Sarah Connor is one of the great action heroines of modern cinema, but it wasn’tLinda Hamilton’s intention for that to happen. Sarah Connor is a staple of James Cameron’sTerminatorfranchise. The mother of the world’s “savior” John Connor, and a complete badass in her own right, Connor is one of the most influential female characters in the entire action genre. However, Hamilton had no idea at the time exactly how iconic her character would become.
Appearing at FanExpo Chicago (viaCollider), Hamilton was joined by fellow franchise stars and the stars of theTerminatorfranchise (including Edward Furlong, Michael Biehn, Robert Patrick, and Lance Henriksen) reflected on the legacy of the series. As well as introducing the world toArnold Schwarzenegger’s timeless T-800,Terminatorgave the world the sunglasses-wearing, rifle-wielding, doing chin-ups in prison, badass that is Sarah Connor.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Almost every line Connor speaks inTerminator 2is iconic, and perfectly exemplifies the over-the-top action that was so beloved in the 80s and 90s. However, Hamilton believes that part of the reason the character has become such an icon is that she retained her femininity. The actress discussed a scene fromTerminator 2where Connor escapes from prison. Hamilton said that James Cameron initially intended for her to shave her head, as soldiers often do. However, Linda Hamilton believed that she didn’t “have to look like a guy to be strong.” She explained:
“And it wasn’t even a vanity, particularly, you know, like soldiers don’t have hair you’re able to grab on. It’s a weakness, so that’s why they do that in those movies. So all women cut their hair, and I just thought, why not throw it back in a ponytail? And kind of like, I think it was the fact that she remained feminine, and was able to kick ass. Do you know what I mean? Like one of the first women that characters that doesn’t have to look like a guy to be strong? And so I think it was that, that lucky sort of bit of me just I didn’t even think it was a vanity. I just said, I don’t think that we really need this. Let’s just sort of ponytail, move on. And I think it was that that gave her the global appeal.”
Linda Hamilton Explains One of Sarah Connor’s Most Badass Moments
The Sarah Connor found inThe Terminatorand the older, more experienced version inTerminator 2are almost like two completely different characters. When Connor appears inTerminator 2, she is shown in prison doing chin-ups on her turned over bed frame. Having survived her initial encounter with the T-800, Connor has spent her life preparing for Judgment Day, and raising her son, John Connor (Furlong), to become the leader of the resistance in the future.
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Looking back at her time in theTerminatorfranchise, Hamilton admitted that it was never her intention for Sarah Connor to become such an icon, it simply worked out that way. She explained:
“It was certainly not my intention. You know, it feels good. I have been handed that title a few times. You know, it’s just absolutely not at all. But you never know, because the first one was a slow burn, too, and I don’t think any of us looked at that and said, this can be like so you don’t know what the things that were moving rules don’t lead you seven years later. But I’ll take the mantle that people that put on me, and you know, been very, be very grateful for it.”
Terminator 2: Judgment Dayis streaming on Netflix.
