OnlineHost: Your host tonight is AOLiveMC11 (JackDL)
OnlineHost: Since the September 1995 series debut of "Xena: Warrior Princess," New Zealand actress Lucy Lawless has thrilled
American audiences in her starring role as the fierce and fearless Xena. Never before has television seen anyone quite like her --
a woman as smart, strong, courageous and confident as any male hero. Welcome!
LawlessL: Thank you very much for having me.
AOLiveMC11: Welcome to the Celebrity Circle, Lucy Lawless!
LawlessL: Thank you.
AOLiveMC11: WGTH wonders:
Question: Lucy, I think you have a beautiful singing voice. Do you have any plans to perform live, like in a musical or stage play
on Broadway?
LawlessL: I have no plans for that at the moment. It was something I was only asked recently and I'm intrigued by the notion
of it, but I am working so hard and I'm not really looking at other options at the moment.
AOLiveMC11: PenandSwrd would like to know:
Question: I have a question for Lucy when she gets here. What direction would she like to see her character go this season and
beyond?
LawlessL: I thought that at the beginning of this season, I would like to see Xena go a little harder. About half way through the
season I thought, "Wow, am I going a little too soft here." But, in fact, the character seemed to evolve into a life of its own, due
to the input of so many people, i.e., the producers, the writers, and , of course, we actors. Every character on a television show
is an amalgam of influences. The character has a life of its own.
AOLiveMC11: FRasmus48 wonders:
Question: How does it feel being able to beat up guys?
LawlessL: (laughs) It's make-believe, nitwit! ;) I, personally, do not derive any great joy from violence inflicted upon other
human beings, but the show sure is fun, isn't it?
AOLiveMC11: Raccoonaj wonders if you want to branch out:
Question: Have you considered doing any writing for the series?
LawlessL: No, I haven't. Nor do I have any desire to, though people ask me. I want to be a fine actress one day, so I just work
to that end. I do not see myself writing or directing any time soon. And, believe it or not, this would not be my medium were I
to write, direct, or work in any other capacity than acting.
AOLiveMC11: Alastaria wants to know:
Question: Would you like to do a "Xena:Warrior Princess" movie? Is there one in the works?
LawlessL: I have been asked about that, but, frankly, we work so hard to make this show that if I star in anything during the
hiatus, I would not be able to give Xena, the television show, my all, because I would be completely burned out. And I love it so
much that I want to support the series in every way, even though I could probably make a lot of money working on a movie.
LawlessL: I also have a family, and they are more important than anything, and they need my time. Since I was a child, I was
very aware of my mortality. It's something about growing up Catholic. There is a prayer called the "Hail Mary" and in it you
pray "pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death", and every 6 year old was saying, "Death, what do you mean,
death? Oh My God, I'm gonna die!" So I have always been aware that, any minute, I am going to wake up and be 80 years old.
So my ambition is to be a happy and mobile old lady, and I know that if I work year round and make a lot of money, that would
not make me a happy old lady, if I had lost my family and my partner in the process. Work is the second most important thing
to me.
AOLiveMC11: Hicamel is curious:
Question: Do you like doing your own stunts?
LawlessL: I do like to. When I began the series, I *hated* and feared doing the stunt sequences, because I had never been a
very physically agile, or particularly coordinated person prior to doing this show. But nowadays my body just loves them. I get
some sort of high from doing them. I suppose I'm much better coordinated now, so it's not so much of a drag. But I promise
you, there will never be a "Xena" workout video. :)
AOLiveMC11: NEWSCAT asks:
Question: How much input do you and Renee get to make into the writers' development of your characters?
LawlessL: Directly, none. I don't even read a script until four days before we begin to shoot. None. But the interpretation is all
ours, and we are tweaked by the director, which sounds more exciting than it actually is! To be tweaked. But there are a million
ways to spin a line, and you have to make the strongest choice. That is our importance.
AOLiveMC11: Mythcelan asks:
Question: As an actress, who do you consider to be your mentors?
LawlessL: Susan Sarandon, Helen Mirren, DeNiro, and, otherwise, people that have had huge influence on me have been Bill
Davis -- he was my drama teacher in Vancouver, and he is actually the "Smoking Man" or "The Cancer Man" on X Files. He had
a profound influence on me. All my real heroes are real people: My mum, mum and dad. I really never went for heroes, as a
teenager. I never put posters up of anyone. I wasn't particularly interested in pop culture. There was no shortage of people to
look up to in my real life.
AOLiveMC11: JabberTjS asks:
Question: Lucy, how did you like working with Kevin Sorbo?
LawlessL: Kevin's fabulous. He's extremely professional. Always learns his lines and never bumps into the furniture. And he
looks good too! (laughs) No, he's a good guy.
