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Linda Hamilton has admittedly played several iconic characters during her decades-long career, but doesn’t hold herself to the same regard.
The actress, 68, spoke with PEOPLE following the release of her new sci-fi action movie Osiris, which sees a group of commandos, abducted by an alien race, in a daring fight for survival. Hamilton’s long career is dotted with a similar thrill, as she’s starred in “tough guy” roles like Terminator and Black Moon Rising.
When she first arrived on the set of her latest film, Hamilton says she drew a special response from crew members, many of whom grew up watching her work.
“[I’m] standing at craft services and somebody goes, ‘Oh my God, you’re Linda Hamilton. I didn’t know you were on this movie. You’re a legend. You’re an icon,'” she recalls. “These words come out and I’m like, ‘No, no, no. I’m just playing one.’ ”
Though she appreciates the kindness, Hamilton says the praise sometimes makes her feel “really uncomfortable,” noting that she never likes to feel “different” and is “definitely an introvert.”
“I think I have a theory that we all want to stand out or we want to disappear, and I’m more of the ‘I want to disappear,'” she adds.
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While the crew geeked out over Hamilton’s presence, she says her costars’ response was more subdued. Actors, she says, tend to “keep it cool.” Although she was met with “enthusiasm,” which was “lovely,” Hamilton figured it was something of an “everyday enthusiasm.”
The actress first gained recognition on the 1980s series Secrets of Midland Heights and King’s Crossing. She went on to earn two Golden Globe nominations and an Emmy for her performance in the Beauty and the Beast TV series, which aired from 1987 to 1990, and has been booked and busy ever since.
Hamilton has floated the idea of wrapping up her acting career for a long time, but recently admitted she’s “very bad at retiring.” In June, she told PEOPLE it’s because she genuinely enjoys the roles and projects.
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“I just love the work,” she shared. “I don’t love the travel and leaving home all the time, and it’s kind of splitting hairs. Since I said I wanted to retire, I have not stopped working.”
Recently, she starred in Resident Alien, which wrapped its fourth and final season this year, and will also appear in Stranger Things’ final season, which debuts in November.
