Linda Hamilton, the 69-year-old screen veteran who broke onto the Hollywood scene as a formidable action star in the iconic Terminator franchise alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger, is about to steal the show once again on the small screen with her role in Netflix's global phenomenon, Stranger Things. While chatting with AARP's Movies for Grownups about her new role as Dr. Kay, a government agent on the hunt for Millie Bobby Brown's Eleven, Hamilton candidly shared her rejection of Hollywood's beauty standards.
"I don't spend a moment trying to look younger on any level, ever," she declares. "I've completely surrendered to the fact that this is the face I've earned. And it tells me so much," she adds, emphasizing that while she isn't altering her face surgically, she is dedicated to taking care of her body. During filming of Stranger Things, she hit the gym three times a week, indulging in Pilates, yoga, free weights, machines, and cables, all while maintaining a flexible and adaptable approach to her workout routine.
She was thrilled to receive the call about Stranger Things, a show she was already a fan of. "I couldn't wait to tell people. I just couldn't wait," she gushes. While remaining tight-lipped about Dr. Kay's role in the final season, she reveals that she is a head scientist for the military operating inside quarantined Hawkins, continuing the work of Dr. Brenner, played by Matthew Modine.
When not working, Hamilton enjoys a quieter life in New Orleans, far from the hustle of Hollywood. "I've found a great balance between work and life," she says. "I certainly feel like everything is a blessing right now." She admits to being a bit of a minimalist, with just one credit card and an effort to keep her life simple so that she can focus on what's important without worrying about things she can't track or find.
The full AARP's Movies for Grownups interview, in which she also opens up on stunts and what it was like to lose her twin sister, can be found here. Season five of Stranger Things will be released in three parts: Volume 1 on Nov. 26 (consisting of four episodes), Volume 2 on Christmas (three episodes), and The Finale on New Year's Eve.
