Many thanks to Kym Masera Taborn ktaborn@lightspeed.net
This transcript appeared in the Xena Media Review

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. Sunday. Page 3. 1284 words.
"Mighty popular; Family background gave Lucy Lawless
strength she needed for 'Xena'"

Lucy Lawless thinks her family background -- being
the oldest girl in a family of seven children -- was
the best training she could have had to become the star
of "Xena: Warrior Princess."
   Yet Lawless does not believe she was only prepared
to play that brave mythical character, now spun off
into her own series thanks to the surprise success of
"Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" action franchise.
   "I think coming from a large family is the best
preparation for anyone wanting to become an actor,"
said Lawless, in Chicago recently to talk about her
newfound fame in the syndicated show, now entering its
second season.
   "You learn how to charm, wheedle and manipulate...
plus you learn how to keep coming back from the knocks.
That's so helpful when you become an actor and have to
face rejection so often when you lose out in an
audition.
   "It made me a fighter."
   And fighting is a big part of what Lawless'
character is called upon to engage in "Xena."
   The character -- originally introduced in a
three-part episode of "Hercules" -- lives in a mythical
pre-ancient Grecian or Roman era, in lands populated
with vicious tyrants, barbarous tribes and bizarre
monsters.
   Originally, Xena was an enemy of Hercules, bent on
destroying him in her quest for ultimate power.
However, after she engaged in an act of compassion, her
army betrayed her -- leading Xena to realize her
obsessive drive to become a great warrior made her
forget her own humanity. In the kind of plot switch
only possible in such story lines, Xena became not only
an ally of Hercules, but a love interest as well --
before heading off into her own series.
   Lawless, virtually unknown before a lucky chain
reaction of events led to her casting as Xena
("including the original actress dropping out"), is
delighted by the success of the show, but she is not
surprised.
   "Audiences are attracted (to the show) because we
take them on a fantastic voyage every week. . . . We
take them out of the humdrum and try to give them a
show that we (the cast and crew) would want to watch
ourselves."
   She also thinks the way the show is filmed adds a
great deal of spontaneity to the final product. Because
of the demanding "Xena" schedule -- nine months of the
year, with "only one week, sometimes two, off every six
weeks, there is no time for rehearsals, except to block
out some of the physical stuff while they're setting up
each camera shot. . . . I think that makes it look
fresh," said Lawless.
   In addition, Lawless believes that her character --
though from mythological antiquity -- strikes a chord
with modern, 1990s audiences, particularly women. "We
do seem to have caught a wave of something that works
today. The world is ready to accept a strong female
character." But Lawless adds she doesn't want audiences
to take it all too seriously. "The most important part
of 'Xena' is the humor. We are always winking at the
audience, having fun with it all. There's really a lot
of satire and irony in what we do."
   In fact, the actress was concerned when she realized
Xena was becoming something of a role model to young
women. "It frightened me, really," said Lawless. "I
wasn't ready for that. I didn't want that kind of
responsibility. I felt like saying 'Go away! Leave me
alone! What do you mean this is making a statement
about political feminism? We're just a bunch of twisted
individuals making a show that we like," said Lawless
with a laugh, tossing her long mane of brunette locks
in a very Xena-esque manner.
   Now, the actress believes she can handle the whole
role model thing in the proper perspective. "I don't
think of it as a burden. If people are genuinely helped
by watching a television show . . . if some women are
inspired to go chase their dreams, then so be it.
That's a positive thing."
   Lawless, who stands nearly 6 feet tall, grew up as
the fifth child and oldest daughter of a prominent
politician near Auckland, New Zealand.  Her father,
formerly mayor of Mount Albert, currently serves as
chairman of finance for Auckland city. The actress
believes "even though my father rarely brought his
business home," preferring to leave politics at the
office, he did encourage lively dinner table
conversations. "Oh, yes indeed!"=7F
   Lawless also credits her parents with inspiring her
independent spirit. While "acting was always the most
important thing to me," she did go out into the world
to experience an unusual array of temporary careers.
   After a short stint attending Auckland University in
her native land, Lawless headed for Europe in her late
teens, spending some time picking grapes at a vineyard
on the Rhine. "When I ran out of the money I'd saved, I
headed to Australia," where she worked as a gold miner
for 11 months.
   "People have romantic notions about mining for gold.
It's rough, dirty work." In addition, Lawless was
bothered by how the gold-mining process in Australia
destroys the environment. "There are miles and miles
where they just blow the landscape to smithereens."
   It was in Australia that she married and had her
daughter, Daisy, now 8. Though now divorced, Lawless=7F
says she and her ex-husband have a good relationship
and feels fortunate that he "only lives down the road,"
so their daughter gets to see both parents "all the
time."
   Shortly after marrying, Lawless returned to New
Zealand to actively pursue her acting career, beginning
with television commercials. It was while serving as
host of a travel magazine show that she was asked to
audition for "Hercules."
   That temporary role, of course, led to her big
break.
   What was it, that the producers saw in Lawless that
gave her the edge to become Xena?
   "I think they were looking for a new face,
obviously. But perhaps I was the rough diamond they
were looking for."
   Clearly, her ability to handle the very physical
aspects of the role were a big plus. Though, Lawless
stresses, she had no martial arts training prior to
doing "Hercules" or "Xena." In fact, she even has
learned that too much exercise can cause problems.
   "After I was first cast, I thought it was critical
that I be in top shape, so after our already long days
of shooting, I would work out for two hours every day.
Finally my back gave out and I spent two days in bed.
That completely shut down the production, since without
me there's no work -- for anyone. It made me realize
that doing the role is exercise enough, and if I'm flat
on my back I don't do any good to anyone." 
   The actress does have some days that do make her
wonder about it all. The worst episode, in terms of
difficulty?
   "No question, episode No. 2, 'Chariots of War,' "
Lawless answers immediately. It was a horrendous day,
raining and hailing like crazy. I was soaked, and let
me tell you, wearing cold, wet leather is no treat...
The only thing that kept me going was the realization
that time always passes. This had to end -- it just
didn't end soon enough!"
   The best part of playing Xena for Lawless is the
fact that the show is entirely filmed outside her
native Auckland.  "I am 20 minutes from work . . . no
matter what." As the mother of a young child, "that
gives me a lot of comfort."
   While she realizes the growing international
popularity of "Xena" may lead to Lawless having greater
opportunities in the world's entertainment arena, right
now she's happy where she is. "Being a mother and being
an actress are equally important. I am very lucky that
right now I can do both things without having to choose
one over the other."
   "Xena: Warrior Princess," airs at noon on Sundays on
WGN-TV, Channel 9. Beginning on Oct. 5 it moves to
Saturdays at 3 p.m.
   Bill Zwecker is the Sun-Times celebrities columnist.
   GRAPHIC: Lucy Lawless says being the oldest girl in
a family of seven children made her a fighter -- which
she puts to advantage as the star of "Xena: Warrior
Princess." The series airs at noon Sunday on Channel 9.