'Terminator' springs back to life with new series, outlook
By Bruce R. Miller Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, January 18, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- Lena Headey doesn't mind the 14-year age difference between her and the actor who plays her son in "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles."
"Being a 34-year-old woman who chooses to act, I think there's no greater role now," she says. "It encompasses every emotional story you're going to find. She's a single mom who's bringing up a son who just happens to be the leader of the free world. It's the future and it's very exciting to me."
Besides, "I'm so blessed to have Thomas Dekker as my son. He's such a great actor."
Still, 14 years?
Dekker laughs. "People meet us in person and go, 'No way.' But on the show it's actually believeable," the 20-year-old says. "It's all in the way you play it."
In the series -- which continues the "Terminator" series following "T2" -- Dekker plays John Connor at 16. Enemies from the future are determined to destroy him and his mother, particularly since they sent the original Terminator packing.
To look the part, Dekker says he shaves several times a day. "A lot of it is in the acting. You look for a certain innocence." Then, too, he has a Zac Ephron haircut that screams teenager. "We try to make the hair as young-looking as possible," he says.
Drawing on Edward Furlong's performance in the original, Dekker says he's aware of the film series' impact. "It's a character so beloved by everyone we want to love this show that it's important I pay every respect. I'm just trying to keep the essence of him alive while placing him where he is now in the story."
Headey, meanwhile, hasn't seen Linda Hamilton's performance in years. "I know the character's held in high esteem. She's this iconic character and Linda Hamilton was absolutely superb, but I don't want to copy her. What I've taken from her is the heart that she obviously shows."
Together, Headey and Dekker hope they can move the franchise along, find their own place and enjoy the action scenes.
"I get a kick out of the physicality," Headey says.
"It's tough," Dekker adds. "I was surprised the first time I did an action scene. I thought it was just a lot of moving and throwing things around. But there's a level of fear and energy to keep up that's an emotional drain as well."
Last year, Headey got a good taste of things to come by starring in "300," an action film that was done almost entirely in front of a green screen. "It's a strange thing," she says of the special effects process. "You have to use your imagination beyond beyond. You have to trust people that a giant eagle is going to swoop down and steal something. When you see it put together, you're kind of astonished because it looks incredible."
In many ways, she says, special effects acting is "almost liberating."
To pull it off, Headey has been working out, but she's not aiming for Linda Hamilton-level muscles. "I don't want to be this bulky character. Huge arms would be too obvious...she has to have somewhere to go. But I do work out with a trainer and I do a lot of weights." Her take: Sarah's strength "comes from the inside."
Dekker, meanwhile, wants his character to start skinny, then bulk up "when he realizes he needs to fight." To get there, he works out daily, takes supplements and tries to eat as much as possible. "I'm a vegetarian, so we've got to figure out how that's going to figure in."
A transitional role? "Not really," Dekker says. "I felt I've been doing that solidly for years." A star of "Village of the Damned" and "Honey I Shrunk the Kids," he did voice roles as a child and starred on a soap. "When you hit puberty around 13, you have a couple of rocky years and then it's fine."
Last season, he played Zach on "Heroes." Now, he's ready to ride "Chronicles" to another level. Already, he's finishing his second album and directing his third film. "I think it's possible to do a lot of things at once."
Headey agrees.
She and her husband just moved to Los Angeles. The role -- not a chance to work in American television -- was the lure. "It's a great opportunity," she says. "I love working with a smart, funny, clever writer. To be a part of something, an evolution, is a great feeling."
It's a journey, she says. "Anything you're offered should be experienced."
While Dekker dabbles in music, Headey trafficks in tattoos.
"I have six," she says. "But I put them on hold for a while. Being in makeup is far too boring."
Avoid them all together? Nope, she says. "Acting's not my life. It's my job."
Considering she has "300" and "Chronicles" as her latest credits, Headey could be headed down a new path of action. "They're fun to watch," she says of special effects films. "You can eat popcorn and switch off. But I don't think they'll ever replace smaller genre movies. You want to make something that's going to envelop you." Like a good Renaissance drama, " 'The Sarah Connor Chronicles' does."
"Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" airs at 8 p.m. Mondays on Fox.
"Being a 34-year-old woman who chooses to act, I think there's no greater role now," she says. "It encompasses every emotional story you're going to find. She's a single mom who's bringing up a son who just happens to be the leader of the free world. It's the future and it's very exciting to me."
Besides, "I'm so blessed to have Thomas Dekker as my son. He's such a great actor."
Still, 14 years?
Dekker laughs. "People meet us in person and go, 'No way.' But on the show it's actually believeable," the 20-year-old says. "It's all in the way you play it."
In the series -- which continues the "Terminator" series following "T2" -- Dekker plays John Connor at 16. Enemies from the future are determined to destroy him and his mother, particularly since they sent the original Terminator packing.
To look the part, Dekker says he shaves several times a day. "A lot of it is in the acting. You look for a certain innocence." Then, too, he has a Zac Ephron haircut that screams teenager. "We try to make the hair as young-looking as possible," he says.
Drawing on Edward Furlong's performance in the original, Dekker says he's aware of the film series' impact. "It's a character so beloved by everyone we want to love this show that it's important I pay every respect. I'm just trying to keep the essence of him alive while placing him where he is now in the story."
Headey, meanwhile, hasn't seen Linda Hamilton's performance in years. "I know the character's held in high esteem. She's this iconic character and Linda Hamilton was absolutely superb, but I don't want to copy her. What I've taken from her is the heart that she obviously shows."
Together, Headey and Dekker hope they can move the franchise along, find their own place and enjoy the action scenes.
"I get a kick out of the physicality," Headey says.
"It's tough," Dekker adds. "I was surprised the first time I did an action scene. I thought it was just a lot of moving and throwing things around. But there's a level of fear and energy to keep up that's an emotional drain as well."
Last year, Headey got a good taste of things to come by starring in "300," an action film that was done almost entirely in front of a green screen. "It's a strange thing," she says of the special effects process. "You have to use your imagination beyond beyond. You have to trust people that a giant eagle is going to swoop down and steal something. When you see it put together, you're kind of astonished because it looks incredible."
In many ways, she says, special effects acting is "almost liberating."
To pull it off, Headey has been working out, but she's not aiming for Linda Hamilton-level muscles. "I don't want to be this bulky character. Huge arms would be too obvious...she has to have somewhere to go. But I do work out with a trainer and I do a lot of weights." Her take: Sarah's strength "comes from the inside."
Dekker, meanwhile, wants his character to start skinny, then bulk up "when he realizes he needs to fight." To get there, he works out daily, takes supplements and tries to eat as much as possible. "I'm a vegetarian, so we've got to figure out how that's going to figure in."
A transitional role? "Not really," Dekker says. "I felt I've been doing that solidly for years." A star of "Village of the Damned" and "Honey I Shrunk the Kids," he did voice roles as a child and starred on a soap. "When you hit puberty around 13, you have a couple of rocky years and then it's fine."
Last season, he played Zach on "Heroes." Now, he's ready to ride "Chronicles" to another level. Already, he's finishing his second album and directing his third film. "I think it's possible to do a lot of things at once."
Headey agrees.
She and her husband just moved to Los Angeles. The role -- not a chance to work in American television -- was the lure. "It's a great opportunity," she says. "I love working with a smart, funny, clever writer. To be a part of something, an evolution, is a great feeling."
It's a journey, she says. "Anything you're offered should be experienced."
While Dekker dabbles in music, Headey trafficks in tattoos.
"I have six," she says. "But I put them on hold for a while. Being in makeup is far too boring."
Avoid them all together? Nope, she says. "Acting's not my life. It's my job."
Considering she has "300" and "Chronicles" as her latest credits, Headey could be headed down a new path of action. "They're fun to watch," she says of special effects films. "You can eat popcorn and switch off. But I don't think they'll ever replace smaller genre movies. You want to make something that's going to envelop you." Like a good Renaissance drama, " 'The Sarah Connor Chronicles' does."
"Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" airs at 8 p.m. Mondays on Fox.
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