“Terminator” star Linda Hamilton has amazed fans for many years, not just for her tough role but also for embracing getting older. Check out how she has changed over the years in these amazing photos.
When Linda Hamilton first played her role in “The Terminator” in 1984, she never thought it would change her life and career so much. Known for her strong performances and striking appearance, she went from wanting to act in Shakespeare plays to becoming an action movie star.
Looking back, she once said she never expected to be known for action roles. “Did I think I would be an action star? Not at all! I wanted to be a Shakespearean actress, but with ‘Terminator,’ everything changed,” she said.
In the movie, Linda Hamilton played an ordinary woman who suddenly finds herself in a dangerous situation. She is being chased by a powerful robot from the future, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger. As her character, Sarah Connor, Hamilton spent most of the movie running and trying to stay alive, using her strength and determination to survive.
However, the tough role had a negative impact on her mental health. Linda Hamilton later shared that playing the part left her struggling with depression. Even after filming ended, she had vivid dreams about the robot character, which continued to bother her for a long time.
Linda Hamilton never expected “The Terminator” to become a worldwide hit, or that she would return to play her role again in “Terminator 2” years later.
This time, she wanted her character, Sarah, to be different. She didn’t want Sarah to seem weak, but instead, a strong and determined warrior, even a little unstable. The director, James Cameron, agreed with her ideas and wrote the role to show more of Sarah’s complex personality.
Behind the scenes, Linda Hamilton faced her own tough challenges. She struggled with mental health issues from a young age, dealing with depression that started in her childhood but went unnoticed for many years.
The actress remembered feeling different from others and silently struggled after losing her father when she was just five years old. While she described her childhood as mostly happy, it was also marked by sudden bursts of anger and a feeling of loneliness that stayed with her through her teenage years.
At first, acting was an escape for Linda Hamilton, but it eventually made her struggles worse. She turned to drugs and alcohol to deal with her emotional pain.
Tired of Hollywood’s fast-paced lifestyle, Hamilton decided to step away from fame. Almost 30 years ago, she left Los Angeles for a peaceful life on a ranch in Virginia, where she focused on raising her family.
Later, Linda Hamilton moved to New Orleans, choosing a life far away from the entertainment industry that had both boosted her career and worn her out. She often said that it wasn’t the acting she disliked, but the unrealistic pressures and focus on appearance that came with being in Hollywood.
For Linda Hamilton, aging was a natural and unavoidable part of life, and she embraced it with grace. She felt no pressure to fit Hollywood’s beauty standards, saying that appearance is only a small part of who we truly are.
Linda Hamilton has openly accepted the changes that come with aging, acknowledging that the years have visibly transformed her. She has been clear about embracing her age and the experiences that have shaped her.
She said, “Yes, people will look at me and say, ‘Oh, she got old.’ That’s true, and I have so much more to share as a strong, experienced woman who has lived a lot.”
Linda Hamilton proudly stated that she had no interest in chasing her past. Instead, she chose to celebrate who she is now. For her, it wasn’t about trying to match her old image but about embracing her changing identity with honesty and strength.
As Linda Hamilton approaches her 68th birthday, take a look at how the actress, often called “iconic,” has transformed over the years. Despite the passage of time, she continues to showcase her beauty and strength.
Many people on social media have praised Linda Hamilton’s beauty over the years. One person commented, “She was an absolute knockout,” while another said, “She is still beautiful.” A third user wrote, “We all get older, that’s life. You look great,” and another added, “Still beautiful, aging well!!!”
However, not everyone was a fan of her more mature look. One person remarked, “Well, that is what age does.”
Linda Hamilton’s current appearance has received a range of reactions, but her transformation over the years shows more than just the physical changes of aging. It reflects a deep personal journey.
From being an action icon to a woman who has found peace with herself, she continues to defy expectations. She embraces her past while living proudly and authentically on her own terms.
18 Child Actors Who Are All Grown Up Now, and We Didn’t Even Notice It (New Pics)
It seems that some of the films and TV series we loved as children are now decades old. Think of The NeverEnding Story, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, or even Baywatch. And of course, the young actors that played child roles in these have grown up significantly. For example, Jonathan Lipnicki, the child star of Jerry Maguire, is already 30 years old, and Noah Hathaway, who is remembered for his performance as Atreyu in The NeverEnding Story, will turn 50 in November 2021. Even Georgie Henley, aka Lucy in The Chronicles of Narnia is now 25!
Bright Side did some research to find out what 18 child actors from the ’90s and the beginning of the ’00s look like today, and here’s what we found.
1. Jeremy Dunn Jackson (Hobie Buchannon), Baywatch (1991-1999)
2. Jonathan Lipnicki (Ray Boyd), Jerry Maguire (1996)
3. Daryl Sabara (Juni Cortez), Spy Kids (2001)
4. Taylor Lautner (Sharkboy), The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl 3-D (2005)
5. Georgie Henley (Lucy Pevensie), The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
6. Matthew Lawrence (Chris Hillard), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
7. Lisa Jakub (Lydia Hillard), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
8. Noah Hathaway (Atreyu), The NeverEnding Story (1984)
9. Nicholle Tom (Ryce), Beethoven (1992)
10. Giorgio Cantarini (Giosué), Life Is Beautiful (1997)
11. Anna Chlumsky (Vada Sultenfuss), My Girl (1991)
12. Patrick Renna (Hamilton “Ham” Porter), The Sandlot (1993)
13. Ivyann Schwan (Trixie Young), Problem Child 2 (1991)
14. Madison Lintz (Sophia Peletier), The Walking Dead (2010-2012)
15. Mackenzie Foy (Renesmee), The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1 and Part 2 (2011-2012)
16. Alexa PenaVega (Carmen Cortez), Spy Kids (2001)
17. Edward Furlong (John Connor), Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)
18. Raven-Symoné (Olivia Kendall), The Cosby Show (1989-1992)
Which of the series or movies listed above is your favorite? Which of the actors do you think has changed the most? Is there anybody else you think we should add to this list?
Preview photo credit The NeverEnding Story / Warner Bros. and co-producers, noahhathaway*** / Instagram
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