When Arnold Schwarzenegger walks into a room, everyone turns to stare. Dressed in a Republican blue blazer and jeans, on his hands are quite obvious symbols of the unexpected duality of this bodybuilder-turned-actor-turned-Governor. One finger bears a silver signet ring with an emblem; a memento, he tells me, of his time in office. Another bears a ring with a huge, almost fist-sized skull, with rubies in the eyes. These huge chunks of metal add to the overwhelming feeling you get that Arnie isn't to be messed with. However, you also notice another thing: despite his protestations, he definitely isn't 6'2. Not that I'll be telling him that.
Schwarzenegger is back on our screens for Terminator: Genisys, where he reprises his role as the Terminator – or as he's credited, the Guardian. This moniker change indicates the character's development. No longer the heartless killing machine from the original films, this Terminator has been watching and protecting Sarah Connor (Game Of Thrones' Emilia Clarke) since she was a child, and has forged an emotional bond with her. Terminator: Genisys marks Schwarzenegger's return to the franchise, after choosing not to be a part of Terminator: Salvation.
"I did not do Terminator 4 because I was Governor – even I can't do both! People would be very upset if I said I'm leaving Sacramento for five months because I'm doing Terminator. I made it very clear to them that I wouldn't even do one single shot, the people would just feel cheated."
Schwarzenegger was Governor of California from 2003 to 2011, a career that was admired for his passionate and progressive policies regarding the environment, and criticised due to allegations of sexual misconduct. Despite the controversies that surrounded his time in office, it's clear that politics is now where Schwarzenegger's heart lies. He says that while he's glad to be starring in Terminator: Genisys, he didn't miss acting while living the political life.
"I didn't miss it at all, I was very busy with the Governorship. You know, the sixth largest economy in the world is California so you have your hands full. You have an enormous amount of challenges so I was at an all-time high during that period. But then you have term limits, and there's a reason for term limits – to let someone in with new ideas. So it was perfect time-wise. I was able to fulfill my duties in Sacramento then return to acting, which I always intended to do. But I am still involved in policies through the Schwarzenegger Institute, and I keep my environmental crusade going."
The actor is referring to his USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy, devoted to seeking bipartisan solutions to environmental, economic and other public policy issues. He admits that while he didn't miss making movies when he was Governor, he's already missing not being in office.
"I sometimes miss it, yes, when certain decisions are made that I feel very passionate about. But luckily I'm not like some politicians who don't have a job when they get out, and just go around doing speeches."
But he does seem happy to reprise his role as the Terminator, and finds the character more interesting now that he has been allowed to evolve – and age.
"I'm a combination of Terminator and protecting – doing the terminating if someone is threatening Sarah Connor, but also protecting her by being the fatherly figure for her. Protector in another way. So you have to be very careful in how you play that in each moment. It helped I think that I've had daughters. My first daughter was born when we did Total Recall in Mexico, and she's now 25-years-old. And so when you grow up, and when you're the father of two daughters, I think you learn a lot, including how to be protective. That experience helped me a lot."
Schwarzenegger has been open about his desire to be President of the United States, remarking that the only think holding him back are the laws that demand presidential hopefuls are born in America.
"Everyone knows that if I had been American-born, I would probably run for president, because why not? I could do a better job than these guys can, trust me!" laughs the Austrian. "But that job's not available and I am going to complain about it, because everything that I have accomplished in my life is because of America. So I'm not going to complain about the one job that I can't do."
For now, his acting slate is quickly filling up, with roles in Conan The Barbarian and the Twins sequel, Triplets, already in the bag.
The actor smiles.
"I promised you I'd be back."