fit wasn’t lost on Hamilton either. “When I said retirement, cut to two weeks or so later, Stranger Things called him [her agent] and said, ‘Is Linda Hamilton available from June to June?’ And he went, ‘Yes’. He didn’t even ask me.” He didn’t ask her because he knew she’d say yes: “I’d come out of retirement to do it,” she added.
Regardless of her role in the show, it’s undoubtedly an amazing move on her part, if even just to give her fans what they want, which is more of her in the limelight.
