British actress takes on Terminator and its fans

Sarah Jane Griffiths
Newsbeat reporter

Lena Headey in her role as action heroine Sarah Connor

Actress Lena Headey has defended herself over claims she is not right for the role of Terminator's Sarah Connor.

Fans of Terminator movies will get to judge for themselves when spin-off show Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles launches on Virgin 1 on Thursday 21 February.

The first episode pulled in 18 million viewers when it aired in the US. But some hardcore fans weren't impressed with the casting of the St Trinian's and 300 actress.

Too skinny

Headey told Newsbeat: "I just think that there are always going to be some people who don't have a lot to do, so they need to channel it somewhere".

Fans said she was too skinny to carry the show, and needed to be more muscley like original actress Linda Hamilton.

She said: "I had about a week (to prepare) and I think she had eight months. But this is a TV show, it's different, and it's kind of emotional drama in there too. I'm not just angry and violent."

Arnold Schwarzenegger is notably absent, but the show follows on from the end of Terminator 2: Judgement Day. Sarah is trying to protect teenage son John Connor from enemies from the future and stop the rise of the machines.

Not geeky

Lena's not the first British actress to carry a big budget US show. Anna Friel's Pushing Daisies has been a big hit and starts in the UK on ITV1 this Spring.

Headey explained: "The production value of television now is huge so it's made and shot like a movie every week. Funding here (in the UK) is so hit and miss but out in the States it's huge. There's no difference in skill and talent, that's the sad thing."

Despite her critics, Lena's optimistic about the Sarah Connor Chronicles at a time when shows like Heroes and Doctor Who are helping Sci-Fi shed its geeky image.

She said: "Maybe it's just an escapist thing. There's so much reality on TV now which gets kind of tedious. It's still hugely geeky but then that's cool in itself.

"It's a chance to just explore and try everything. You know, even if it fails, it's fun."