Editing Linda Hamilton

{{Short description|American actress (born 1956)}}
{{about|the actress|the international soccer player|Linda Hamilton (soccer)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name         = Linda Hamilton
| image        = Linda Hamilton Photo Op GalaxyCon Raleigh 2024.jpg
| caption      = Hamilton in 2024
| birth_name   = Linda Carroll Hamilton
| birth_date   = {{birth date and age|1956|9|26}}
| birth_place  = [[Salisbury, Maryland]], U.S.
| alma_mater   = [[Washington College]]<br>[[Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute]]
| occupation   = Actress
| years_active = 1979–present
| works        = [[Linda Hamilton filmography|Full list]]
| children     = 2
| spouse       = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|[[Bruce Abbott]]|1982|1989|end=div}}
* {{marriage|[[James Cameron]]|1997|1999|end=div}}
}}
}}

'''Linda Carroll Hamilton''' (born September 26, 1956) is an American actress. Known for portraying tough, resilient characters,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/terminator-a-complicated-legacy-female-empowerment-1251590/|title='Terminator' and a Complicated Legacy of Female Empowerment|work=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Kristen|last=Lopez|date=November 2, 2019|access-date=July 3, 2023|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703214827/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/terminator-a-complicated-legacy-female-empowerment-1251590/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://screen-queens.com/2020/06/17/trauma-resilience-and-hope-in-the-terminator-franchises-sarah-connor/|title=Trauma, Resilience, and Hope in the 'Terminator' Franchise's Sarah Connor|work=Scream Queens|first=Olivia|last=Popp|date=June 17, 2020|access-date=July 3, 2023|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703214828/https://screen-queens.com/2020/06/17/trauma-resilience-and-hope-in-the-terminator-franchises-sarah-connor/|url-status=live}}</ref> she made her film debut in 1979 before achieving fame with her starring role as [[Sarah Connor (Terminator)|Sarah Connor]] in ''[[The Terminator]]'' (1984) and two of its [[Terminator (franchise)|sequels]], ''[[Terminator 2: Judgment Day]]'' (1991) and ''[[Terminator: Dark Fate]]'' (2019). She is the recipient of various accolades, including two [[Saturn Awards]], two [[MTV Movie & TV Awards|MTV Movie Awards]], a [[Satellite Awards|Satellite Award]] and a [[Romy (TV award)|Romy Award]], as well as nominations for three [[Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globes]] and one [[Primetime Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy]].

Hamilton's other film credits include ''[[Children of the Corn (1984 film)|Children of the Corn]]'' (1984), ''[[Black Moon Rising]]'', ''[[King Kong Lives]]'' (both 1986), ''[[Mr. Destiny]]'' (1990), ''[[Dante's Peak]]'' (1997), and ''[[The Kid & I]]'' (2005). On television, she starred as Catherine Chandler in ''[[Beauty and the Beast (1987 TV series)|Beauty and the Beast]]'' (1987–1989) and played the recurring role of [[Mary Elizabeth Bartowski]] on [[NBC]]'s ''[[Chuck (TV series)|Chuck]]'' (2010–2012). Her stage work includes ''[[Laura (novel)|Laura]]'' ([[Tiffany Theater]], 2000) and ''[[The Night of the Iguana]]'' ([[Berkshire Theatre Festival|Berkshire Theatre]], 2006). Divorced from actor [[Bruce Abbott]] and director [[James Cameron]], she has a child from each marriage.

==Early life==
Hamilton was born in [[Salisbury, Maryland]], on September 26, 1956.<ref name="bio">{{cite web|title=Linda Hamilton biography|url=http://www.biography.com/people/linda-hamilton-20950855|work=[[Biography.com]]|access-date=October 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323113942/http://www.biography.com/people/linda-hamilton-20950855|archive-date=March 23, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Hamilton's father (1928-1962) died when she was five; her mother (1931-2019) later married a police chief.<ref name=JewishJournal>{{cite web|last=Pfefferman|first=Naomi|title=The 'Jewish' Side of Linda Hamilton|url=https://jewishjournal.com/culture/arts/5996/the-jewish-side-of-linda-hamilton/|newspaper=[[The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles]]|date=May 16, 2002|access-date=July 5, 2023|archive-date=July 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705043950/https://jewishjournal.com/culture/arts/5996/the-jewish-side-of-linda-hamilton/|url-status=live}}</ref> Hamilton had an [[twin#Monozygotic (identical) twins|identical twin]] sister, Leslie Hamilton Freas (1956–2020),<ref name="legacy">{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/burlingtoncountytimes/obituary.aspx?n=leslie-h-freas&pid=196704811&fhid=29465|title=Leslie Freas - Obituary|work=[[Legacy.com]]|access-date=August 27, 2020|date=August 27, 2020|archive-date=August 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830080710/https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/burlingtoncountytimes/obituary.aspx?n=leslie-h-freas&pid=196704811&fhid=29465|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=TodayTwin>{{Cite web|title=Linda Hamilton's Twin Sister Leslie Hamilton Freas Dies at 63|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/linda-hamilton-s-twin-sister-leslie-hamilton-freas-dies-63-t190518|access-date=July 5, 2023|work=[[Today (American TV program)|Today Show]]|date=August 31, 2020|archive-date=March 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314034721/https://www.today.com/popculture/linda-hamilton-s-twin-sister-leslie-hamilton-freas-dies-63-t190518|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as one older sister, a younger brother, and a stepbrother.<ref name="legacy"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Linda Hamilton |url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/80078%7C0/Linda-Hamilton/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801135953/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/80078%7C0/Linda-Hamilton/ |archive-date=August 1, 2016 |access-date=September 25, 2023 |website=[[Turner Classic Movies]]}}</ref> She has said that she was raised in a "very boring, white Anglo-Saxon" household, and that she "voraciously read books" in her spare time.<ref name=JewishJournal/> Hamilton went to Wicomico Junior High and [[Wicomico High School]] in Salisbury.<ref name=TributeBio>{{cite web|url=https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/linda-hamilton/5934/|title=Linda Hamilton Biography|work=Tribute|access-date=July 5, 2023|archive-date=July 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705042237/https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/linda-hamilton/5934/|url-status=live}}</ref>

She studied for two years at [[Washington College]] in [[Chestertown, Maryland]], before moving on to acting studies in New York City.<ref name=TributeBio/> Hamilton has said that her acting professor at Washington College told her she had no hope of earning a living as an actress.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://hollywoodlife.com/feature/who-is-linda-hamilton-actress-3260453/|title=Linda Hamilton: 5 Things To Know About Actress, 62, Returning In 'Terminator' Sequel|work=Hollywood Life|date=May 23, 2019|access-date=July 4, 2023|archive-date=July 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705013311/https://hollywoodlife.com/feature/who-is-linda-hamilton-actress-3260453/|url-status=live |last1=Robidoux |first1=Jenna Lemoncelli }}</ref> In New York, she attended acting workshops given by [[Lee Strasberg]].<ref name="bio"/>

==Career==
=== 1979–1983: Film debut and early roles ===
Hamilton made her professional debut at age 23 with a small part in the 1979 drama ''Night-Flowers''. Her first major role came the following year when she appeared as Lisa Rogers on the short-lived [[CBS]] soap opera ''[[Secrets of Midland Heights]]'' (December 1980–January 1981). She appeared in the TV series "King's Crossing," as Lauren Hollister, immediately afterward in 1982.  Marilyn Jones seemed to be the focal point of both of the last 
two efforts, with Linda Hamilton playing the bad girl. She subsequentally appeared in her first starring film role in the low-budget thriller ''[[Tag: The Assassination Game|TAG: The Assassination Game]]'' (1982), and co-starred that same year in the made-for-television movie ''Country Gold''. She was listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1982" in [[John A. Willis]]' ''[[John A. Willis#Screen World|Screen World]]'', Vol. 34.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://richarddalbyslibrary.com/products/john-willis-1983-film-annual-screen-world-volume-34-frederick-muller|title=John Willis 1983 Film Annual Screen World Volume 34, Frederick Muller|work=Richard Dalby’s Library|access-date=July 4, 2023|archive-date=July 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705021221/https://richarddalbyslibrary.com/products/john-willis-1983-film-annual-screen-world-volume-34-frederick-muller|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 1984–1997: The ''Terminator'' franchise and television work ===
Hamilton made two prominent film appearances in 1984: firstly, a starring role in ''[[Children of the Corn (1984 film)|Children of the Corn]]'', a horror film based on the short story by [[Stephen King]]. Hamilton played Vicky Baxter, a motorist who runs into trouble while travelling with her boyfriend through rural Nebraska. The film was financially profitable, making US$14 million at the domestic box office against a budget of US$3 million,<ref>[http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=childrenofthecorn.htm " Children of the Corn (1984)"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029152027/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=childrenofthecorn.htm |date=October 29, 2018 }}. [[Box Office Mojo]]. Retrieved October 4, 2012.</ref> but received generally negative reviews.<ref>[http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1004047-children_of_the_corn "Children of the Corn (1984)"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161212074229/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1004047-children_of_the_corn/ |date=December 12, 2016 }}. [[Rotten Tomatoes]]. Retrieved October 4, 2012.</ref> In a more positive assessment by ''[[The New York Times]]'', Hamilton's performance was praised.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/16/movies/film-children-of-the-corn-based-on-king-story.html|title=FILM: 'CHILDREN OF THE CORN,' BASED ON KING STORY|work=The New York Times|first=Vincent|last=Canby|date=March 16, 1984|access-date=July 4, 2023|archive-date=July 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704192604/https://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/16/movies/film-children-of-the-corn-based-on-king-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Her next role was co-starring in [[James Cameron]]'s science fiction action film ''[[The Terminator]]'' (1984) as [[Sarah Connor (Terminator)|Sarah Connor]], a young waitress—and soon-to-be mother of [[John Connor|a valiant resistance leader]]—who finds herself at the center of a nightmarish ordeal when a soldier travels back in time to help her defeat [[Terminator (character)|the titular cyborg assassin]], sent from the future to execute her. The film was a surprise commercial hit,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2015/07/01/418600470/its-like-it-never-happened-a-terminator-dossier|title=It's Like It Never Happened: A 'Terminator' Dossier|work=NPR|first=Chris|last=Klimek|date=July 1, 2015|access-date=July 5, 2023|archive-date=July 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705190116/https://www.npr.org/2015/07/01/418600470/its-like-it-never-happened-a-terminator-dossier|url-status=live}}</ref> topping the U.S. box office for two weeks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-numbers.com/charts/weekly/1984/19841109.php|title=The Top Movies, Weekend of November 9, 1984|work=The Numbers|access-date=September 19, 2010|archive-date=April 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403020121/http://www.the-numbers.com/charts/weekly/1984/19841109.php|url-status=live}}</ref> Critics believed it to be a perfect example of its genre,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/terminator|title=The Terminator|work=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=July 4, 2023|archive-date=July 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705022746/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/terminator|url-status=live}}</ref> with some attributing its strength to Hamilton's performance; ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' wrote that she displayed "tremendous resiliency" as Connor,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/terminator-review-movie-1984-743708/|title='The Terminator': THR's 1984 Review|first=Kirk|last=Ellis|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=October 24, 2014|access-date=July 4, 2023|archive-date=July 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704192606/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/terminator-review-movie-1984-743708/|url-status=live}}</ref> while [[Janet Maslin]] felt she played the part "engrossingly" in her review for ''The New York Times''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/26/movies/the-screen-terminator-suspense-tale.html|title=THE SCREEN:'TERMINATOR,' SUSPENSE TALE|work=The New York Times|first=Janet|last=Maslin|date=October 26, 1984|access-date=July 4, 2023|archive-date=July 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704192606/https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/26/movies/the-screen-terminator-suspense-tale.html|url-status=live}}</ref> That same year, she guest-starred in four episodes of the [[NBC]] police drama ''[[Hill Street Blues]]''.

Following the success of ''The Terminator'', Hamilton starred as car thief Nina in the action thriller ''[[Black Moon Rising]]'' (1986). Also that year, she guest-starred in an episode of ''[[Murder, She Wrote]]'' and headlined the big-budget adventure film ''[[King Kong Lives]]'', a sequel to the [[King Kong (1976 film)|1976 remake of ''King Kong'']]. The film was a moderate financial success but was universally panned by critics.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/king_kong_lives|title=King Kong Lives|work=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=July 4, 2023|archive-date=April 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430071830/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/king_kong_lives|url-status=live}}</ref>

Hamilton's next major role was that of savvy [[district attorney]] Catherine Chandler in the television series ''[[Beauty and the Beast (1987 TV series)|Beauty and the Beast]]''. A modern re-telling of the classic [[Beauty and the Beast|fairy tale]], the show ran for three seasons on CBS between 1987 and 1990, though Hamilton requested to be written out during its third season when she fell pregnant.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvinsider.com/947158/beauty-and-the-beast-cbs-series-george-r-r-martin/|title=CBS' 'Beauty and the Beast' Upended the Fairy Tale With George R. R. Martin's Help|work=TV Insider|first=Dan|last=Clarendon|date=August 31, 2020|access-date=July 4, 2023|archive-date=July 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704192609/https://www.tvinsider.com/947158/beauty-and-the-beast-cbs-series-george-r-r-martin/|url-status=live}}</ref> For her portrayal of Chandler, she won Austria's [[Romy (TV award)|Romy Award]] for Favorite Actress in a Series in 1990,<ref name="romy">{{Cite web |date=February 23, 2017 |title=Romy Preisträger 1990 |url=https://kurier.at/romy/archiv/romy-preistraeger-1990/248.185.789 |website=[[Kurier]] |language=de |access-date=September 29, 2023 |archive-date=October 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221030230717/https://kurier.at/romy/archiv/romy-preistraeger-1990/248.185.789 |url-status=live }}</ref> as well as receiving [[Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe]] and [[Primetime Emmy Awards|Emmy Award]] nominations in 1988 and 1989, respectively.<ref name="AwardsGG"/>

[[File:Linda Hamilton 1.JPG|right|thumb|Hamilton in 1997]]

Hamilton returned to film with a starring role opposite in the 1990 fantasy-comedy ''[[Mr. Destiny]]''. In her review for the ''Los Angeles Times'', [[Sheila Benson]] believed that the film only worked because of "Hamilton's intrinsic warmth".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-10-12-ca-1985-story.html|title=MOVIE REVIEWS : 'Mr. Destiny's' Viewers Deserve a Better Fate|work=Los Angeles Times|first=Sheila|last=Benson|date=October 12, 1990|access-date=July 4, 2023|archive-date=July 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704211609/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-10-12-ca-1985-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The following year, she re-teamed with James Cameron to star in ''[[Terminator 2: Judgment Day]]''. Reported at the time to be the most expensive motion picture ever made,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-04-25-9102060633-story.html|title='TERMINATOR 2' COST MAY SET RECORD|work=Chicago Tribune|date=April 25, 1991|access-date=July 5, 2023|archive-date=July 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705140605/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-04-25-9102060633-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> it went on to gross over US$500 million worldwide; more than any other film that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/arnold-schwarzenegger-documentary-terminator-2-career-peak-reason/|title=Arnold Schwarzenegger Reveals His Reaction To Last Action Hero's Failure After T2's Success|work=Screen Rant|date=June 8, 2023|access-date=July 4, 2023|archive-date=July 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704211621/https://screenrant.com/arnold-schwarzenegger-documentary-terminator-2-career-peak-reason/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1991/12/27/terminator-2-is-highest-grossing-film-of-91/|title=Terminator 2' is highest-grossing film of '91|work=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=July 4, 2023|archive-date=February 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222134726/https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1991/12/27/terminator-2-is-highest-grossing-film-of-91/|url-status=live}}</ref> Of his decision to present a more troubled version of the Sarah Connor character, Cameron later reflected, "It was all inspired by Linda really. I called her and said, 'Hey, we're [doing] another ''Terminator''{{'}}. And she [replied], 'I want to be crazy'. I said, 'I can do that — I'll put you in a mental hospital'. She said, 'Perfect. That's what I want'".<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 2, 2021|title='Terminator 2' at 30: James Cameron explains how Linda Hamilton inspired the blockbuster sequel|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/terminator-2-at-30-james-cameron-explains-how-linda-hamilton-inspired-blockbuster-sequel-arnold-schwarzenegger-174526338.html|access-date=July 4, 2023|website=Yahoo!|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703145440/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/terminator-2-at-30-james-cameron-explains-how-linda-hamilton-inspired-blockbuster-sequel-arnold-schwarzenegger-174526338.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Hamilton underwent intense physical training to emphasize the character's transformation during the seven years since the first film.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/amp-articles/inside-linda-hamiltons-insane-terminator-2-trainin/1100-6455650/|title=Inside Linda Hamilton's Insane Terminator 2 Training With James Cameron And Arnold Schwarzenegger|date=December 20, 2017|work=GameSpot|access-date=July 5, 2023|archive-date=July 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705135424/https://www.gamespot.com/amp-articles/inside-linda-hamiltons-insane-terminator-2-trainin/1100-6455650/|url-status=live}}</ref> "I hated [my trainer] most of the time", she later said; "He would yell at me and throw tennis balls while I was shooting weapons blindfolded. I'd go off to the bathroom to cry for a minute, then I'd wipe away my tears and go back".<ref name=JewishJournal/> Critics were impressed by Hamilton's "wild-eyed" performance,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/07/03/movies/review-film-in-new-terminator-the-forces-of-good-seek-peace-violently.html|title=Review/Film; In New 'Terminator,' The Forces of Good Seek Peace, Violently|work=The New York Times|first=Janet|last=Maslin|date=July 3, 1991|access-date=July 4, 2023|archive-date=May 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511004615/https://www.nytimes.com/1991/07/03/movies/review-film-in-new-terminator-the-forces-of-good-seek-peace-violently.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/terminator-2-judgment-day-review-movie-1991-1249476/|title='Terminator 2: Judgment Day': THR's 1991 Review|work=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Duane|last=Byrge|date=October 22, 2019|access-date=July 4, 2023|archive-date=July 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704192606/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/terminator-2-judgment-day-review-movie-1991-1249476/|url-status=live}}</ref> with [[Derek Malcolm]] of ''[[The Guardian]]'' singling out her "formidable sweaty intensity".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theguardian.com/film/1991/aug/15/1|title=Terminator 2|work=The Guardian|first=Derek|last=Malcolm|date=August 15, 1991|access-date=July 4, 2023|archive-date=July 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704192605/https://www.theguardian.com/film/1991/aug/15/1|url-status=live}}</ref> She went on to receive two [[MTV Movie & TV Awards|MTV Movie Awards]] and the 1991 [[Saturn Award for Best Actress]] for her portrayal of Connor, which has since been recognised as one of the most iconic female roles in cinematic history.<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 14, 2019|title=Hasta la vista, Arnie: Sarah Connor is the Terminator's true cultural icon|first=Steve|last=Rose|url=https://theguardian.com/film/2019/oct/14/hasta-la-vista-arnie-sarah-connor-is-the-terminators-true-cultural-icon|access-date=July 4, 2023|work=The Guardian|archive-date=July 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704211621/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/oct/14/hasta-la-vista-arnie-sarah-connor-is-the-terminators-true-cultural-icon|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the success of ''T2'', she was invited to host an episode of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' on November 16, 1991.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 2, 2013 |title=Linda Hamilton Monologue - Saturday Night Live |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHNRiRun_cI |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/NHNRiRun_cI |archive-date=October 2, 2023 |access-date=October 2, 2023 |website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Hamilton's subsequent film appearances were in the psychological thrillers ''[[Silent Fall]]'' (1994) and ''[[Separate Lives (film)|Separate Lives]]'' (1995). For her performance in the television movie ''[[A Mother's Prayer]]'' (1995), where she played a widow diagnosed with [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]], Hamilton received a [[CableACE Award]] and a [[Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe]] nomination for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film|Best Actress]]. On her decision to take the part, she said, "So many people think I'm just this incredibly ferocious, fierce woman. Sarah Connor has sort of etched herself into my psyche and will never go away. So I chose [to play] this woman because she was a great balance of strength and frailty".<ref name=Spokesman>{{cite web|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1995/aug/02/actress-sheds-brawn-for-aids-role-linda-hamilton/|title=Actress Sheds Brawn For Aids Role Linda Hamilton Weakens Her Body To Mimic Disease|work=The Spokesman-Review|first=Ron|last=Miller|date=August 2, 1995|access-date=July 4, 2023|archive-date=July 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704192615/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1995/aug/02/actress-sheds-brawn-for-aids-role-linda-hamilton/|url-status=live}}</ref> She put herself on a strict diet in preparation for the role, saying, "I had to know what it was like … I knew that I had to sort of sink in on myself. So I got very, very thin".<ref name=Spokesman/>

After guest-starring in an episode of ''[[Frasier]]'', Hamilton played leading roles in two features that were released one week apart in 1997: political thriller ''[[Shadow Conspiracy]]'' and the big-budget action-adventure film ''[[Dante's Peak]]''. The latter proved to be one of the biggest commercial hits of the year, grossing US$180 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bombreport.com/yearly-breakdowns/1997-2/dantes-peak/|title=Dante's Peak|website=Bomb Report|date=October 2019 |access-date=July 4, 2023|archive-date=July 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704211611/https://bombreport.com/yearly-breakdowns/1997-2/dantes-peak/|url-status=live}}</ref> Critics were mostly unimpressed by the film's derivative narrative,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dantes_peak|title=Dante's Peak Lives|work=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=July 4, 2023|archive-date=March 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315213331/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dantes_peak|url-status=live}}</ref> but some praised the effects and performances, with [[Roger Ebert]] writing in his review for the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'', "In [[Pierce Brosnan|Brosnan]] and Hamilton [the filmmakers] have actors who play for realism and don't go over the top".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/dantes-peak-1997|title=Dante's Peak|work=RogerEbert.com|first=Roger|last=Ebert|date=February 7, 1997|access-date=July 4, 2023|archive-date=July 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704192604/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/dantes-peak-1997|url-status=live}}</ref> For her portrayal of small-town mayor Rachel Wando, Hamilton was named Best Actress at the following year's [[Blockbuster Entertainment Awards]]. Speaking of her casting, she said, "Police officers, military officers and lesbians. That was pretty much what I [used to get offered] and nothing else. [When I auditioned for director] [[Roger Donaldson]], he literally said to me: 'You've never played a part like this before' … And [I said], 'What do you mean?' [He replied] 'Normal.' He thought I couldn't play normal! Jesus! It was just the way people thought [about me]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/linda-hamilton-interview-terminator-dark-fate-james-cameron-sarah-connor-release-date-a9165636.html|title=Linda Hamilton: 'Everyone's terrified of James Cameron. I'm not'|work=[[The Independent]]|first=Adam|last=White|date=October 21, 2019|access-date=July 4, 2023|archive-date=October 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022214226/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/linda-hamilton-interview-terminator-dark-fate-james-cameron-sarah-connor-release-date-a9165636.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 1998–2018: Stage, television, and film roles ===
Between 1998 and 1999, Hamilton appeared in a succession of voice roles in episodes of ''[[The New Batman Adventures]]'', ''[[Hercules (1998 TV series)|Hercules]]'', and ''[[Batman Beyond]]''. Her next project was the [[LMN (TV channel)|Lifetime]] movie ''[[Sex & Mrs. X]]'' (2000), where she played a magazine writer who experiences a sexual reawakening when she is assigned to interview an upper-class Parisian [[Procuring (prostitution)|madam]]. The ''Los Angeles Times'' called it an "[intriguing] character study that passes muster on the strength of good performances by [its leads]", adding that Hamilton was both "tough" and "tender" in the part.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-apr-10-ca-18077-story.html|title='Sex & Mrs. X' a Story of Seduction, Friendship|work=Los Angeles Times|first=Steven|last=Linan|date=April 10, 2000|access-date=July 5, 2023|archive-date=July 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705055236/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-apr-10-ca-18077-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Later that year, she received a [[Satellite Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film|Satellite Award for Best Actress]] for her performance in the television film ''The Color of Courage'', which ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' called "excellent".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/1998/film/reviews/the-color-of-courage-1200455919/|title=The Color of Courage|work=Variety|first=Lisa|last=Nesselson|date=November 15, 1998|access-date=July 4, 2023|archive-date=July 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704192606/https://variety.com/1998/film/reviews/the-color-of-courage-1200455919/|url-status=live}}</ref> She also headlined a production of ''[[Laura (novel)|Laura]]'', an adaptation of the [[Laura (1944 film)|1944 film noir]] of the same name, at California's [[Tiffany Theater]] in December 2000. Hamilton received praise for her portrayal of the title character, with Jay Reiner of ''The Hollywood Reporter'' commenting:

{{blockquote|There's an inherent risk in reviving a film classic like ''Laura'' … [original star] [[Gene Tierney]] … left such an indelible impression that any [actress] trying to fill [her] shoes [is] probably going to suffer by comparison. Linda Hamilton accepts this risk, and even turns it to her advantage, in [this] sparkling production … Where [Tierney] gave us Laura Hunt as a ravishing femme fatale shrouded in mystery, Hamilton gives us a genuine charmer — a woman intriguing enough to invite attention, elusive enough to ensure pursuit and smart enough to make it all seem worthwhile … after a few minutes in her company, you don't want to be anywhere else.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lynettemcneillstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Glowing-Review-from-Hollywood-Reporter.pdf|title='Laura' sparkles at Tiffany|work=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Jay|last=Reiner|access-date=July 4, 2023|archive-date=February 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201054456/https://www.lynettemcneillstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Glowing-Review-from-Hollywood-Reporter.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

The following year, Hamilton starred in the small-scale mystery thriller ''Skeletons in the Closet'' (2001), subsequently winning a [[DVD Exclusive Awards|DVD Exclusive Award]] for Best Supporting Actress. She then portrayed the real-life [[Julius and Ethel Rosenberg|Ethel Rosenberg]] in ''Worse Than Murder: Ethel and Julius Rosenberg'', admitting that her decision to "transform myself into a tenement Jew from the [[Lower East Side]]" had been a daunting one: "I'm already prepared for the critics to be unkind to me, like, 'Why is she playing a Jewish character' or 'What's she trying to do, prove she's an actress?' But the fear is just part of the process".<ref name=JewishJournal/> The play opened in May 2002—at the [[Ventura Theatre]] in California—to a rave review from ''Variety'', who felt that Hamilton played her part with "sumptuous veracity".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2002/legit/reviews/worse-than-murder-ethel-and-julius-rosenberg-1200547692/|title=Worse Than Murder: Ethel and Julius Rosenberg|work=Variety|first=Julio|last=Martinez|date=June 18, 2002|access-date=July 5, 2023|archive-date=July 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705050427/https://variety.com/2002/legit/reviews/worse-than-murder-ethel-and-julius-rosenberg-1200547692/|url-status=live}}</ref> Next, she had supporting roles in two films: the post-[[Vietnam War|Vietnam]] war drama ''[[Missing in America]]'' (2005) and the [[Penelope Spheeris]]-directed comedy ''[[The Kid & I]]'' (2005).

[[File:10.17.09LindaHamiltonByLuigiNovi.jpg|right|thumb|Hamilton at the [[Big Apple Convention]], 2009]]

Hamilton's portrayal of Maxine Faulk in the 2006 stage adaptation of ''[[The Night of the Iguana]]'' by [[Tennessee Williams]] was met with acclaim. Writing for ''Variety'', Frank Rizzo said, "[She is] well cast as the recently widowed but hardly mourning proprietress … She takes over the stage with natural assurance and plays this overripe survivor with lusty humor and cunning".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2006/legit/reviews/the-night-of-the-iguana-4-1200514288/|title=The Night of the Iguana|work=Variety|first=Frank|last=Rizzo|date=August 9, 2006|access-date=July 4, 2023|archive-date=July 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704232928/https://variety.com/2006/legit/reviews/the-night-of-the-iguana-4-1200514288/|url-status=live}}</ref> The production ran between August 1–12 at the [[Berkshire Theatre Festival|Berkshire Theatre]] in [[Stockbridge, Massachusetts]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://playbill.com/article/linda-hamilton-stars-in-berkshire-night-of-the-iguana-aug-1-12-com-134041|title=Linda Hamilton Stars in Berkshire Night of the Iguana, Aug. 1-12|work=[[Playbill]]|first=Robert|last=Simonson|date=August 1, 2006|access-date=July 4, 2023|archive-date=July 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704232925/https://playbill.com/article/linda-hamilton-stars-in-berkshire-night-of-the-iguana-aug-1-12-com-134041|url-status=live}}</ref>

Hamilton reprised the role of Sarah Connor for a second time with a voice cameo in 2009's ''[[Terminator Salvation]]'',<ref>{{cite news|last=Elvy|first=Craig|date=October 24, 2019|title=Linda Hamilton Was In Terminator Salvation: Why Does Everybody Forget?|url=https://screenrant.com/terminator-salvation-linda-hamilton-return-voice-tapes/|work=[[Screen Rant]]|access-date=September 25, 2023|archive-date=October 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029180704/https://screenrant.com/terminator-salvation-linda-hamilton-return-voice-tapes/|url-status=live}}</ref> which grossed US$371 million at the worldwide box office.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3430254081/|title=Terminator Salvation|work=[[Box Office Mojo]]|access-date=September 30, 2023|archive-date=May 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514195231/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=terminatorsalvation.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2010, she joined the cast of NBC's espionage-style comedy series ''[[Chuck (TV series)|Chuck]]'', playing the recurring role of [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] agent [[Mary Elizabeth Bartowski]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://livefeed.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/07/linda-hamilton-joins-chuck.html | last = Hibberd | first = James |title=Linda Hamilton joins 'Chuck' |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=July 24, 2010 |access-date=July 25, 2010 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20100826035524/http://livefeed.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/07/linda-hamilton-joins-chuck.html |archive-date=August 26, 2010}}</ref> That same year, she guest-starred in three episodes of the [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]] dark comedy ''[[Weeds (TV series)|Weeds]]''—as the marijuana supplier for the series' protagonist—and appeared as a "cartoon American cop" in the poorly received Irish film ''[[Holy Water (film)|Holy Water]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/movies/holy-water|title=Holy Water|work=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]|first=Dave|last=Calhoun|date=February 2, 2010|access-date=July 4, 2023|archive-date=July 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704202156/https://www.timeout.com/movies/holy-water|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/holy-water|title=Holy Water|work=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=September 30, 2023|archive-date=October 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008061221/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/holy-water|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2011, Hamilton narrated the [[Chiller (TV network)|Chiller]] network's ''The Future of Fear'', a documentary on the history of horror films.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chillertv.com/movies/the_future_of_fear/ |title=The Future of Fear |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115103101/http://www.chillertv.com/movies/the_future_of_fear/ |date=January 15, 2012 |work=[[Chiller (TV channel)|Chiller TV]]|access-date=January 1, 2012 |archive-date=January 15, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> She then played a fictional U.S. president in the television miniseries ''[[Air Force One Is Down]]'' (2013), and had recurring roles as a bounty hunter on the [[Showcase (Canadian TV channel)|Showcase]] series ''[[Lost Girl]]'' (2013) and a mentally ill mother on [[Syfy]]'s ''[[Defiance (TV series)|Defiance]]'' (2014–2015).<ref>{{cite web|last=Seikaly|first=Andrew|date=April 10, 2014|url=https://variety.com/2014/tv/news/linda-hamilton-tapped-for-season-two-of-syfys-defiance-1201155639/|title=Linda Hamilton Tapped for Season Two of Syfy's 'Defiance'|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=June 11, 2019|archive-date=January 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190117082038/https://variety.com/2014/tv/news/linda-hamilton-tapped-for-season-two-of-syfys-defiance-1201155639/|url-status=live}}</ref> Her next projects were the television pilot ''Shoot Me Nicely'' (2016),<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 8, 2017|title=Zero Channel's TV Pilot "SHOOT ME NICELY" With Film Icon Linda Hamilton to Premiere at SeriesFest|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zero-channels-tv-pilot-shoot-me-nicely-with-film-icon-linda-hamilton-to-premiere-at-seriesfest-300470824.html|work=Zero Channel Media|agency=[[PR Newswire]]|access-date=October 2, 2023|archive-date=January 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125145151/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zero-channels-tv-pilot-shoot-me-nicely-with-film-icon-linda-hamilton-to-premiere-at-seriesfest-300470824.html|url-status=live}}</ref> which was later released as a short film,<ref name=GoldenDoor/> and the small-scale science fiction film ''[[Curvature (film)|Curvature]]'' (2017). In his evaluation of the latter for ''The Hollywood Reporter'', [[Frank Scheck]] described it as "awfully loopy", adding, "it's always a pleasure to see Hamilton, even if it's painfully obvious that she's been cast [here] because of the genre resonance she brings to the table".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/curvature-1087929/|title='Curvature': Film Review|work=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Frank|last=Scheck|date=February 23, 2018|access-date=July 5, 2023|archive-date=July 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705065129/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/curvature-1087929/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 2019–present: Return to mainstream projects ===
Hamilton returned once more to the ''Terminator'' franchise and the character of Sarah Connor when she headlined the [[Tim Miller (director)|Tim Miller]]-directed ''[[Terminator: Dark Fate]]'', set 25 years after the events of ''T2''. She admitted to being reluctant to sign on to the project, having spent the previous few years away from the spotlight: "I love my alone time like no one you've ever met … That was my hesitation: Do I want to trade this lovely, authentic life [that I've built] for that? I didn't want my neighbours looking at me differently. We're neighbors because of who we are, not what we do, and I don't want that to creep into my life again".<ref name=FledHollywood>{{cite news|last=Buchanan|first=Kyle|date=September 3, 2019|title=Linda Hamilton Fled Hollywood, but 'Terminator' Still Found Her|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/03/movies/linda-hamilton-terminator.html|work=The New York Times|access-date=June 3, 2020|archive-date=September 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904170445/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/03/movies/linda-hamilton-terminator.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Linda Hamilton (48355081587).jpg|right|thumb|Hamilton at [[San Diego Comic Con]], 2019]]

Filming on ''Dark Fate'' took place in Hungary, Spain and the U.S. between May and November 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://imdb.com/title/tt6450804/locations/#flmg_dates|title=Terminator: Dark Fate (Filming & Production)|website=IMDb|access-date=July 5, 2023|archive-date=July 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705063051/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6450804/locations/#flmg_dates|url-status=live}}</ref> Though a financial disappointment,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a29754980/terminator-dark-fate-box-office-flop-reasons/|title=Why Terminator: Dark Fate flopped at the box office|work=Digital Spy|first=Ian|last=Sandwell|date=December 27, 2020|access-date=July 4, 2023|archive-date=July 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704213348/https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a29754980/terminator-dark-fate-box-office-flop-reasons/|url-status=live}}</ref>  it received generally positive reviews upon its 2019 release, particularly for Hamilton's performance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/terminator-dark-fate-review-1202183832/|title='Terminator: Dark Fate' Review: This Isn't the Worst 'Terminator' Movie, but It Should Definitely Be the Last One|work=IndieWire|first=David|last=Ehrlich|date=October 22, 2019|access-date=July 4, 2023|archive-date=July 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704192604/https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/terminator-dark-fate-review-1202183832/|url-status=live}}</ref> Writing for ''[[Rolling Stone]]'', David Fear felt that she provided the film's "sinew, heart, and soul", and said of her introduction:

{{blockquote|A truck pulls up, we see boots hit the ground, and there she is: Sarah Connor 1.0, sunglasses on, stoic and iconic as fuck, gunning down a sprinting shape-shifter and employing a rocket launcher for a finishing move. It's the sort of movie entrance that the character (and the actor) deserves, the kind that prompts spontaneous, uncontrollable cheering in theaters … Her weathered survivor will charitably share the screen with newcomers and old co-stars alike, but from this moment on, ''Dark Fate'' is Hamilton's property. She calmly slips the superior sequel into the back pocket of her faded work pants and walks away with it. Everyone else is acting in ''her'' movie.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-reviews/terminator-dark-fate-movie-review-linda-hamilton-904537/|title='Terminator: Dark Fate' Review: Sarah Connor Saves the World (and the Franchise)|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|first=David|last=Fear|date=October 31, 2019|access-date=July 4, 2023|archive-date=July 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704192604/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-reviews/terminator-dark-fate-movie-review-linda-hamilton-904537/|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

Later that year, Hamilton was named Best Actress at the Los Angeles Crime and Horror Film Festival for her portrayal of "King George"—a ruthless crime boss—in ''[[Easy Does It (2019 film)|Easy Does It]]'',<ref name="lacrimehorror">{{cite web|url=https://lacrimehorror.com/filmfestival/awards-3rd|title=3rd LA Crime & Horror Film Festival - Best of Festival Awards|work=LACHFF|access-date=July 5, 2023|archive-date=July 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705074012/https://lacrimehorror.com/filmfestival/awards-3rd|url-status=live}}</ref> which ''[[Film Threat]]'' described as "excellent … a throwback to grindhouse adventure films [and westerns]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://filmthreat.com/reviews/easy-does-it/|title=Easy Does It|work=Film Threat|first=Josiah|last=Teal|date=July 17, 2020|access-date=July 5, 2023|archive-date=July 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705071112/https://filmthreat.com/reviews/easy-does-it/|url-status=live}}</ref> She began appearing as General McCallister on Syfy's ''[[Resident Alien (TV series)|Resident Alien]]'' in 2021, which ''[[IndieWire]]'' called a  "genre-bending … spry half-hour comedy [series]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/resident-alien-review-alan-tudyk-syfy-show-1234612187/|title='Resident Alien' Review: Alan Tudyk Cuts Through the Clutter In a Comedy Searching for Its Home|work=IndieWire|first=Steve|last=Greene|date=January 27, 2021|access-date=July 5, 2023|archive-date=July 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705110025/https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/resident-alien-review-alan-tudyk-syfy-show-1234612187/|url-status=live}}</ref> Also that year, she guest-starred as a hippie life coach in six episodes of the [[TNT (American TV network)|TNT]] dark comedy ''[[Claws (TV series)|Claws]]'' during its final season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/claws-eventful-yet-somewhat-uneven-final-season-puts-1848233588|title=Claws' eventful, yet somewhat uneven final season puts relationships to the test|work=AV Club|first=Shannon|last=Miller|date=December 17, 2021|access-date=July 5, 2023|archive-date=July 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705120324/https://www.avclub.com/claws-eventful-yet-somewhat-uneven-final-season-puts-1848233588|url-status=live}}</ref>

It was announced in June 2023 that Hamilton would join the ensemble of the [[Netflix]] mystery-horror series ''[[Stranger Things]]'' for its fifth and final season—due to air in 2025—as an unspecified character.<ref name=MashableStranger>{{cite web|url=https://mashable.com/video/linda-hamilton-netflix-stranger-things-season-5|title='Stranger Things' welcomes another 80s icon as Linda Hamilton joins Season 5|work=Mashable|first=Chase|last=DiBenedetto|date=June 18, 2023|access-date=July 4, 2023|archive-date=July 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704192605/https://mashable.com/video/linda-hamilton-netflix-stranger-things-season-5|url-status=live}}</ref> A self-proclaimed fan of the show, she said of her casting, "I don't know how to be a fangirl and an actress at the same time. I'm going to work on that".<ref name=MashableStranger/>

==Personal life==
Hamilton's twin sister, Leslie, died on August 22, 2020, at the age of 63.<ref name=TodayTwin/> Leslie appeared as Linda's double in a few scenes of ''Terminator 2: Judgment Day'', including the scene in which the [[T-1000]] disguises itself as Sarah Connor. Hamilton has described herself politically as a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]], but she voted for [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] candidate [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]]—her ''Terminator'' co-star—in the [[2003 California gubernatorial recall election|2003 California election]] after his campaign convinced her he was suitable for the job.<ref name="CaliforniaElection">{{cite web |url=http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2007/07/24/linda_hamilton_i_voted_for_schwarzenegge |title=Linda Hamilton: 'I Voted for Scwarzenegger' |publisher=starpulse.com |date=July 24, 2007 |access-date=August 30, 2010 |archive-date=October 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012114522/http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2007/07/24/linda_hamilton_i_voted_for_schwarzenegge |url-status=dead }}</ref> While filming ''Terminator 2: Judgment Day'', Hamilton suffered permanent hearing damage in one ear because she had forgotten to put in her earplugs for a scene which called for Schwarzenegger to fire a shotgun inside an elevator.<ref>{{cite web |last=Julius |first=Marshall |title=Linda Hamilton: Interview |url=http://www.blockbuster.co.uk/bbsitecontent/editorial/promotions/may10/linda-hamilton.aspx |quote=To this day I have serious hearing loss in one ear. We were shooting a scene in an elevator and I'd forgotten to put my earplugs in. |website=[[Blockbuster LLC]] |access-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025062335/http://www.blockbuster.co.uk/bbsitecontent/editorial/promotions/may10/linda-hamilton.aspx |archive-date=October 25, 2012}}</ref>

=== Marriage and relationships ===
Hamilton has been married and divorced twice.<ref name=King>{{cite web |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0510/14/lkl.01.html |title=CNN Larry King Live Interview with Linda Hamilton (transcript) |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=October 14, 2005 |access-date=January 2, 2008 |archive-date=May 6, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060506174620/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0510/14/lkl.01.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Her first marriage was to actor [[Bruce Abbott]], from 1982 to 1989. He left Hamilton when she was pregnant with their son Dalton, who was born in 1989.<ref name="yahoomovies">[http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/person/linda-hamilton/biography.html Linda Hamilton Biography - Yahoo! Movies] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301190518/http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/person/linda-hamilton/biography.html |date=March 1, 2014}}</ref> She later stated Abbott departed due to her mood swings and physical abuse towards him stemming from [[bipolar disorder]], and she publicly apologized to him 14 years later in 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.contactmusic.com/linda-hamilton/news/hamilton-opens-up-about-first-marriage-hell |title=Hamilton Opens up About First Marriage Hell |date=November 18, 2004 |access-date=August 14, 2022 |archive-date=November 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105221549/https://www.contactmusic.com/linda-hamilton/news/hamilton-opens-up-about-first-marriage-hell |url-status=live }}</ref> 

In 1991,<ref name="yahoomovies" /> Hamilton began a relationship and moved in<ref name="FledHollywood" /> with film director [[James Cameron]] after filming ''Terminator 2: Judgment Day''.<ref name="elpais">{{cite web |title='They didn't know what to do with me': The return of Linda Hamilton, action film star who survived 'Terminator,' drugs and depression |url=https://english.elpais.com/culture/2023-07-10/they-didnt-know-what-to-do-with-me-the-return-of-linda-hamilton-action-film-star-who-survived-terminator-drugs-and-depression.html |website=[[El País]] |date=July 10, 2023 |access-date=July 11, 2023 |archive-date=July 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711010814/https://english.elpais.com/culture/2023-07-10/they-didnt-know-what-to-do-with-me-the-return-of-linda-hamilton-action-film-star-who-survived-terminator-drugs-and-depression.html |url-status=live }}</ref> They had a daughter, born in 1993.<ref name="yahoomovies" /> Hamilton said she experienced [[postpartum depression]] after the birth of her second child.<ref name="elpais" /> Hamilton and Cameron briefly separated when Cameron was filming ''[[Titanic (1997 film)|Titanic]]'' (1997) and he began a relationship with actress [[Suzy Amis]], who played a small role in the film.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Persaud |first=Vishal |date=February 5, 2010 |title=Cameron's Ex-Wife Shares Details on Failed Marriage |url=https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/national-international/avatar-director-goes-through-his-women-like-his-work/1857841/ |website=[[NBC San Diego]] |access-date=July 11, 2023 |archive-date=February 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230214033750/https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/national-international/avatar-director-goes-through-his-women-like-his-work/1857841/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="elpais" /> Hamilton and Cameron later got back together and married in 1997;<ref name="elpais" /> this ended in a $50 million divorce settlement for Hamilton in 1999.<ref name="elpais" /> 

In a 2019 interview for ''[[The New York Times]]'', Hamilton said she had been [[Celibacy|celibate]] for "at least 15 years".<ref name="FledHollywood" /> "One loses track, because it just doesn't matter — or at least it doesn't matter to me. I have a very romantic relationship with my world every day and the people who are in it," she said.<ref name="FledHollywood" />

=== Mental health ===
Hamilton started to [[Binge eating|binge eat]] when she entered high school.<ref name="elpais"/> After seeing a psychologist for the first time at the age of 22 in 1978–1979,<ref name="elpais"/> she thought acting would help her feel better, but she ended up having a breakdown in the beginning of her acting career and turned to drugs and alcohol use and self-medicated with cocaine in order to get her confidence up.<ref name="elpais"/> In an October 2005 appearance on ''[[Larry King Live]]'', Hamilton discussed her depression and [[bipolar disorder]], which led to violent mood swings and suicidal thoughts during her marriage to Abbott and, in her view, caused the failure of both her marriages.<ref name=King/> She also discussed how she eventually received therapy and medication to manage the condition.<ref name=King/>

==Filmography==
{{main|Linda Hamilton filmography}}

==Accolades==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Selected accolades for Linda Hamilton
|-
!scope="col"| Year
!scope="col"| Association
!scope="col"| Category
!scope="col"| Nominated work
!scope="col"| Result
!scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
|1985
|[[Saturn Awards]]
|[[Saturn Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]]
|''[[The Terminator]]''
|{{nom}}
|<ref name="Awards">{{cite web|title=Awards for Linda Hamilton|url=https://www.filmaffinity.com/us/name-movies-awards.php?name-id=595629362|website=[[FilmAffinity|Filmaffinity]]|access-date=October 2, 2023|archive-date=October 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002230542/https://www.filmaffinity.com/us/name-movies-awards.php?name-id=595629362|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|1988
|rowspan=2| [[Golden Globe Awards]]
|rowspan=2| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama|Best Actress – Drama Series]]
|rowspan=6|[[Beauty and the Beast (1987 TV series)|''Beauty and the Beast'']]
|{{nom}}
|<ref name="AwardsGG">{{cite web|title=Linda Hamilton|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/person/linda-hamilton|website=GoldenGlobes.com|access-date=January 19, 2022|archive-date=September 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917225835/https://www.goldenglobes.com/person/linda-hamilton|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=3| 1989
|{{nom}}
|<ref name="AwardsGG"/>
|-
|[[Primetime Emmy Awards]]
|[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series|Lead Actress in a Drama Series]]
|{{nom}}
|<ref name="Emmys">{{cite web|title=Awards & Nominations|url=https://www.emmys.com/bios/linda-hamilton|website=Emmys.com|access-date=July 4, 2023|archive-date=July 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704001828/https://www.emmys.com/bios/linda-hamilton|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|[[Viewers for Quality Television]]
|Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series
|{{nom}}
|{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}
|-
|rowspan=2| 1990
|[[Romy (TV award)|Romy Awards]]
|Audience Award - Favorite Actress in a Series
|{{won}}
|<ref name="romy"/>
|-
|Saturn Awards
|Best Genre TV Actress
|{{won}}
|<ref name="Awards"/>
|-
|rowspan=2| 1991
|Awards Circuit Community Awards
|Best Actress in a Leading Role
|''[[Terminator 2: Judgment Day]]''
|{{nom}}
| {{citation needed|date=March 2024}}
|-
|[[Bravo Otto]]
|Best Female Film Star
|{{n/a}}
|{{runner-up}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |title=Bravo Otto - Sieger 1991 |url=https://bravo-archiv.de/auswahl.php?link=ottosieger1991.php |access-date=September 29, 2023 |website=[[Bravo Otto]] |language=de |archive-date=July 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721220342/https://bravo-archiv.de/auswahl.php?link=ottosieger1991.php |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=4| 1992
|[[Fangoria Chainsaw Awards]]
|[[Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]]
|rowspan=4| ''Terminator 2: Judgment Day''
|{{nom}}
|<ref name="AwardsMTV"/>
|-
|rowspan=2|[[MTV Movie & TV Awards|MTV Movie Awards]]
|[[MTV Movie Award for Best Actor in a Movie|Best Female Performance]]
|{{won}}
|<ref name="AwardsMTV">{{cite web|title=Linda Hamilton rakes in two awards: one for Most Desirable Female and another for Best Female Performance for kicking serious ass in ''Terminator 2: Judgment Day''.|url=https://www.mtv.com/photos/nnctnv/mtv-movie-awards-1992-highlights/tsqu0j|website=MTV.com|access-date=January 19, 2022|archive-date=January 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104160100/https://www.mtv.com/photos/nnctnv/mtv-movie-awards-1992-highlights/tsqu0j|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|[[MTV Movie Award for Most Desirable Female|Most Desirable Female]]
|{{won}}
|<ref name="AwardsMTV"/>
|-
|Saturn Awards
|Best Actress
|{{won}}
|<ref name="Awards"/>
|-
|1995
|[[CableACE Award]]s
|Actress in a Movie or Miniseries
|rowspan=2|''[[A Mother's Prayer]]''
|{{won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Margulies |first=Lee |date=December 4, 1995 |title=Shandling, HBO Top Cable Awards : Television: The star and his 'Larry Sanders Show' each get four CableACE honors. HBO wins 27 of the 81 prizes. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-12-04-ca-10134-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=September 29, 2023 |archive-date=July 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724040240/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-12-04-ca-10134-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|1996
|Golden Globe Awards
|[[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film|Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film]]
|{{nom}}
|<ref name="AwardsGG"/>
|-
|1998
|[[Blockbuster Entertainment Awards]]
|Favorite Actress
|''[[Dante's Peak]]''
|{{won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 12, 1998 |title=A Blockbuster night |url=https://dailybruin.com/1998/03/12/a-blockbuster-night |website=[[Daily Bruin]] |access-date=September 29, 2023 |archive-date=October 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002230543/https://dailybruin.com/1998/03/12/a-blockbuster-night |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|2000
|[[Satellite Awards]]
|[[Satellite Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film|Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film]]
|''The Color of Courage''
|{{won}}
|<ref name="Awards"/>
|-
|2001
|[[DVD Exclusive Awards]]
|Best Supporting Actress
|''Skeletons in the Closet''
|{{won}}
|<ref name="Awards"/>
|-
|2015
|Artemis Women in Action Film Festival
|Action Icon
|''Terminator 2: Judgment Day''
|{{won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Artemis' 2015 Ass-Kicking Honorees - Ms. Linda Hamilton |url=https://www.artemisfilmfestival.com/2015festival/honorees/hamilton/ |access-date=September 29, 2023 |website=Artemis Women in Action Film Festival |archive-date=June 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230618213624/https://www.artemisfilmfestival.com/2015festival/honorees/hamilton/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=3|2016
|Hollywood International Moving Pictures Film Festival
|Best Ensemble Cast
|rowspan=8|''Shoot Me Nicely''
|{{won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hollywood International Moving Pictures Film Festival - Winners October 2016 |url=https://himpff.com/oct-2016-winner.html |access-date=October 2, 2023 |website=Hollywood International Moving Pictures Film Festival |archive-date=March 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330235316/http://himpff.com/oct-2016-winner.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|NYC Indie Film Awards
|Best Actress
|{{won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=NYC Indie Film Awards - Winners - September / October 2016 |url=https://nycindiefilmawards.com/septemberoctoberwinners.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425020526/http://nycindiefilmawards.com/septemberoctoberwinners.html |archive-date=April 25, 2017 |access-date=October 2, 2023 |website=NYC Indie Film Awards}}</ref>
|-
|Williamsburg Independent Film Festival
|Best Featured Actress
|{{won}}
|<ref name="Williamsburg">{{Cite web|date=November 22, 2016|title=Willfilm Announces Winners of 7th Annual Williamsburg Independent Film Festival Awards|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/willfilm-announces-winners-of-7th-annual-williamsburg-independent-film-festival-awards-300367632.html|agency=[[PRNewswire]]|work=Willfilm|access-date=September 29, 2023|archive-date=September 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927012038/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/willfilm-announces-winners-of-7th-annual-williamsburg-independent-film-festival-awards-300367632.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=5| 2017
|[[Austin Revolution Film Festival]]
|Best Actress in a Series
|{{nom}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Austin Revolution Film Festival {{!}} 2017 Award Winners |url=https://www.austinrevolution.com/p/awards/awards-history/304 |access-date=October 2, 2023 |website=Austin Revolution Film Festival |archive-date=March 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325180548/https://www.austinrevolution.com/p/awards/awards-history/304 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|European Independent Film Awards
|Diamond Award for Best Actress
|{{won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=The European Independent Film Award - Winter 2017 Winners |url=https://theeifa.com/late2017.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191121224107/http://theeifa.com/late2017.html |archive-date=November 21, 2019 |access-date=October 2, 2023 |website=European Independent Film Award}}</ref>
|-
|[[Golden Door Film Festival]]
|Best Actress in a Short Film
|{{won}}
|<ref name=GoldenDoor>{{Cite web |date=October 11, 2017 |title=The Girl Who Invented Kissing", "Almost Paris", and "Brooklyn in July" Are Big Winners At 2017 Golden Door International Film Festival |url=https://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/getarticle.php?titlelink=the-girl-who-invented-kissing-almost-paris-and-brooklyn-in-july-are-big-winners-at-2017-golden-door-international-film-festival |website=New Jersey Stage |access-date=September 29, 2023 |archive-date=November 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104010203/https://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/getarticle.php?titlelink=the-girl-who-invented-kissing-almost-paris-and-brooklyn-in-july-are-big-winners-at-2017-golden-door-international-film-festival |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|L.A. Shorts Awards
|Best Actress
|{{won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=L.A. Shorts Awards Winners – December 2017 |url=https://lashortsawards.com/december2017.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201153327/http://lashortsawards.com/december2017.html |archive-date=February 1, 2018 |access-date=October 2, 2023 |website=L.A. Shorts Awards}}</ref>
|-
|[[Northeast Film Festival]]
|Best Supporting Actress in a Short Film
|{{nom}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Northeast Film Festival 2017 Award Winners |url=http://www.nefilmfestival.com/2017-winners.html |access-date=October 2, 2023 |website=[[Northeast Film Festival]] |archive-date=July 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723201538/http://www.nefilmfestival.com/2017-winners.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=2| 2019
|[[National Association of Theatre Owners#CinemaCon|CinemaCon]]
|Best Ensemble
|''[[Terminator: Dark Fate]]''
|{{won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cast of ''Terminator: Dark Fate'' to Receive "CinemaCon® Ensemble Award" |url=https://cinemacon.com/press-release/cast-of-terminator-dark-fate-to-receive-cinemacon-ensemble-award |access-date=October 2, 2023 |website=[[CinemaCon]] |archive-date=March 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320105101/https://cinemacon.com/press-release/cast-of-terminator-dark-fate-to-receive-cinemacon-ensemble-award |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|Los Angeles Crime and Horror Film Festival
|Best Actress
|''[[Easy Does It (2019 film)|Easy Does It]]''
|{{won}}
|<ref name="lacrimehorror"/>
|-
|2021
|Saturn Awards
|[[Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]]
|''Terminator: Dark Fate''
|{{nom}}
|<ref name="Awards"/>
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Linda Hamilton (actress)|Linda Hamilton}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{Tcmdb name}}

{{Navboxes |title = Awards for Linda Hamilton |list =
{{MTV Movie Award for Best Performance}}
{{MTV Movie Award for Most Desirable Female}}
{{Satellite Award Best Actress Television Miniseries or Film}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Actress}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hamilton, Linda}}
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century American actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses from Maryland]]
[[Category:American film actresses]]
[[Category:American television actresses]]
[[Category:American voice actresses]]
[[Category:Identical twin actresses]]
[[Category:Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Maryland Democrats]]
[[Category:People from Salisbury, Maryland]]
[[Category:People with bipolar disorder]]
[[Category:American twins]]
[[Category:Washington College alumni]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Romy (TV award)]]