There is no doubt to the fact that James Cameron’s talent and dedication to his skill know no limits. He has time and again proved why his name is mentioned amongst some of the most celebrated and legendary filmmakers today. With films like Titanic, Avatar, True Lies, and more, James Cameron’s work is absolutely unforgettable.
James Cameron is also responsible for one of the best action franchises of all time – Terminator. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, the films set the box office on fire! In fact, this is the franchise where James Cameron met his future ex-wife, Linda Hamilton. The actress played the role of Sarah Connor, someone who she believes paved the way for women in action flicks. However, the actress is more attached to Terminator 2 than the film that began it all.
Linda Hamilton Prefers James Cameron’s Terminator 2
Linda Hamilton sure helped revolutionize the action genre by playing Sarah Connor, a truly fierce female character. However, it wasn’t until she reprised the role in Terminator 2: Judgement Day, that she actually understood what a badass her character was. Talking to Red Bull’s The Red Bulletin, Hamilton stated,
“It’s nice that I’m seen as someone who opened possibilities for women in action films, but until this film, I never thought of myself as badass.”
In an interview with The New York Times, Hamilton was asked about how she felt playing a “buff warrior woman” in James Cameron’s Judgement Day. She went on to say that playing Sarah in the sequel was much better than it did the first time around. The actress also talked about how her real-life fierceness helped the character.
“Truthfully, it felt a lot better than the first one, because I was playing an empowered woman. That was so much better than playing the victim who’s terrified all the time. Also, I’m kind and compassionate, but I’m not really gentle. I would hug my kids when they were babies and they’d go, ‘Ow!’ There’s something in me that’s incredibly fierce that I have to work against, but that fierceness works for Sarah Connor.”
Even Cameron believes that while Hamilton was just perfect in The Terminator, she became a true “feminist icon” (via GQ), and “flourished” in the role.
Linda Hamilton Was Against Looking Like a Man
In the interview with The Red Bulletin, Hamilton was asked about her future plans with Sarah Connor. She humbly replied that she prefers living in the moment and not fretting over the future. The Children of the Corn actress added that building Sarah in Judgement Day was an “accidental miracle.” Hamilton recalled how she went against Cameron to keep the femininity of her character.
“I never think about what else I can do. Even in Judgment Day, creating this character was an accidental miracle. Jim wanted me to butch my hair up while escaping the mental hospital. I didn’t think we needed that, so I just threw it in a ponytail. People embraced that because I didn’t turn into a guy to play the role; they embraced Sarah Connor’s feminine ideal of strength. We don’t have to look like men to be strong.”
Cameron was right to call her a feminist icon, wasn’t he?
Both Cameron and Hamilton bid their farewells to the franchise after the sequel, however, they did reunite for Terminator: Dark Fate where Cameron served as a producer and Hamilton reprised her old role. The actress has been heavily praised for her work in the franchise and Sarah Connor is still considered as some of her best work yet.
You can stream Terminator 2: Judgement Day on Netflix.
Source: The Red Bulletin: The New York Times
