'Osiris' Exclusive Interview: Linda Hamilton

Moviefone speaks with Linda Hamilton about 'Osiris' and the Legacy of Sarah Connor. "That's something that only hits decades later, the size of the impact."

(L to R) Linda Hamilton and Brianna Hildebrand in 'Osiris'. Photo: XYZ Films.

Opening in theaters on July 25th is the new sci-fi action film ‘Osiris’, which was directed by William Kaufman (‘Daylight’s End’) and stars Max Martini (‘13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi’), Brianna Hilderbrand (‘Deadpool’), LaMonica Garrett (‘Arrow’), and Linda Hamilton (‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’).

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with legendary actress Linda Hamilton about her work on ‘Osiris’, her first reaction to the screenplay, playing a survivor, working with the cast, practical effects vs. VFX, shooting aliens and her love for sci-fi, as well as her experience making 'The Terminator’ movies and the legacy of Sara Connor in pop culture.

Related Article: James Cameron Drops Hints of a “Secret” New ‘Terminator’ Project He’s Overseeing

Linda Hamilton in 'Osiris'. Photo: XYZ Films.

Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and why you wanted to be a part of this project?

Linda Hamilton: It was a real fast handoff. It came to me during the strike, so it was darn convenient, it was one of the protected independents, and so it was an opportunity to get something done during the strike, because I don't like sitting around at home. But more than that, it was just fun. She had a Russian accent, and I was all in. I hadn't done one for 35 years or something like that. So, then you think, “Oh, muscle memory”, I loved playing Russian, but you really must start all over again. So, it was local, it was fast, it was hard, and it was Russian. Why not?

MF: Your character, Anya is a survivor, and obviously you have played survivors in the past. Can you talk about Anya’s resilience and your approach to playing her?

LH: Yes. I certainly do play survivors, but situationally, I enjoyed it, the different situation of, we don't really know much about her, everyone is a bit mysterious in this film. But then, as she tells the story, and you realize the size of the problem. I really enjoyed monsters on a spaceship, how much fun is that? I love Sci-Fi. So, it was just down and dirty, and fast, and I like to work like that too. I like to support newer filmmakers, and it felt like the cast was strong. It's situations like this where you really fall extra in love with moviemaking, just these committed actors, kind of exhausted, the characters are bandaged, and hardened, and filthy, and they were the greatest troupe. I'd like to go acting with all of them, they were just so solid, and really helping each other out, and welcoming of me. It was just fantastic to work like that. It always is great to work like that, but you don't always get to work like that.

(L to R) Max Martini and Brianna Hildebrand in 'Osiris'. Photo: XYZ Films.

MF: What was it like working with Max Martini and Brianna Hilderbrand?

LH: Well, as I've said, I didn't have a lot of time to get all my prep on, I was so busy getting the character ready. I think I went in one day for fittings, and I think maybe I worked or went in to sit with them. It's great if you can be there from the beginning, and see what they're building, but that did not happen. I didn't really have the time. So, when I showed up, everybody was just great, so welcoming, so supportive, and the actors were like a troop. Max is so handsome. I was like, “Who is this guy”? He's so good and such a leading man, in an action film. All of them, I could have felt that way, they all lent something, I thought it was well cast. Brianna was lovely. It was just fun, three days of fun.

MF: You mentioned you love science fiction. What do you love about the genre and what was it like shooting aliens on screen?

LH: Well, that's good. There was a lot of pressure to do this and do that. William is phenomenal about knowing what he needs. We went in for some re-shoots and he said, “I need this shot”. The stuff that gets lost on the big days, but really is going to sell it. Like me changing ammo, or whatever. He's very confident. As far as the genre, I just think I got really bored with professional women, and beautiful women parts, you know what I mean? I like the wild side. I like unpredictable. I like surprising people. I don't want to look the same, or be the same, or do the same. So, I enjoy those wilder parts. I just love how rich the world is, and the possibilities.

(L to R) LaMonica Garrett, Max Martini and Michael Irby in 'Osiris'. Photo: XYZ Films.

MF: The film features a lot of practical effects, and you obviously have experience working with visual effects on the ‘Terminator’ movies, so what was it like for you personally to make that adjustment and have something in front of you to work off in this film?

LH: Oh, I can play all different ways. You just tell me what I'm seeing. I'm very quick, because you must be when you've done a lot of action. You just must be quick on your feet. I started with blue screen before green screen. I've gotten to be here during a very interesting time. Because in the early days I did ‘King Kong Lives’, I know it's probably your favorite film of all time. It's the one that no one ever talks about. But what we had doing that film was a green screen and one moving arm, a foot, and a head that were practical. The rest you had to make up in your mind. You know what I mean? We didn't do anything in those days to help an actor figure out where the eye line was, or what they're seeing. You had to do a whole lot of mental work to make it come alive when there's nothing there. So, I feel like I got some good training.

Linda Hamilton in 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day'. Photo: Tri-Star Pictures.

MF: Finally, I’m sure you are aware of the incredible impact your role as Sarah Connor in ‘The Terminator’ movies has had on pop culture. Looking back on that now, how does it feel to know that this character and your performance means so much to so many people?

LH: Well, that's something that only hits decades later, really, the size of the impact. You must get back a few generations to see what it really is. It was never my intention; (my appearance in ‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’) was not vanity at all. It was simply, I better look like a hardened soldier. I said to Jim (Cameron), because he hadn't written it yet, and I said, "Make her crazy, she's been living with this knowledge of the future for all these years." So, I contributed a little bit, and I then worked out hard, but it never occurred to me that I was going to represent the future empowered female actor. You know what I mean? You're not thinking about impact like that. So, I'm a little uncomfortable with the whole legacy thing, and I think that if you live long enough, I'm 68 now, I'm like, wow, I suddenly am an icon and a legacy, just because I'm 68. Those words start coming out from people, and I'm so uncomfortable with it, like on set, I'm like, "No, no, no, I'm just a working actor, I am not all that." That's not false modesty, it's like that was never the effort, that was a lucky accident that happened because of the timing, and because I worked hard, for sure. I think really my entire legacy rests on the fact that I didn't cut my hair, when Jim wanted me to, It made perfect sense that she's getting out of the mental hospital, this is in the second movie, and she's going to cut her hair off because then a soldier has nothing for you to grab. I was like, "Why don't I just throw it back in a ponytail?" I think the difference is that I didn't have to look like a man to be strong. I think it all hinged on the fact that I kept my hair long. So, it's funny, it's just a little moment, but I think it was the fact that a woman can be feminine and strong.

What is the plot of ‘Osiris’?

Special Forces commandos on a mission are abducted mid-operation by a mysterious spacecraft. Upon waking aboard, they find themselves prey to a relentless alien race in a fight for survival.