Who are you calling Princess?
Meet Lucy Lawless, syndicated TV's feistiest female-the woman behind Xena's snarl
By Gillian Fassel
Can you blame me for feeling a bit bashful? I'm standing in a hallway at the Ritz, about to meet my favorite mythological crime fighter, and though I count myself among her borderline-sane fans, I'm still repeating mlike a mantra: "She's not a warrior, not a princess-she's an actress." (Okay, maybe I don't get out much.)
For those too lofty to tune into Channel 11, let me acquaint you with Xena. If Mad Max and Clash of the Titans were somehow one movie set at a Renaissance fair in New Zealand, that movie would be called Xena: Warrior Princess. Produced by Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert-the imps behind such cult films as The Evil Deadand Army of Darkness-each episode is chockfull of goofy sound effects, cheerful cartoonish violence and too-smart cultural references, Surprisingly, this inventiveness has not gone unrewarded: In its first seasdon, Xena was among the top ten syndicated programs nationwide (regularly kicking Baywatch's ass), and consistently one of the top three action dramas, alongside its sister show, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
The bulk of the responsibility for Xena's popularity can be placed squarely on the linebacker shoulders of Xena herself. As played by Lucy Lawless, the surly warrior talks like John Wayne ("Nobody touches my horse"), dresses like a dominatrix (oh, those shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather), but has a soft side as well-saving her tenderest glances for prattling sidekick Gabrielle.
So, it is with some trepidation that I find myself knocking on the door to Lawless's suite. After a long moment passes, I raise my hand to knock again, but the door swings open, and the 28-year-old Kiwi springs out with a whoop.
"Xena!" I shriek, recoiling. Please don't hurt me.
Lawless yucks it up: "I thought I'd give ya a scare!"
The accent makes me think of Heavenly Creatures, but the actress, clad in a tight purple lace top with a black mini, is a lot weedier than expected. Xena could break her in half. Hell, I could.
TONY: Tell the truth-how tall are you?
Lucy Lawless: Between 5'10" and 5'11", depending on how tired I am.
TONY: Is Lucy Lawless your real name?
LL: Yes, it's my married name. When I first married I was like [Whining], "Nobody will take me seriously." But it's cool, it's grown on me.
TONY: Who's your favorite god or goddess?
LL: Artemis, because she is the huntress, the warrior. I don't know much about gods and goddess and mythology, to tell the truth, and really, our show doesn't depend on it. [Laughs]
TONY: But you know all about Centaurs-is it hard to act opposite one?
LL: The first time [in the episode "Hooves and Harlots"] it really was. I, playing Xena, managed with a straight face, but all the Amazon womaen were giggling mightily. These guys prance around in black leggings-with the centaur's butt on-and they look really silly. They have to kind of move like centaurs. [She imitates rocking centaur gait.] And that's it. More giggling.
TONY: Were you sory when Xena was changed from a villian to a do-gooder?
LL: No, it's diffcult to sustain an anti-hero through a series.
TONY: Who came up with her war cry?
LL: Actually, Rob [Tapert] asked me to try the ululations the Arab women do. And I just kind of modified it.
TONY: Favorite Weapon?
LL: Oh, the good old chaky [the chakram], I suppose. Throw it and it comes back to you.
TONY: That thing looks dangerous-have you tehre been any accidents?
LL: yes, I regularly hit the first AD, I'm not trying to, but maybe it's what you'd call a Freudian slip.
TONY: How did you prepare to play Xena?
LL: They sent me to LA for kung fu training and all the rest, because I'm sorely lacking in those areas.
TONY: Are you serious about martial arts now?
LL: You don't have to be a fine martial artist to sell stunts on television. And after work, it's the last think I want to think about-I don't go home and twiddle my swords and polish my brass. [Laughs]
TONY: Settle an Internet debate: Is Argo, Xena's horse, male or female?
LL: I always wanted the horse to be female, and it is from now on. Nd in real life, Tilly is a girl.
TONY: Do you hand out on hte Internet?
LL: I have posted two letters thanking my fans. They are just amazingly nice people and are not confused as to the nature of television. [Laughs] They understand that Xena doesn't really exist...
TONY: Ha. You have a rabid cult following-does that scare you at all?
LL: No-imagine how hacked off I'd be if nobody was interested!
TONY: You also have a big lesbian audience.
LL: They're great; they're really loyal fans.
TONY: There is a New York Bar, Meow Mix, that had these Xena themed nights...
LL: The Boiler Room did too. We put one of their posters on our call sheet and gave it to the crew. We work on such isolation that the show's success is really abstract, so it gave everyone a big kick.
TONY: Do you think the lesbian subtext had increased as the series has gone on?
LL: You know what? If you go to Texas asnd say "How about that lesbian content of the show?" They'll say, [Drawling] "what are you talking about?"
TONY: Does your daughter watch the show?
LL: Uhhh, sometimes. It's on too late, because this show's really aimed at adults. In fact, I recommend that parents screen it because some things are too sexy, raunchy, ironic.
TONY: Why have you been defensive about the show ebing called feminist?
LL: I was just surprised that a political angle ever came up, because it never occurred to me that it was a political show. I do not have a problem with feminism. I know [th show's] partly the product of a hundred years of feminism in my country and certainly hte last 40 years of television.
TONY: You've seemed reluctant to be a role model.
LL: I was very threatened by it at first. I felt like people wanted to stand me, Lucy Lawless, up as a counter-Barbie, and I was infuriated. To reduce me to some kind of icon! But now I find it pleasurable. I mean, I used to like to have a smoke, but now I don't want young women who look up to me to think it's okay.
TONY: Speaking of Barbie, what do you think of your action figure?
LL: I love them. Got one on the fridge.
TONY: Will Hercules and Xena be crossing paths this season?
LL: They are such an incongruous couple to me, but it is probable I will cross over into Hercules before the end of the year. More of that "I love you, but I want to kill you."
TONY: Have you ever kicked a man's ass in real life?
LL: When I was five, there was David Bell. It was a completely unprovoked attack-I sank my teeth into his upper arm. What an awful kid I was!
TONY: Like the evil Xena?
LL: Actually, I don't think I was evil, but I guess I had a little wicked streak. I've grown out of it-I haven't bitten anyone in years.
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