The “innocence and optimism” that led Emilia Clarke to the biggest mistake of her career: “I can do it all!”
Emilia Clarke has said she took the role of Sarah Connor in 2015’s *Terminator Genisys* because she trusted her instincts and thought, “I can do it all”. She later described that optimism as innocence, despite friends warning her about the pressure of following Linda Hamilton’s celebrated performance.
The article presents the film as a poorly received reboot that confused viewers, though it earned about $440 million at the box office, roughly $100 million more than *Terminator Salvation*. The role did not stop Clarke from landing another major franchise part: she later appeared in *Solo: A Star Wars Story*, which also drew poor reviews but made substantial box-office revenue.
In short
- Clarke accepted the Sarah Connor role despite friends’ concerns.
- She later called her confidence “innocence and optimism”.
- *Terminator Genisys* earned about $440 million worldwide.
Explained simply
The Terminator is a science-fiction film series about a future war between humans and machines. Sarah Connor is a central character: she is the mother of the human resistance’s future leader. Linda Hamilton became closely associated with the role after playing her in earlier films.
Terminator Genisys, released in 2015, was a reboot that reworked the series’ story and cast Emilia Clarke as Sarah Connor. Clarke was already known for playing Daenerys Targaryen in the television series Game of Thrones, and the Sarah Connor role brought her into another major franchise. The Terminator films have attracted large audiences, so casting and changing a familiar character can draw close attention.