Shirley Manson Turns Terminator TV Star

Posted on Sep 12th 2008 12:00PM by Steve Baltin
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Garbage frontwoman Shirley Manson isn't wasting any time going to the big leagues for her first foray into acting, playing Terminator Catherine Weaver on the Fox series 'Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.'

"It's very, very surreal," Manson, who is friends with the wife of series creator Josh Friedman, tells Spinner. In fact, Manson thought it was a joke when Friedman's wife initially approached her about a part. "Then later on it turned out that he was interested in me playing a Terminator, at which point I got very excited and jumped at the opportunity."

Manson, who made her debut this past Monday on the season premiere, also doubled as vocalist, contributing the a cover of 'Samson and Deliah.' But she admitted she was very hesitant to sing on the show. "I didn't want to remind the audience I was a singer," she says. "I knew that would create difficulties for me."

Shirley Manson Hot Shots

SAN DIEGO - JULY 26: Actress Shirley Manson (L) and actor Brian Austin Green sign autographs at the "Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles" Panel during the 2008 Comic Con at the San Diego Convention Center on July 25, 2008 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Fox)

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SAN DIEGO - JULY 26: Actress Shirley Manson speaks at the "Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles" Panel during the 2008 Comic Con at the San Diego Convention Center on July 25, 2008 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Fox)

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Garbage's Shirley Manson at the Dewey Cox and The Hard Walkers One Night Only at The Coxy Concert on December 3, 2007 at the Roxy in Los Angeles, CA..Dewey Cox and The Hard Walkers One Night Only at The Coxy Concert.The Roxy.Los Angeles, CA United States.December 3, 2007.Photo by Eric Charbonneau/WireImage.com..To license this image (15206090), contact WireImage:.U.S. +1-212-686-8900 / U.K. +44-207-868-8940 / Australia +61-2-8262-9222 / Germany +49-40-320-05521 / Japan: +81-3-5464-7020.+1 212-686-8901 (fax).info@wireimage.com (e-mail).www.wireimage.com (web site)

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Garbage's Shirley Manson at the Dewey Cox and The Hard Walkers One Night Only at The Coxy Concert on December 3, 2007 at the Roxy in Los Angeles, CA..Dewey Cox and The Hard Walkers One Night Only at The Coxy Concert.The Roxy.Los Angeles, CA United States.December 3, 2007.Photo by Eric Charbonneau/WireImage.com..To license this image (15206089), contact WireImage:.U.S. +1-212-686-8900 / U.K. +44-207-868-8940 / Australia +61-2-8262-9222 / Germany +49-40-320-05521 / Japan: +81-3-5464-7020.+1 212-686-8901 (fax).info@wireimage.com (e-mail).www.wireimage.com (web site)

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Writer/Director Jake Kasdan and Garbage's Shirley Manson at the Dewey Cox and The Hard Walkers One Night Only at The Coxy Concert on December 3, 2007 at the Roxy in Los Angeles, CA..Dewey Cox and The Hard Walkers One Night Only at The Coxy Concert.The Roxy.Los Angeles, CA United States.December 3, 2007.Photo by Eric Charbonneau/WireImage.com..To license this image (15206085), contact WireImage:.U.S. +1-212-686-8900 / U.K. +44-207-868-8940 / Australia +61-2-8262-9222 / Germany +49-40-320-05521 / Japan: +81-3-5464-7020.+1 212-686-8901 (fax).info@wireimage.com (e-mail).www.wireimage.com (web site)

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Writer/Director Jake Kasdan and Garbage's Shirley Manson at the Dewey Cox and The Hard Walkers One Night Only at The Coxy Concert on December 3, 2007 at the Roxy in Los Angeles, CA..Dewey Cox and The Hard Walkers One Night Only at The Coxy Concert.The Roxy.Los Angeles, CA United States.December 3, 2007.Photo by Eric Charbonneau/WireImage.com..To license this image (15206084), contact WireImage:.U.S. +1-212-686-8900 / U.K. +44-207-868-8940 / Australia +61-2-8262-9222 / Germany +49-40-320-05521 / Japan: +81-3-5464-7020.+1 212-686-8901 (fax).info@wireimage.com (e-mail).www.wireimage.com (web site)

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Manson says she's well-aware of audience trepidation when singers head to the screen. But she had some positive examples to follow. "I think Tim McGraw does an amazing job funnily enough every time I see him on screen," she says, "I thought Courtney Love did an amazing job in the 'Larry Flynt' movie. David Bowie obviously did an incredible job in 'The Man Who Fell to Earth.' There have definitely been actors who've done great work on screen. It's very different, obviously, for me, but I think it's possible."

Meanwhile, Manson hopes to go into the studio next month to record songs for her long-awaited solo debut.