Lucy Lawless

Actress

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In her three-hour-plus interview, Lucy Lawless discusses her experience in drama school and her early roles as a guest star on New Zealand television. She talks of hosting the series Air New Zealand Holiday, recounts being cast in an early role on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, and shares how she was later cast as "Xena" on the same show. She recalls her transition from Hercules: The Legendary Journeys to her own series, Xena: Warrior Princess, and details the ways in which the character changed for the spin-off. Lawless speaks at length about "Xena," her effect on popular culture, and her status as a feminist icon. She speaks of her stint as the Cylon "D'Anna Biers" on Battlestar Galactica, and touches on her guest roles on Curb Your Enthusiasm, The L Word, and Saturday Night Live. She recalls being cast as "Lucretia" on Spartacus, and describes the difficulties the series encountered due to the untimely death of lead actor Andy Whitfield. Finally, she outlines her role on Parks and Recreation, speaks of career highs, and offers her philosophy of acting. Nancy Harrington conducted the interview on August 21, 2013 in North Hollywood, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"There were lots of letters from people who wanted me to be 'Xena.' If people choose to make the character you played into a hero of theirs, they can do that. They'll say, 'you gave me courage to help me get out of an abusive relationship,' or 'it helped me come out to my parents,' or 'it helped me get off drugs and become a teacher.' I say, 'well, you did that. I can't take any credit for it. Congratulations to you.'"

People Talking About ...

Highlights

Lucy Lawless on the special effects and stunts on Xena: Warrior Princess

03:29

Lucy Lawless on working with Kevin Sorbo as "Hercules" on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

00:33

Lucy Lawless on her character of "Lucretia" on Spartacus

03:23

Lucy Lawless on playing the Cylon "D'Anna Biers" on Battlestar Galactica

02:20

Lucy Lawless on hosting Saturday Night Live

03:05

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On her early life and influences; on television she watched as a child

On appearing on the sketch comedy show Funny Business; on going to drama school; on various guest-starring roles on New Zealand television

On appearing in the Hercules: The Legendary Journeys made-for-television movie; on playing "Xena" on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys; on the popularity of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

On the spin-off of "Xena" into her own series, Xena: Warrior Princess; on the character of "Xena" on Xena: Warrior Princess; on the costumes and stunts on the show

Chapter 2

On the world of Xena: Warrior Princess; on "Xena's" relationship with "Gabrielle" on Xena: Warrior Princess; on her co-stars on the show

On the atmosphere on the set of Xena: Warrior Princess; on the production process of Xena: Warrior Princess; on censorship of the show

On fan reaction to Xena: Warrior Princess; on dealing with her fame and being a feminist icon; on the different genres included in Xena: Warrior Princess and her favorite episodes of the show; on the end and legacy of Xena: Warrior Princess

On hosting Saturday Night Live; on various guest starring roles; on playing the Cylon "D'Anna Biers" on Battlestar Galactica

Chapter 3

On the end of her character on Battlestar Galactia; on appearing on Curb Your Enthusiasm, Celebrity Duets and The L Word; on guest-starring on Flight of the Concords

On being cast on Spartacus; on her Spartacus character "Lucretia"; on Andy Whitfield as "Spartacus" and his illness

On Liam McIntyre taking over the role of "Spartacus" on Spartacus; on her Spartacus co-stars; on her character "Lucretia's" backstory on Spartacus

On the costumes and wigs of Spartacus; on her favorite moments of Spartacus; on the end of her character "Lucretia"

On her fans; on appearing on No Ordinary Family and Parks and Recreation; on then-current projects

Chapter 4

On how celebrity has affected her; on her involvement with Green Peace; on what she likes about acting and her approach to acting

On how television has changed for actors since she started; on advice to an aspiring actor; on her achievements and regrets and where she sees herself in the future

Shows

Battlestar Galactica (2004-09)

Lucy Lawless on joining the cast of Battlestar Galactica

01:13

Lucy Lawless on playing the Cylon "D'Anna Biers" on Battlestar Galactica

02:20

Lucy Lawless on the character of "D'Anna Biers" on Battlestar Galactica

01:14

Lucy Lawless on her Battlestar Galactica co-workers

05:34

Lucy Lawless on leaving Battlestar Galactica and the legacy of the show

03:31

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Lucy Lawless on guest-starring on Curb Your Enthusiasm

03:25

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

Lucy Lawless on co-starring in the Hercules: The Legendary Journeys made-for-television movie

03:56

Lucy Lawless on appearing in the Hercules: The Legendary Journeys series in an earlier role

02:41

Lucy Lawless on playing "Xena" on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

05:50

Lucy Lawless on working with Kevin Sorbo as "Hercules" on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

00:33

Parks and Recreation

Lucy Lawless on playing "Diane" on Parks and Recreation

04:23

Saturday Night Live

Lucy Lawless on hosting Saturday Night Live

03:05

Spartacus

Lucy Lawless on being cast on Spartacus

01:33

Lucy Lawless on her character of "Lucretia" on Spartacus

03:23

Lucy Lawless on the action scenes and censorship of Spartacus

05:13

Lucy Lawless on Andy Whitfield as "Spartacus" on Spartacus and his illness

02:13

Lucy Lawless on Liam McIntyre taking over the role of Spartacus

01:01

Lucy Lawless on her Spartacus co-stars

05:53

Lucy Lawless on the atmosphere on the set of Spartacus

01:58

Lucy Lawless on her character "Lucretia's" backstory on Spartacus

05:29

Lucy Lawless on the wigs and costumes of Spartacus

01:16

Lucy Lawless on the end of her character "Lucretia" on Spartacus

01:40

Tarzan

Lucy Lawless on guest-starring on Tarzan

00:50

Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The

Lucy Lawless on being injured on the set of The Tonight Show

01:43

X-Files, The

Lucy Lawless on guest-starring on The X-Files

00:45

Xena: Warrior Princess

Lucy Lawless on playing "Xena" on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

05:50

Lucy Lawless on the popularity of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

00:34

Lucy Lawless on Xena: Warrior Princess spinning off from Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

04:21

Lucy Lawless on her first day on the set of Xena: Warrior Princess

01:19

Lucy Lawless on the character of "Xena" on Xena: Warrior Princess

02:57

Lucy Lawless on "Xena's" wardrobe on Xena: Warrior Princess

01:54

Lucy Lawless on "Xena's" accent on Xena: Warrior Princess

00:50

Lucy Lawless on the special effects and stunts on Xena: Warrior Princess

03:29

Lucy Lawless on "Xena's" world on Xena: Warrior Princess and the lesbian overtones of the show

02:41

Lucy Lawless on "Xena's" relationship with "Gabrielle" on Xena: Warrior Princess

03:41

Lucy Lawless on her Xena: Warrior Princess co-stars

03:36

Lucy Lawless on the atmosphere on the set of Xena: Warrior Princess

02:55

Lucy Lawless on the production process for Xena: Warrior Princess

03:04

Lucy Lawless on censorship of Xena: Warrior Princess

02:07

Lucy Lawless on the merchandising of Xena: Warrior Princess

01:54

Lucy Lawless on fan reaction to Xena: Warrior Princess

02:32

Lucy Lawless on dealing with her fame from Xena: Warrior Princess and being a feminist icon

02:00

Lucy Lawless on the slapstick comedy in Xena: Warrior Princess

01:07

Lucy Lawless on working with Bruce Campbell on Xena: Warrior Princess

01:09

Lucy Lawless on Xena: Warrior Princess switching back and forth between genres

01:04

Lucy Lawless on her favorite episodes of Xena: Warrior Princess

01:05

Lucy Lawless on classic episodes of Xena: Warrior Princess

01:42

Lucy Lawless on her least favorite episode of Xena: Warrior Princess

03:36

Lucy Lawless on playing "Xena" on animated shows

00:40

Lucy Lawless on the end of Xena: Warrior Princess

02:37

Lucy Lawless on the possibility of a re-imagining of Xena: Warrior Princess

01:15

Lucy Lawless on the legacy of Xena: Warrior Princess

02:03

Lucy Lawless on being typecast as "Xena"

01:24

Topics

Advice

Lucy Lawless on her advice to an aspiring actor

00:57

Censorship / Standards & Practices

Lucy Lawless on censorship of Xena: Warrior Princess

02:07

Lucy Lawless on the action scenes and censorship of Spartacus

05:13

Characters & Catchphrases

Lucy Lawless on the character of "Xena" on Xena: Warrior Princess

02:57

Fame and Celebrity

Lucy Lawless on dealing with her fame from Xena: Warrior Princess and being a feminist icon

02:00

Lucy Lawless on how celebrity has affected her

02:05

First Big Break

Lucy Lawless on playing "Xena" on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

05:49

Historic Events and Social Change

Lucy Lawless on Xena's world on Xena: Warrior Princess and the lesbian overtones of the show

02:41

Lucy Lawless on dealing with her fame from Xena: Warrior Princess and being a feminist icon

02:00

Lucy Lawless on how television has changed for women and in general since she started acting

02:25

LGBTQIA+

Lucy Lawless on Xena's world on Xena: Warrior Princess and the lesbian overtones of the show

02:41

Lucy Lawless on dealing with her fame from Xena: Warrior Princess and being a feminist icon

02:00

Pivotal Career Moments

Lucy Lawless on playing "Xena" on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

05:49

Pop Culture

Lucy Lawless on the character of "Xena" on Xena: Warrior Princess

02:57

Representation on Television

Lucy Lawless on Xena's world on Xena: Warrior Princess and the lesbian overtones of the show

02:41

Lucy Lawless on dealing with her fame from Xena: Warrior Princess and being a feminist icon

02:00

Lucy Lawless on how television has changed for women and in general since she started acting

02:25

Television Industry

Lucy Lawless on censorship of Xena: Warrior Princess

02:07

Lucy Lawless on dealing with her fame from Xena: Warrior Princess and being a feminist icon

01:59

Lucy Lawless on the action scenes and censorship of Spartacus

05:13

Lucy Lawless on her advice to an aspiring actor

00:57

Lucy Lawless on how celebrity has affected her

02:05

Women

Lucy Lawless on how television has changed for women and in general since she started acting

02:25

Professions

Actress

View Profession

Lucy Lawless on what she likes about acting and her approach to acting

02:23

Lucy Lawless on her advice to an aspiring actor

00:57

Performers

View Profession

Lucy Lawless on what she likes about acting and her approach to acting

02:23

Lucy Lawless on her advice to an aspiring actor

00:58

Genres

Adventure/Espionage Series

Lucy Lawless on playing "Xena" on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

13:41

Lucy Lawless on playing "Xena" on Xena Warrior Princess (Part 1)

17:34

Lucy Lawless on playing "Xena" on Xena: Warrior Princess (Part 2)

40:59

Lucy Lawless on playing "Lucretia" on Spartacus

30:38

Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series

Lucy Lawless on playing the Cylon "D'Anna Biers" on Battlestar Galactica (Part 1)

10:24

Lucy Lawless on playing "D'Anna Biers" on Battlestar Galactica (Part 2)

03:31

People

Ted Danson

View Person Page

Lucy Lawless on guest-starring on Curb Your Enthusiasm

03:25

Larry David

View Person Page

Lucy Lawless on guest-starring on Curb Your Enthusiasm

03:25

Jean Stapleton

View Interview Page

Lucy Lawless on appearing on Ray Bradbury Theater with Jean Stapleton

01:19