You know the usual scene? A simpering
blonde cowering behind some strapping hunk while he valiantly fends off
the baddies? Well, forget it! This is the Nineties and sisters are doing
it for themselves. Leading the charge is the raven-haired, six-foot tall
Kiwi, Lucy Lawless, otherwise known as Xena: Warrior Princess and
currently wowing audiences on Sky 2. In her on-screen guise Lucy is a
lean, mean fighting machine who, along with sharp-tongued sidekick
Gabrielle, played by Renee O'Connor, puts the fear of God into any evil
wrong-doers who dare cross her path.
Modern day heroine
A hard-hitting, high-kicking modern day heroine, Xena was such a
success in her three-episode appearance on Sky l's
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys that she was immediately given the
limelight in her own series. Not that Lawless, who's been described as
looking rather like Demi Moore's more statuesque sister, was surprised
at Xena's incredible impact. 'She is a woman who doesn't see herself as
at all limited by her femininity,' she reasons, 'and I think people find
that very appealing.'
Much the same can be said for Lawless herself, who once worked as a
miner in the Australian out- back, digging, hauling and driving trucks
with the best of them!
'I never believed in glass ceilings or in being handicapped because I'm
a woman,' explains the onetime tomboy who modelled herself on her four
older brothers. But she did have one problem when taking on the role of
Xena. Given the nicknamed 'Unco' at school because she was so
uncoordinated, Lawless' toughest challenge was mastering the control of
the necessary arts skills.
'I've never thought of myself as a very physical person,' she insists,
despite boasting a physique that would put most people to shame. 'I've
had a lot of training, however, which helped a lot. But unlike Hercules
star Kevin Sorbo, who is a sportsman from way back, it doesn't come
naturally to me.'
Not anti-men
Try telling that to the snarling centaurs and wicked warlords she
manages to dispatch this month with one kick of that
lengthy leg!
Indeed, in America Xena has been hailed as a feminist icon. But it's an
accolade that doesn't rest too easily with Lawless. 'Xena is not
anti-men and we're not male-bashing in any way,' she quickly and firmly
points out. What Lawless would prefer is that the show be seen simply as
good, entertaining fun. And bearing in mind her mighty karate chop, few
would argue with that!
Xena: Warrior Princess fights evil on Sky 2, Sundays at 7pm.
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