Article in Sydney Sun-Herald - 31/8/97
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They Love Lucy: now Xena takes Rizzo role

Kiwi actress Lucy Lawless, who found world-wide fame as the
warrior princess in the TV series Xena - is the latest
Australiasian to score a role in Grease.

Lawless, 29, who starred in Australian films before moving to
the US, has been cast as tough cookie Rizzo in Broadway's
long-running Grease revival. Olivia Newton-John played the more
demure role of Sandy in the Grease film.

Lawless, 175 cm tall, happily follows Brooke Shields into the
part, although it will pay her less that her smash-hit role of the
mythical warrior woman Xena, which was syndicated globally.

Lawless, who acknowledges the Xena role has earned her a big
following in the Manhatten lesbian community, has never been on
stage professionally or sung publicily.

Separated from New Zealander Garth Lawless, with whom she shares
custody of the nine year old daughter, Daisy, Lawless says she is
not taking the part of Rizzo for the money.

"I want to sing again, as I did as a teenager, just for the love of
it," she said.

Lawless said Daisy "liked mum being Xena and liked me picking her up
from school".

Lawless said she was comfortable with Xena's image as feminist role
model, leather-clad sex symbol and lesbian heroine.

"People are attracted to Xena's masculine bent," she said, "She
doesn't rely on a man for help, and that's a good messages.

[Picture of Lucy as Xena holding chakram (standard stock photo) with
caption: Wonder Woman: Lucy Lawless in her role as the super-tall,
heroine Xena, wields a razor-sharp discus known as a chakram in the
TV Series]