Linda Hamilton (Holy Water) interview
Linda Hamilton (Terminator, Dante's Peak) stars as Cory Williams alongside a new breed of hardened criminals in Irish comedy Holy Water.
> Watch the trailer.
The village of Kilcoulins Leap was once a thriving spa town, and was home to a famous Holy Well, but now offers little by way of employment for its people, and its decline seems inexorable. When local Postie, Podger Byrnes, comes up with a plan to hijack a consignment of Viagra, and sell it on the open market in Amsterdam, his friends are desperate enough to try it. Not counting on the muscular response of Viagra's makers, the boys panic and hide the lorry load of Viagra down the town's Holy Well.
LastBroadcast caught up with Linda to find out more about her role, how she feels about the Terminator franchise and what she's got coming up next...
How would you describe your character Cory in Holy Water?
I play the scary American, à la Sarah Connor! I’m sent to investigate the Viagra heist. Basically I’m the ‘straight man’ who scares the bejeesus out of them.
What were the lads like to work with?
It was just one talented person after another, I liked them more than my team! I love the Irish!
What attracted you to the film when saw the script?
It wasn’t so much my character that attracted me, it was just a perfect script. It harkened back to the sort of classic BBC comedy dramas that my parents watch like Last Of The Summer Wine.
So, despite the film’s premise, would you say it appeals to the whole family?
If you say ‘viagra’ heist, people go… (gasps). But people love the idea, everyone I spoke to was like “why has this not been done before?!”.
Did you enjoy filming down in Devon?
It was really amazing, I come over to the UK as much as I can, I’m a total Anglophile!
Was the opportunity to work in the UK for a bit something that attracted you to the role?
I’d never compromise myself as an actress by choosing a project just for a location, but it was a bonus, definitely. It is sometimes very tempting though to take roles just so you get so spend a few months somewhere nice!
Did you get recognised much while you were filming there?
It was very quiet actually, I think they were so not used to seeing celebrities there that they just didn’t expect it. Although I stayed in a castle for a bit and I did get recognised there quite often. They had lots of wedding parties and I felt a bit bad actually because the poor bride would be completely ignored while the guys were all like “look, it’s Linda Hamilton!”. So I ended up hiding in my room a lot until eventually I checked into a different hotel.
You returned briefly to the part of Sarah Connor in Terminator Salvation last year for a voice part - would you consider a full onscreen part in a future Terminator film?
Well, we’d have to see what the part entailed. I think it’s very easy to end up with diminished returns with these things. I feel like I’ve gone full circle with the character already and I’ve been very loyal to James Cameron with the first two movies. I just didn’t find much to applaud in the last two, they really didn’t move me. But you never know, a geriatric Sarah Connor could be interesting!
Did you see any of The Sarah Connor Chronicles on TV while it was on, with Lena Headey playing Sarah Connor? Was it weird seeing someone else in the role?
It was a little bit weird, yeah, I only saw the pilot. But it must be very hard to step into someone else’s large shoes, I know from when I’ve taken over a role in a play from someone else, so I wish her all the best. I actually really like her, I don’t know her, but I like her work. I heard they were really exploring the Terminator world in that show, so it’s a shame it was cancelled, I imagine it was very expensive to make though.
What else have you got coming up in 2010?
I’ve just finished a film called Refuge. It’s a road trip and I play a fundamental Christian woman who accidentally kills her husband. It’s all very unlikely and strange, it’s a dark comedy so it was new territory for me.
Did you enjoy shooting Refuge in New Mexico?
Well, it was monsoon season - who knew New Mexico had a monsoon season?! So it was very taxing, which is when I strive, so it was great. My body acclimatised by Day 3 and I was just focusing on the acting. New Mexico is absolutely beautiful though, it was a revelation for me, it was great to get a new perspective on the place.
Do you plan to do any more stage work?
I’d hope that the whole second half of my career will be on stage. I never set out to be an action adventure star! The stage is so powerful, to build a character like that, and I get so much out of my fellow actors, I love it.
Holy Water is released in UK and Irish cinemas on 5th February 2010.
Interview conducted on 3rd February 2010.
Written by Will Martin.
