Judgment day for Lena Headey
Sarah Connor, the character made famous by the muscular actress Linda Hamilton in Arnold Schwarzenegger's second Terminator film, is back in an American television spin-off, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. It has premiered to rave reviews and more than 18m viewers - but there is a problem. The British actress who plays Sarah, Lena Headey, has been widely criticised for her inadequate physique.
Hamilton's strength was such that she is credited with having dragged a generation of young women into the gym to build up their biceps. But Headey, a 34-year-old actress from West Yorkshire, is a "twig of an action heroine", according to the Boston Herald. The Los Angeles Times noted that while Hamilton was "a butt-kicking inspiration to millions of women", Headey is "healthy looking and attractive but not exactly Ms Olympia".
The casting of Headey has even drawn fire from feminists. "I am shocked to find out that the producers are clearly sanctioning a new, weedy silhouette in such an iconic and genuinely groundbreaking role," British feminist and novelist Bidisha told the Observer.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Nevertheless, the nine-part series, which comes to Britain next month, has been praised by US critics as a more successful revival than Bionic Woman, starring the former EastEnders actress Michelle Ryan.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Zack Polanski: the 'eco-populist' running for Green Party leader
In The Spotlight 'Insurgent' party deputy is making a bid to take the Greens further to the left
-
Do smartphone bans in schools work?
The Explainer Trials in UK, New Zealand, France and the US found prohibition may be only part of the solution
-
Doom: The Dark Ages – an 'exhilarating' prequel
The Week Recommends Legendary shooter adds new combat options from timed parries to melee attacks and a 'particularly satisfying' shield charge
-
Home Office worker accused of spiking mistress’s drink with abortion drug
Speed Read Darren Burke had failed to convince his girlfriend to terminate pregnancy
-
In hock to Moscow: exploring Germany’s woeful energy policy
Speed Read Don’t expect Berlin to wean itself off Russian gas any time soon
-
Were Covid restrictions dropped too soon?
Speed Read ‘Living with Covid’ is already proving problematic – just look at the travel chaos this week
-
Inclusive Britain: a new strategy for tackling racism in the UK
Speed Read Government has revealed action plan setting out 74 steps that ministers will take
-
Sandy Hook families vs. Remington: a small victory over the gunmakers
Speed Read Last week the families settled a lawsuit for $73m against the manufacturer
-
Farmers vs. walkers: the battle over ‘Britain’s green and pleasant land’
Speed Read Updated Countryside Code tells farmers: ‘be nice, say hello, share the space’
-
Motherhood: why are we putting it off?
Speed Read Stats show around 50% of women in England and Wales now don’t have children by 30
-
Anti-Semitism in America: a case of double standards?
Speed Read Officials were strikingly reluctant to link Texas synagogue attack to anti-Semitism