Reflecting on her career crossroads, Hamilton shared with Variety that she had been seriously contemplating retirement due to persistent health concerns. “I was having a terrible hip issue for a few years,” Hamilton revealed, expressing doubt about her ability to perform at her best. This self-doubt led her to consider stepping back from acting. Yet, when the Duffer Brothers, the masterminds behind “Stranger Things,” extended an offer through her agent, the response was an immediate, unconsulted yes. “He didn’t even check with me!” Hamilton chuckled.

Choosing to postpone retirement has proven to be a rewarding decision for Hamilton. Speaking with People in August 2025, she expressed contentment with her newfound freedom to focus on her craft. “I get to do work now the way that I always wanted to work, [in terms of] time,” she remarked, savoring the chance to immerse herself fully in her roles without the demands of raising children.

In “Stranger Things” Season 5, Hamilton steps into the shoes of Dr. Kay, succeeding Matthew Modine’s Dr. Martin Brenner as the head of the government team investigating the Upside Down. The Duffer Brothers are thrilled with the casting choice, as Ross Duffer explained to Entertainment Weekly. “When Carmen Cuba, our casting director, suggested Linda, we got really excited because she’s very, very different from Modine,” he noted. “She’s equally intimidating and intelligent, but she can fight. If it comes down to it, she can shoot a gun, she can get in a fist fight, she can kick your ass.”

Despite the potentially daunting nature of her character, Hamilton couldn’t be happier about joining the “Stranger Things” universe. A long-time fan of the series, she confessed to Us Weekly her excitement about the role, even though she plans to skip watching herself on screen to avoid breaking her immersion in the show. “I literally felt like I was an actress getting my first meaningful part,” she told The Hollywood Reporter, delighted by the chance to connect with a new audience.

According to the Duffer Brothers, Linda Hamilton’s Dr. Kay is the replacement to Matthew Modine’s Dr. Martin Brenner, who died in Season 4. She is the leader of the government’s team that’s investigating the Upside Down. “When Carmen Cuba, our casting director, suggested Linda, we got really excited because she’s very, very different from Modine,” Ross Duffer told Entertainment Weekly. “She’s equally intimidating and intelligent, but she can fight. If it comes down to it, she can shoot a gun, she can get in a fist fight, she can kick your ass.”

Although Hamilton may be scary on the show, she couldn’t be happier with her role in “Stranger Things” in real life — especially because she was a fan of the show before she joined the cast. “I’ve watched every season with relish. I just love it,” she told Us Weekly. Although she won’t be watching Stranger Things season 5 because seeing herself would take her out of the show, ultimately she was thrilled to get the call that the Duffer Brothers wanted her. “I literally felt like I was an actress getting my first meaningful part,” she told The Hollywood Reporter. “I think that’s going to give me another 15 minutes with a new audience, which is cool.” You can see Hamilton in action when “Stranger Things” Season 5 premieres with its first four episodes on November 26.