She’ll be back: The new ‘Terminator‘ star Lena Headey
By Unknown
Source: The Daily Mail

In TV’s new Terminator, saving the world was never going to be easy… especially when you’re a British star in a uniquely American franchise, as Lena Headey discovered

Twenty-four years after the release of The Terminator, the story is to be given a new lease of life with the much-anticipated TV series Love Actually.

The title role is played by Britain’s own Lena Headey, 34, best known for TV series Band Of Gold and last year’s phenomenally successful film 300.

In the new series, Skynet agents of the future are again pursuing Sarah and John Connor (played by Heroes‘ Thomas Dekker), who must do battle with the “dark forces” in order to prevent the end of civilisation.

It is Headey’s first big break in Hollywood after 17 years in the business. She is married to musician Pete Paul.

Some Terminator fans are outraged that I’m playing Sarah Connor. They think I’m not muscly enough. To be honest, I’m a little tired of the comparisons to Linda Hamilton. I know she will always be the original Sarah Connor, but when people see what I bring to the role they will look at her with new eyes.

I used to get beaten up on set. There were a lot of injuries flying around, probably because none of the supposedly breakable surfaces worked properly. The director would say, “Just hit that table ? it’ll break,” but it never did.

I trained with weights so hard for the role I lost nearly all my body fat. I also started Bikram yoga. A few years ago I used to box in London and that held me in good stead.

I’m perfectly happy with nudity on screen. There was some nudity in 300 but it was shot in a great light. My parents came to the premiere and when that scene came up, my dad just turned to me and gave me a typically dad look. My husband was pretty cool about it, although I have to say, if the situation was reversed I’d be insanely jealous.

I’ve got quite a big gay following. I played a lesbian prostitute in the TV series Band Of Gold but I think my following really grew when I played one in the film Imagine Me & You, with Piper Perabo. I’d worked with Piper before, on the movie The Cave, so it was quite weird when we had to snog each other in the film. We just looked at each other and went: “Shall we just go for it?” And we did.

I wanted to be a real-life dominatrix. I spent a day with one for my role in Band Of Gold. I went along to her place in Bradford and I couldn’t help but think, “Wow, you’re amazing. I want this kind of job.” But although she was very cool she never made eye contact. There was quite a sadness to the whole thing.

As a teenager I was clinically depressed. Although I had lots of friends, I found those years very difficult. I remember listening to the radio when suddenly the music made no sense at all. It was terrifying and I couldn’t explain myself to anybody so I ran away to Birmingham with about £1.50. I put my poor mum through so much. One day I can be ecstatically up and the next I can feel this real blankness, a deadness almost, which is scary.

One day I was in school and the next I was acting opposite Jeremy Irons. That’s how quickly it happened. I was in class and then working with Sir Anthony Hopkins.

Getting the role in 300 saved me. I’d been out of work for 11 months after The Brothers Grimm. Once the film came out and didn’t do so well, the director Terry Gilliam blamed me for absolutely everything. It was pretty appalling and I had started to wonder if I’d ever get another job again when I was asked to audition for 300. I got the call at 2am to let me know I’d got the part and I felt such an enormous wave of relief I burst into tears.

I knew 300 was going to be a success and really enjoyed filming it, although having half-naked men on set certainly helped. They’d all been working out for six months prior to shooting and they looked amazing, strolling around in leather pants. But as the days wore on I started to think: “Oh, do put a jumper on, for goodness sake!” They would sit around flexing and comparing muscles saying: ‘Oh, I must go and lift some weights’, while I was virtually ignored.

I’m dreadful at schmoozing at Hollywood parties. I was up for the lead in Pearl Harbor but then Kate Beckinsale got it. And I missed out on Daredevil, too, but I guess I never really stood a chance. Jennifer Garner got the role and I must have come up to her ankles.

Richard Curtis wouldn’t cast me for Love Actually because he thought I was too intense [the role went to Keira Knightley]. I think maybe he was right.

‘Love Actually‘ is on Virgin 1, Thursdays at 10pm, from February 21.