 The Terminator has a dream -- he wants to be the "Governator" of California and follow in the footsteps of another Hollywood hero who gave up acting for a greater stage -- Ronald Reagan.
Action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger unexpectedly threw himself into the race for California governor on August 6 in a show-stopping announcement that heralded a spectacular campaign. The surprise decision by one of the screen's biggest stars followed weeks of speculation about whether he would try to terminate the career of California governor Gray Davis in a historic recall vote. The Austrian-born actor, 56, who became a U.S. citizen in 1983, has been toying for years with the idea of flexing his muscles at the ballot box instead of the box office. But after blowing hot and cold for weeks, aides had expected the star to bow to the concerns of his wife about the effect on their four children and stay out of the October gubernatorial race. He might have spent years playing a futuristic robot in the "Terminator" blockbusters, but Schwarzenegger has shown himself to be politically astute off screen, building a strong profile within the Republican Party and garnering grass-roots support through his work for the Special Olympics and other sports programs. In 2000, he considered, but decided against, making a run for California governor. Three years on, Schwarzenegger has more name recognition, more personal wealth -- million alone for the latest "Terminator" installment -- and more charisma than any of the other candidates. Thirty years ago, the 6 ft-2 ins body-builder came to America looking for fame and fortune in the movies, hampered by an unpronounceable name and a thick accent. Success was hard to come by initially and he focused on body-building, winning seven Mr Olympia titles and earning himself the nickname "the Austrian Oak." He eventually graduated to the title role in "Conan the Barbarian" in 1982 and later the 1984 sci-fi action move "The Terminator" which made him into a superstar. His marriage to one of the (Democratic) Kennedy clan -- TV journalist Maria Shriver -- looked for a while as if it might hamper his political ambitions. Shriver was reported to be worried about the effects of a time-consuming and high-profile political campaign -- let alone a possible win -- on their four young children, but also told Schwarzenegger she would support him whatever his decision. "Yes, she's a Democrat," said Schwarzenegger "and this is the first time she's going to vote for a Republican." （Agencies） | “終結者”有一個夢想——那就是成為美國加利福尼亞州州長，步另一位好萊塢明星羅納德·里根的后塵，放棄演藝事業而投身更廣闊的政治舞臺。 8月6日，動作明星阿諾德·施瓦辛格出人意料的宣布投身競選加利福尼亞州州長，這一決定受到熱烈歡迎，并預示著一場引人入勝的州長競選即將拉開帷幕。 在銀幕巨星施瓦辛格作出這驚人決定的前幾周內，人們紛紛猜測他是否會在具有歷史意義的罷免投票中終結現任加州州長格雷·戴維斯的職位。 這位奧地利裔演員今年56歲，于1983年加入美國國籍。幾年來他一直琢磨著在投票箱而不是票房上顯示一下自己的力量，盡管他不是很認真。 但是經過幾周的猶豫之后，他的助手們希望他能夠顧及他妻子的擔心而放棄十月的州長競選活動。他的妻子擔心參加競選會影響到他們的四個孩子。 他也許花了好幾年時間扮演大片《終結者》中一個未來世界的機器人，但是施瓦辛格已顯示出自己在銀屏以外的政治能力。他不僅在共和黨內非常引人注目，而且通過在特殊奧運會和其它體育活動中的工作，建立了良好的群眾基礎。 2000年，他曾經考慮但最終放棄了參加加州州長的競選。三年來，施瓦辛格獲得了更高的聲望，更多的個人財產--僅最近上映的《終結者3》就為他帶來三千萬美元的收入。他比其他任何候選人都更有魅力。 30年前，身高6英尺2英寸的施瓦辛格來到美國，那時他還是個健美運動員。他渴望在電影中追求名利，然而他拗口的名字和濃重的口音一度阻礙他實現自己的夢想。 萬事開頭難。他專注于健身運動，曾七次獲得奧林匹亞健美先生的稱號，被昵稱為“奧地利橡樹”。 1982年，他終于在《野蠻人科南》中出演主角。隨后1984年的科幻動作大片《終結者》更是讓施瓦辛格一躍成為影壇巨星。 他的妻子，電視臺記者瑪麗婭·施萊芙，是肯尼迪家族（民主黨）的成員。他們的婚姻曾一度被認為會阻礙他的政治野心。 有報道說，施萊芙非常擔心這種耗時、惹眼的政治競選活動影響到他們的四個孩子，更不用說一旦競選成功之后了。但是她也告訴施瓦辛格，無論他做怎樣的決定，她都會支持他。 “是的，她是民主黨人，但是這將是她第一次為共和黨人投票。” 施瓦辛格說。 Show-stopping: 特別受歡迎的
Throw oneself into: 投身于，積極從事
Flex one's muscles: 顯示或炫耀某人的力量
Blow hot and cold: 搖擺不定；朝三暮四
Let alone: 更不用說 （中國日報網站譯） |
Updated: 2003-08-08 01:00
