Linda Hamilton embraces who she is with confidence.
The 69-year-old actress, renowned for her iconic role as Sarah Connor in the “Terminator” series alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger, recently opened up to AARP. She discussed her perspective on aging in the spotlight and her decision to defy Hollywood’s unrealistic beauty ideals.
“I never spend any time trying to look younger in any way,” shared the actress, who has recently joined the cast of “Stranger Things.” She emphasized her disinterest in pursuing conventional beauty.
“I have completely accepted that this is the face I’ve earned over the years. It speaks volumes to me.”
Hamilton has imparted this positive outlook to her daughter, Josephine, 32, whom she shares with ex-husband James Cameron. Reflecting on a moment from Josephine’s childhood, Hamilton recalls her daughter, at age 6, recognizing her mother’s beauty as stemming from a face “filled with joy.”
“Since then, I’ve embraced that as my personal definition of beauty. I focus on cultivating joy,” Hamilton remarked.
While the Golden Globe and Emmy nominee tries to maintain a healthy lifestyle, she’s not overly strict with herself.
“I’m not rigid, which is a fantastic way to get older,” Hamilton said. “I’ve always said that rigidifying is what kills us: the rigid thoughts and the sort of not moving. I’ve tried very hard in my life to stay as fluid as possible.”
She prioritizes literal movement in her life, too — especially after suffering “a lot of damage and harm” from doing many of her own stunts during her “Terminator” days.
While preparing to play Dr. Kay in Season 5 of “Stranger Things,” Hamilton said she worked out three times a week, switching up her routine and making sure she was “paying attention to whatever I needed that day.”
“It was Pilates, it was yoga, a lot of free weights, machines, cables, everything. And I kind of love that: to go in and not have a chest and back day, but just have a ‘what do you need to loosen up and stretch out today,’” she shared.
