Terminator star Linda Hamilton says that appearing in Stranger Things is "different from anything else" in her career

Linda Hamilton in Terminator Dark Fate
(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Linda Hamilton is set to appear in Stranger Things season 5 but The Terminator actor – a self-confessed fan of the Netflix series – wasn’t sure she’d belong at first.

When asked by io9 about the experience of joining a show she’s already a fan of, Hamilton replied that it’s "altogether different from anything else I’ve done."

"I really felt like, [is] there a place for me in that show? Having watched it for four seasons and loving it so much – I thought, I don’t belong there. That’s their world.”

Hamilton, who has appeared in everything from Dante’s Peak to Chuck, continued, "It’s really interesting [to] try to insert yourself in a story that you know very well. It was a little odd for me; I felt a little bit of imposter syndrome there. But we’re making it work. I’m delighted and having a wonderful time on that show." She added: "They’ve created a good place for me. And I’m going to run with it."

While Hamilton’s role remains shrouded in secrecy, we could find out about her presence in Hawkins – or the Upside Down, mind you – very soon. Stranger Things season 5 is currently filming, and the Duffer Brothers have teased the latest from production with a handful of cryptic behind-the-scenes photos from the set.

Stranger Things season 5, set to be the show’s final season, is currently undated. For more from the streamer, check out the best Netflix shows and the best Netflix anime you should be watching right now.

Bradley Russell

I'm the Senior Entertainment Writer here at 12DOVE, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you'll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.

Read more
Eleven in Stranger Things season 4, episode 9
Millie Bobby Brown talks the "really emotional" goodbye of Stranger Things season 5: "I'll always be grateful for the Duffer Brothers for hiring me"
Mike, Eleven and Will in Stranger Things season 4 (2022)
Stranger Things season 5: Everything we know so far about the Netflix show's final chapter
Eleven in Stranger Things season 4, episode 9
Stranger Things season 5 is so top secret, even Eleven star Millie Bobby Brown won't see the full episodes before their release
Stranger Things season 5 set photo
Stranger Things creators Duffer Brothers reveal they filmed over 650 hours of footage for the final season of the Netflix hit, as behind-the-scenes teaser is shown behind closed doors
Stranger Things season 4, volume 2 finale
Stranger Things season 5 was a "Lord of the Rings-style" epic to film according to star: "I feel like it couldn’t have ended better"
Stranger Things season 4, volume 2 finale
Stranger Things season 5 wraps as the cast say goodbye to the Netflix show with the cutest behind-the-scenes snaps
Latest in Sci-Fi Movies
The Rise of Skywalker
Despite those retirement reports, Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy is "very involved" in the Rey Star Wars movie, according to Daisy Ridley
Giancarlo Esposito in The Electric State
The Electric State star Giancarlo Esposito explains why adapting the bleak novel into a family friendly adventure was the right decision: "I'm going to bring my children with me"
Giancarlo Esposito in The Electric State
The Electric State may be the Russo brothers' most challenging VFX project yet, but stars Stanley Tucci and Giancarlo Esposito say it's one of the easiest films they’ve ever done
Giancarlo Esposito and Stanley Tucci in The Electric State
Stars Stanley Tucci and Giancarlo Esposito say their new dystopian sci-fi movie The Electric State is more like our own reality than we might realize
Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, and Ke Huy Quan in The Electric State
$320 million in the hole, the Russo brothers' new Netflix movie debuts to their worst Rotten Tomatoes score even though it's one of the most expensive films ever made
Zoe Saldaña in Avatar
James Cameron had "too many great ideas" for Avatar: The Way of Water, so the cut content became Avatar 3 which "will actually be a little bit longer" than its 3-hour predecessor
Latest in News
inZOI Character Studio screenshot showing a young woman with short black/pink hair, black cat-like ears, and a black blouse with a bowtie
The creator of upcoming life sim Inzoi says he was "recklessly brave to even think about creating a game of this scale"
Rise of the Ronin
A year after its PS5 launch, Rise of the Ronin debuts on PC to "Mixed" reviews and performance complaints: "Stuttering on a 4090 is just... no"
Rise of the Ronin's photo mode offers some wonderful shots
On the heels of Rise of the Ronin's PC launch, its director says there's a "significant" amount of Japanese Switch gamers: "I am closely watching how this will change with the release of Switch 2"
Stardew Valley Castle Village mod
Stardew Valley Expanded creator is building an "even more ambitious" mod with a whole new city and "dungeons inspired by The Legend of Zelda"
Dino Crisis 2 art showing a young woman and man back-to-back amid tall green grass, both with their weapons drawn
Dino Crisis gets a fresh trademark filing by Capcom, but it might not mean the 26-year-old survival horror franchise will get a new installment like fans expect
Cujo
Netflix is making a brand new adaptation of Cujo, the infamous Stephen King book about a killer dog