Is Linda Hamilton deaf? How 'Terminator' star's blunder while filming action flick almost cost her everything
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Linda Hamilton has been officially announced by Netflix as the newest addition to the cast of 'Stranger Things' for its fifth and final season. After the fourth season of the show premiered in July 2022, the Duffer brothers announced that the much-awaited fifth installment would mark its final season.
Linda Hamilton has extensive filmography, with notable roles including her work alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 'Terminator' franchise. In the '80s, Hamilton played a pivotal role in the franchise's success. Action movies entail risky stunts that can lead to serious injuries if precautions aren't taken. Regrettably, due to a PPE oversight on set, Hamilton faced a significant problem later on.
Is Linda Hamilton deaf?
During the filming of 'Terminator 2', an unfortunate incident led to Linda Hamilton suffering permanent hearing loss. Although real bullets are not used on set to prevent tragic incidents, shots are still fired, and the loud noise can be damaging, especially in enclosed spaces. To mitigate the risk of hearing damage, performers are required to wear hearing protection. However, in a critical oversight, Hamilton forgot to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) before filming, resulting in a loss of hearing.
Since Linda Hamilton's trending, can we talk about what a complete bad ass she was in Terminator 2? pic.twitter.com/vLPvvokNHS
— Geal Faol (@GealFaol) June 18, 2023
'I thought I'd been shot'
In an interview, Hamilton revealed, "The doors closed, we had shotguns and started blasting, and suddenly I was in agony. I fell to my knees in pain. I thought I'd been shot. That was how bad it was. I knew we weren't using real ammunition, that they were squibs, little explosives that double for bullets, but I was sure that something has misfired and I'd been hit by shrapnel or something."
She continued, "The noise was so intense, so extreme, I'll never forget it. So I fell to the ground, but thought 'sh*t, nobody's noticing, nobody's stopping,' so I got back up again, picked up my gun and kept on going. That was the professional thing to do. But it hurt like hell," as per Blockbuster.
(Rich Polk/Getty Images)
Since the incident, Hamilton continues to live with irreversible hearing damage. Despite the significant injury she sustained on set, 'Terminator 2' proved to be an enormous success upon its release, becoming one of the most celebrated sequel movies of all time. The film stands as one of the highlights of Hamilton's career, solidifying her position as one of the film's most memorable and accomplished performances.
