A Quickie With Lena Headey
By Malinda Lo
Source: AfterEllen

British actor Lena Headey may not be a lesbian, but she has enough lesbian fans — and tattoos — to practically make her an honorary one. She first caught the eye of most lesbian viewers when she played Luce, a florist who falls for bride-to-be Rachel (Piper Perabo) in the romantic comedy Imagine Me & You (2005). But she had her first lesbianish role as Sally Seton in Mrs. Dalloway (1997), where she kissed Natasha McElhone.

Since then, Headey has played key roles in several major films, including most notably Queen Gorgo in the blockbuster 300 (2006). Last January, Headey took on her most iconic role yet: Sarah Connor, the character first made famous by Linda Hamilton in Terminator (1984) and its sequel, Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991).

Many fans of those movies remember Hamilton’s ripped physique in Terminator 2, and as a result, Headey took some flak from critics for being too thin when Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles premiered. At a press conference in July, executive producer Josh Friedman joked, “Anyone that thought she wasn’t physically ready to do the role hadn’t been hit by her on the set like I had, and I just hope that all those doubters have the opportunity in the future.”

Headey quipped, “I have gigantic biceps this season.”

After the press conference, I met up with Headey at the Fox network party on Santa Monica Pier, where we huddled together in a photo booth in an effort to talk over the blaring music. We chatted about Sarah Connor, Headey’s latest tattoos and kissing Piper Perabo.

AfterEllen.com: I was surprised that you got all those negative responses last year. Were you reading AfterEllen? Our readers love you!
Lena Headey: I did read AfterEllen. I love AfterEllen, because you’re nice to me. Yeah, that was unexpected for me. I was thinking, seriously, people can’t be that narrow-minded. … It just became such a big talking point too, which was ridiculous.

AE: Did you feel like you suddenly had to work out way more?
LH: No! Not at all. I’m a fairly healthy size. I just happen to be a little bit skinny because that’s how my body works, you know what I mean? So I was told there was no issue. I just wanted them to stop being so ridiculous.

AE: I think that you’ve really made the role your own. When you were starting it, how did you want to differentiate yourself from Linda Hamilton?
LH: I didn’t really honestly think about it so much. I just thought, here’s a woman who has got a really difficult situation for lots of reasons. It’s just that. She’s another person. I didn’t think about Linda Hamilton; I didn’t think about her playing Sarah.

What I love about it is — which I’ve yet to explore, which I hope I’m going to get to — is all the layers of her insanity, which I think she has. I think it’s all very controlled … it’s her in control and her being on top of everything, and I think what would be really cool is to see the crumbling underneath.

AE: Is there anything in particular that you want to do with this character? What do you wish you could do more of?
LH: I want more range, you know. I mean, I love all the action stuff, it’s fun for me, but like Josh [Friedman] said … he was like, “I don’t want to always see you with a shotgun in your hand.” And I was like, “I know.”

And I just want to explore her. Like I think she’s neglected herself for such a long time, thinking about [her son, John Connor] and thinking about surviving and running, and if she f—s up then the whole world’s gonna die, do you know what I mean? That’s her issue every day when she wakes up … and every night when she goes to bed.

AE: That must be very stressful!
LH: Yes! I think there would be some really cool stuff to do with her kind of slight madness.

AE: Are you working on anything else right now? Is it just Sarah Connor?
LH: Well, I just directed a little movie, which I wrote, which is [dryly] brilliant, honestly [laughs]. It’s a comedy, and my friend produced it for me, and helped me get it in some semblance so we could make a movie. I loved it, and I’m at the moment writing the feature for it, and I hope to get it financed by next spring.

AE: Someone told me that you have a dog called Angela Lansbury.
LH: I do.

AE: Were you a Murder, She Wrote fan?
LH: No; a friend of mine saw her and said — she [the dog] was called Nugget — and she went [speaks an American accent], “Oh my God, she looks like Angela Lansbury!” And I went, “Oh my, she does,” and then that was it. In a nice way, it’s a compliment to Angela Lansbury.

AE: So, you’ve kissed both Natasha McElhone and Piper Perabo. Which one is better?
LH: Oh, that’s a difficult question. Well, they’re both beautiful women. Uh [pauses thoughtfully], I’d have to say Piper, ’cause I think I kissed Piper more. I think Natasha was a very chaste kiss, and I made out a little bit more with Piper.

AE: Did you realize after you played these roles that you were creating lesbian fans for life?
LH: That’s great. I had no idea! Like I said, with playing Sarah Connor or playing a gay woman or playing a nun, they’re people, and I want to be truthful, and that’s what I try and do in my work. So sometimes it’s bad because it is honesty, and sometimes it works out for the better, and I loved playing Luce, you know, I really enjoyed it.

AE: I saw a photo of you recently and you have some really great tattoos. Have you gotten anything new lately?
LH: Yes. I got — well, I’ve always wanted my back done, all of my back. So I went and did it. This wonderful guy in Brooklyn called Chops [did it], and he’s just fantastic. He just kind of free-hands, and I just said, “These are the themes I want.” I want birds, and I want peonies, and I want movement, and he just drew this … on my back. And I love it, it makes me feel so happy.

AE: I don’t know if you are aware we have this Hot 100 list every year, where our readers vote —
LH: Am I on it?

AE: Yes, you are.
LH: Yay!

AE: This year you are number 10.
LH: [shocked] No!

AE: Yes! [laughs]
LH: Excellent.

AE: Yes, but last year you were number four.
LH: [gasps]

AE: In 2007, so you have fallen —
LH: My God, I have to go to the gym! I’ve fallen six. That hurts.

AE: What do you want to tell your fans?
LH: Vote for me! Vote for me, I’ll change the world! [laughs]

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles premieres Sept. 8 at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.