July 2019 Archives

My Life is Murder will premiere on Acorn TV on 5 August. US TV Guide has a write up about the show.

WITH ENOUGH SWAGGER to make even a war­rior princess like Xena proud, Lucy Lawless has a ball solving crimes that wouldn’t make Columbo break a sweat. A sparkling Melbourne looks like heaven on earth In a souffle-llght Australian mystery series that doesn’t so much ask whodunit but how’s she going to solve It.

For widow and retired detective Alexa Crowe, the off-the-book cases provided by a former colleague (Bernard Curry) are catnip. Flirty and saucy, Alexa disarms her obvious prey before going In for the kill, all while learning to work a German food processor, wrangle a stubborn stray cat and mentor the requisite millennial tech whiz (Ebony Vagulans) who worships her.
Mind candy for sure, but tasty enough If you’ve had your fill of grit.

Rating 3/5

Find out more about Lucy's role on My Life is Murder by going to the AUSXIP My Life is Murder subsite

There's a provocative exchange at the beginning of the first episode of My Life is Murder: A woman scrolls through images of glistening pecs and washboard abs while chatting on the phone. "I guarantee you, Alexa," says the voice on the other end, "this will be better than any boyfriend you have ever had." "Well, that sounds fabulous. And expensive," she replies. What she's really doing here, of course, is trying to uncover clues so she can solve a crime. Lucy Lawless stars in My Life is Murder as Alexa Crowe, a retired detective called back into police work as a consultant on some of the most baffling murders in Victoria, Australia. It debuts August 5 on Acorn TV.

Transcript

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

There's a provocative exchange - the beginning of the first episode of "My Life Is Murder" - a woman scrolls through images of glistening pecs and washboard abs while chatting on the phone.

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "MY LIFE IS MURDER")

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: (As character) I guarantee you, Alexa, this will be better than any boyfriend you've ever had.

LUCY LAWLESS: (As Alexa Crowe) Well, that sounds fabulous and expensive.

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: (As character) It'll be worth it. I promise.

LAWLESS: (As Alexa Crowe) Well, I have had a hard week.

SIMON: It turns out to be strictly business - crime-solving business that is. Lucy Lawless plays Alexa Crowe, a retired detective called back into police work as a consultant on some of the most baffling murders in Victoria, Australia. Lucy Lawless is also executive producer of the series about to premiere on Acorn TV in the United States. And Lucy Lawless, who will always be Xena: Warrior Princess to a generation of viewers and Diane on "Parks And Recreation" but especially Xena: Warrior Princess, joins us from New York. Thanks so much for being with us.

LAWLESS: Aw. Scott, it's so nice to be back with you again.

SIMON: Aw, well, thank you for saying that.

LAWLESS: Thank you for having me.

SIMON: I enjoyed the episodes I saw. And Alexa used her skills and guile. But I want to reassure people, now and then, she gets to throw someone around, doesn't she?

LAWLESS: Yes - well, a little. I was - to be honest with you, I was a bit chagrined by that because that was never my favorite part of the job. But...

SIMON: Oh, in "Xena," really? Yeah.

LAWLESS: And you know what? And it hurts. No. I always hated it. But I didn't have any choice. So, you know, if you don't have a choice about something, you really oughtn't to invest in it emotionally. So I just get it over and done with. But it's always a shock when they say I have to run out of the way of a car, you know?

SIMON: But you know how to do that?

LAWLESS: Yes. I say, over to you, stuntwoman. But there is...

SIMON: (Laughter) That's how it's done. Yes.

LAWLESS: That's how it's done. But there is some amount of selling before and immediately after. So it doesn't get easier with every passing decade.

SIMON: We don't learn a lot about Alexa all at once. But it comes out in occasional lines. May I ask, what's the good luck charm, as she calls it, in her shoulder?

LAWLESS: It's the tip of a knife from a drug dealer. That reminds her that she got away scot-free from that bad deal, when that deal went down. And I think she's just been dry and tough, you know? And she pretends that's her good luck.

SIMON: Yeah. And she's widowed.

LAWLESS: She is widowed. Her husband was also a detective and died in the line of duty. And we explore that loss in a slightly lighthearted way when we go into the world of the undertaker because, every episode, we try to take you into another sector of life, you know, some party you've never been invited to. Some might be the world of the very beautiful people and PR and models where you get to see the ugly underpinnings of that business. And there are themes, which then are reflected back on Alexa Crowe herself. So you get - we're going to lift the veil a little bit and have some fun and pursue justice in those worlds. And it's really satisfying, you know? It's lovely.

SIMON: To pursue justice, you mean? - at least on screen. Yeah.

LAWLESS: Well, yeah. The verisimilitude of justice, when you spend an hour with people that you like on television in a very beautiful, vibrant environment and get this lovely sense of catching the bad guy - to me, it's a little bit of a chance to recoup because the news is a bit grim these days. And it's just nice to have a little bit of a - like, a psychic break.

SIMON: The series also shows off Victoria.

LAWLESS: Yeah.

SIMON: Which is very picturesque.

LAWLESS: Oh, this town is incredible. Melbourne - I got city envy. I'd never been there before. And this town is such a foodies' paradise. And at one time, it was the richest city on Earth. During the gold rush, that's where they banked all the gold. And it was also - they're quick to tell me - not a penal colony - is where free men, free English people chose to settle. So they see themselves as being a little more genteel. And certainly, it is a much more sedate city, flat and beautifully planned with a wonderful light-rail system, which everybody uses. It's clean. It's efficient. And everything runs on time. And just miles upon miles of Victorian-Edwardian housing, which is very low rise - so it's a super sedate, charming, cosmopolitan town and very stylish.

SIMON: What - may I ask you, what do you make of the impression that Xena still seems to leave on a lot of lives all over the world?

LAWLESS: Oh, were you bored with Melbourne? Did I give you (laughter)...

SIMON: No, no, no. Not at all - not remotely. but...

LAWLESS: OK.

SIMON: ...I know who I'm talking to so...

LAWLESS: OK. Right. Oh.

SIMON: If I don't - if we don't give the folks a Xena question - all right?

LAWLESS: OK. I'm sorry. Let's do that again. Go ahead.

SIMON: Enough about Melbourne, Lucy.

(LAUGHTER)

LAWLESS: Now back to me - that's enough about Melbourne - back to me.

SIMON: Well, what do you make of the impression Xena still seems to have with a lot of people?

LAWLESS: Well, I'm really delighted because people are so kind to me. I think I've been around long enough that everybody knows me from something. And it's like I'm a - like, a really cute, walking dinosaur or something. You know, they're really nice to me. They're not afraid of me. They're not cold to me. I don't know. I think I've got some - I must have some kempt luster about me that makes me - people feel friendly towards me. And I'm really gratified and delighted by that.

SIMON: You were one of the founding sisters of women superhero characters.

LAWLESS: I never feel I can really take credit for that. There was Sigourney Weaver in the "Alien" movies before me. And Joan of Arc and the real Mulan and some Indian warrior princesses. So I was delighted to be...

SIMON: (Laughter) I said one of.

LAWLESS: ...The - yeah - the '90s iteration.

SIMON: Yeah.

LAWLESS: But certainly, it was new on television at the time. And people said it would never work.

SIMON: I'm going to guess you could have a happy life just slitting open your residual checks. What...

LAWLESS: No. You're wrong. They're like, 19 cents. It's like (laughter)...

SIMON: Really.

LAWLESS: There was no fortune to be made in residuals and syndicated television. It's not, like, you know, doing a sitcom or something.

SIMON: Yeah.

LAWLESS: But mustn't grumble - it's given me everything.

SIMON: Well, what do you still enjoy about working?

LAWLESS: Oh, my God. Everything - I love it. What's beautiful about television is that you have a very long list of tasks of the day. So all day long, you're just checking them off. So it's really satisfying. And you're problem-solving in order to make the day, getting it all done on time in as joyful, collegial way as possible. That's a really satisfying day's work. You know - and hopefully, you make something that people like. But even if they don't like it - well you're already paid. And you already had a good time. So that's that. (Laughter) Like, it - it kind of - it's incidental to me whether it's a success or not.

SIMON: Lucy Lawless stars in and is executive producer of "My Life Is Murder," a new Australian crime drama with comedic touches, of course, on Acorn TV. Thanks so much for being back with us.

LAWLESS: My life is murder.

SIMON: (Laughter) Thank you so much. Take care.

LAWLESS: Cheers, Scotty.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

SIMON: And "My Life Is Murder" premieres on Acorn TV August 5.

Source: https://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=745596196

TV Soap (Australia) has a write up about the upcoming My Life Is Murder Season 1 Episode 3

If you don’t want spoilers…don’t read any further!

Synopsis

Cycling groups are the ultimate opportunity for networking and power broking. But when the CFO of a hospitality empire dies on his morning ride, Alexa must infiltrate the world of lycra and butt pads.

Once upon a time, corporate fat cats and golf clubs used to go together like a horse and carriage, or love and marriage; nowadays the rich and powerful are no longer teeing off on the legendary Saturday morning pastime. Instead, they’re more interested in donning their lycra, strapping on their butt pads and hopping on two wheels for a spot of road biking in the fresh air. As an intrepid Alexa discovers, one company’s passion for its pedalling pursuit for networking and powerbroking is suddenly tainted by the stench of murder.

Called to a roadside crime scene, Alexa finds that the CFO of a hospitality empire has inexplicably died on his Saturday morning ride. This is no ordinary accident or medical mishap - as the bizarre behaviour of the bystanders indicates. Instead, the death was the result of a deliberate act.

For starters, Alexa quickly identifies a prime suspect in Roger Simms (Don Hany). He’s the CEO of the hospitality empire, and he’s acting far too charming and carefree for the detective’s liking when ideally for a supposed innocent, he should be mourning his mate!

Even more suss is Roger’s refusal to assist in any way with Alexa’s bid to solve the murder. Sensing he’s not going to make her job easy, Alexa squares up to him, playing along with the seductive cat-and-mouse game of power plays he obviously wants to entertain. Such behaviour is one of Roger’s hallmarks, used to control his employees, but Alexa isn’t so pliable and she’s not about to let this supposedly perfect specimen get the better of her.

Network 10 will launch an animated spin-off to CJZ’s My Life Is Murder tomorrow on 10 Play, My Name Is Captain Thunderbolt (Sometimes).

The six-episode series is based on a cat named Captain Thunderbolt, who wanders into the apartment of Alexa Crowe – the lead character in My Life Is Murder, played by Lucy Lawless – and takes up residence. Captain Thunderbolt appears in the television series. In the animated series, he has become a private detective, investigating Alexa’s life to decide if he should stay with her.

Written by Network 10’s digital editor Liz Galinovic and My Life Is Murder script editor Hannah Fitzpatrick, it is the first animated series made for Network 10’s digital platform.

Network 10 developed the series in partnership with the University of Newcastle’s animation school to enable a group of recent graduates to work on the project and bring Captain Thunderbolt to life.

Network 10 head of drama Rick Maier said: “Captain Thunderbolt is clearly a star going places. Not only deserving of a show in his own right, this also helps us defray the significant cost of his management, entourage, Winnebago and extensive backstage rider. This is a series for lovers of mystery and/or man’s second best friend.”

Ten-part series My Life Is Murder is currently airing on Network 10. It stars a Lawless as Crowe, a private investigator and former homicide detective whose insights into the darker quirks of human nature enable her to provoke and push felons’ right and wrong buttons as she unravels the truth behind baffling and bizarre crimes. Bernard Curry is her former colleague and long-time friend Detective Inspector Kieran Hussey, and Ebony Vagulans is the bubbly, sarcastic, ambitious Madison, who works as a data analyst for the police. It also stars Danielle Cormack, Don Hany, Lisa Hensley, Magda Szubanski, Nadine Garner, Ryan Corr and Dilruk Jayasinha.

DCD Rights pre-sold the series to Acorn TV in the US, and last week it was announced that UKTV has picked up the show for its crime drama channel Alibi.

My Name Is Captain Thunderbolt (Sometimes) will be available at www.10play.com.au/mylifeismurder from tomorrow July 24.

Channel 10 has released the trailer for Season 1 Episode 2 of My Life is Murder

Lucy Lawless is back for another crime and looking fine ?? #MyLifeIsMurder 9.15 tomorrow on 10@RealLucyLawless @EbonyVagulans @bernardcurry pic.twitter.com/lcUUh7Scn7

— Channel 10 (@Channel10AU) July 23, 2019

Find out more about Lucy's role on My Life is Murder by going to the AUSXIP My Life is Murder subsite

A Return For Xena?
The Courier Mail
24 July 2019

LUCY Lawless remains hopeful a Xena: Warrior Princess reboot will eventually happen. A new version of the cult show was in the works a couple of years ago before being shelved by producers.

“I don’t know why they’ve found it so hard to get it off the ground,” Lawless (pictured) said.

“They tried and kind of failed. They should have me and Renee (O’Connor, who played Gabrielle) back, those characters as the women the age we are and introduce the new Xena. It is a failure of imagination possibly, it is out of my hands, but it could still happen.”

Xena: Warrior Princess was a huge global hit in the 1990s running into the early-2000s and is still broadcast in some countries today.

“I am grateful for it and really respectful for it because every actress should be delighted to be recognised for anything they do,” she said. “So many actors are scrambling to get by and the fact that I am recognised in New York or wherever I am, it is so uncommon that I am very grateful for it because it propels your career.”

Lawless, 51, is back on Australian television as former detective Alexa Crowe in new Channel 10 drama My Life Is Murder, which airs tonight. “It is a little bit more lighthearted,” she said. “A joyful, beautiful gem of a show.”

The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)
24 July 2019

Xena Reboot on the Cards?

LAWLESS HOPING FOR RETURN OF WARRIOR PRINCESS

Lucy Lawless remains hopeful a Xena: Warrior Princess reboot will eventually happen. A new version of the cult show was in the works a couple of years ago before being shelved by producers. “I don’t know why they’ve found it so hard to get it off the ground,” Lawless told Confidential. “They tried and kind of failed. They should have me and Renee (O’Connor, who played Gabrielle) back, those characters as the women the age we are and introduce the new Xena. It is a failure of imagination possibly, it is out of my hands but it could still happen.”

Most recently in 2017, America’s NBC Universal said a reboot was taken off the table after years of pressure from fans to bring back the franchise.

Xena: Warrior Princess was a huge global hit in the 1990s running into the early 2000s and is still broadcast in some countries today.

It first ran in 1995 and elevated Lawless to Hollywood star status. She is still recognised as Xena today.

“I am grateful for it and really respectful for it because every actress should be delighted to be recognised for anything they do,” she said. “So many actors are scrambling to get by and the fact that I am recognised in New York, or wherever I am … I am very grateful for it.”

Lawless, 51, makes her return to Australian television this week, starring in new Channel 10 drama My Life Is Murder that screens its second episode tonight at 8.30pm.

The actor plays former detective Alexa Crowe in the modern-day murder mystery that also stars Ebony Vagulans and Bernard Curry, as well as regular guests including Magda Szubanski, Nadine Garner, Ryan Corr, Danielle Cormack and Don Hany.

“It is a little bit more lighthearted,” Lawless said. “I feel like the world right now is so grim that it is quite nice to have somewhere you can go where there is a bit of justice and people doing what is right.

“It is a joyful, beautiful gem of a show.”

She admitted it has also been nice playing a character in a story set in the current day.

“I love modern clothing … I can’t tell you how horrifying it is to strap on a chest plate and corset, which many of my shows have had,” Lawless said.

“She is a modern woman, my age and she talks like me for the most part.”

Find out more about Lucy's role on My Life is Murder by going to the AUSXIP My Life is Murder subsite

In "My Life is Murder" investigator Alexa Crowe (Lucy Lawless) can’t help fighting the good fight – whether it’s solving murders or combating the small frustrations of everyday life. Alexa’s unique skills and insights allow her to unmask the hidden passions and dangerous secrets lurking in the energetic, ever-changing city of Melbourne. The show is ultimately about an unrepentant and brilliant woman who refuses to give in. Or give up. Or even shut up.

AM2DM by BuzzFeed News

LIVE NOW: @RealLucyLawless tells #AM2DM about her new @AcornTV series #MyLifeIsMurder, Xena being a queer icon, and why she’s politically active https://t.co/lpjH3pLHQc

— AM2DM by BuzzFeed News (@AM2DM) July 22, 2019

Find out more about Lucy's role on My Life is Murder by going to the AUSXIP My Life is Murder subsite

TV Soap Magazine 5 August 2019

The Mystery of the Locked Room (S1 E2)

Confronted with two more perplexing cases, Alexa is forced to dig deep and use the sharpest of her sleuthing skills in the pursuit of these canny killers

Summoned to a nearby motel by her former police superior, friend and wannabe lover Kieran (Bernard Curry), Alexa (Lucy Lawless) quickly discovers that these joints can accommodate secrets as well as paying guests! And someone who’s been in this particular room seems to be extremely keen to keep its goings-on private at all costs...

Inside this room – which has been chain-locked from the inside – lies the corpse of a seemingly ordinary bloke who’s found himself on the wrong end of a gun. Alexa’s initial ndings highlight that the unfortunate victim was an everyday fella who had no obvious enemies. From all accounts he appeared to be so likeable that everyone was his friend. The scene also yields the conclusion that he died alone – potentially suggesting suicide, but the fatal wound suggests otherwise...

It soon presents as a more clear-cut case of homicide when it emerges that a mystery woman was on the scene at the time the victim was still alive. Maybe he was having an affair with her? Unless he was attempting something far less scandalous and more noble? Whichever happens to be the case, Alexa is sure left scratching her head! If the woman did kill him, how on Earth did she escape the scene of the crime through a chain-locked door that she was able to leave secured after she’d left? Curious!

The moonlighting detective gets a break at last as evidence emerges that belongs to someone she knows! Nikki Malone (Danielle Cormack) is Alexa’s prime suspect, primarily because she’s a dangerous gure who’s had plenty of run-ins with her in the past. The fact that Nikki is now advertising herself as a law-abiding citizen and nightclub owner doesn’t cut any ice with Alexa.

Digging deep, she’s certain that Nikki’s still a sinner, especially when her daughter Cassie behaves rather shiftily under Alexa’s interrogation. An aspiring singer, Cassie is more interested in her career than answering questions – but there’s a strong sense that she knows a lot more about the dead man than she’s willing to readily admit...

It’s left to Alexa to prove her theory’s watertight and link Nikki conclusively to the motel murder – without putting the police case, or herself, in any danger. Dun-dun-dun!

Find out more about Lucy's role on My Life is Murder by going to the AUSXIP My Life is Murder subsite

LUCY LOVES LIFE #LucyLawless is back on screens in a sexy, fun role. Having embraced life in her 50s, the New Zealand actress jumped at the opportunity to play sassy retired detective Alexa Crowe in CJZ’s seductive new crime drama #MyLifeIsMurder -

The Western Australian Newspaper
17 July 2019

Lucy Lawless is back on screens in a sexy, fun role. Vanessa Williams reports.

At 51, Lucy Lawless feels sexier than ever. Having embraced life in her 50s, the New Zealand actress jumped at the opportunity to play sassy retired detective Alexa Crowe in CJZ’s seductive new crime drama My Life Is Murder.

Despite handing in her badge, Alexa finds herself lured back into solving crimes across Melbourne by former colleague, Det-Insp. Kieran Hussey (Wentworth star Bernard Curry).

A fiery, opinionated and no-nonsense woman, Alexa knows what she wants and will stop at nothing until it’s done to her satisfaction. This, Lawless says, is what drew her to the role.

“I’ve loved it a lot,” says Lawless, who landed her big break in the 90s starring in the cult fantasy series, Xena: Warrior Princess.

“Not only is it a really tasty, fun, humorous character, it’s a delicious world that we enter “I think it’s also part of being over 50. You cease to care about what people think, and it’s a time of immense freedom, long enough to really eat life up. It’s one of the rewards of making it through your 40s.”

In the series opener, Alexa finds herself reprising her detective role, albeit without her badge, when approached by Kieran to help solve the death of a woman who fell from the balcony of a high-rise apartment.

Her first lead is a young and good-looking male escort who she suspects may have played a part in the woman’s death.

“I describe it as Elementary meets Sex and the City in Melbourne,” Lawless says.

“Because it is a sexy world and she goes out to see a male escort in the first episode and goes undercover into his world, so she walks a line of danger.

“She wants to get to the truth at all costs and sometimes that means being a bit of a liar. She’s a pretty good little liar when she needs to be. And she’s really gnarly and fun.

“She’s not a cop any more. She’s retired and she’s been drawn back into crime by an old friend and he introduces her to a young data analyst called Madison, played by this amazing young star Ebony Vagulans. At first Alexa, who is a bit of a misanthrope, doesn’t want anything to do with this young woman hanging around like a ball and chain but it turns out that this ball and chain has all her own skills. She’s spiky, she’s fun and they form a really great duo.”

Shot on location in Melbourne, Lawless relished the chance to soak up the city’s history, culture and architecture while working on the series.

“New Zealanders are very fond of Melbourne,” she says.

“I’ve been here twice for 30 hours but never got outside the casino so it was a revelation to me. So I thought wow is this what a well-designed city looks like. I love the trams, I love the diversity, the people, the food, the public art spaces, it’s just marvellous. We treat Melbourne like the star she is, she’s a character in the show.

“Melbourne has really been under-utilised. I think the fear is that Sydney people only want to watch Sydney things and there’s some parochialism about it . . . But I just think, if New Zealanders can be excited about Melbourne, Australians should be too.” While Lawless boasts an impressive portfolio that includes roles in popular US TV shows Spartacus, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Parks and Recreation, she’s hopeful Australians will enjoy her new series.

“I’m really excited to send it out to the world and I hope that you will all like it but, even if you don’t, we’re really proud of it,” she laughs.

“I thank all the beautiful little Aussies that I’ve made the show with because they’ve given me one of the true gems of my career that I will take out as an old lady and polish up and enjoy it all over again. It’s been a marvellous experience and I’ve enjoyed everything about it.”

Reflecting on the role that launched her international acting career in 1995, Lawless says she is still astounded by Xena’s popularity.

“I never foresaw that she would have such legs and that there is still so much love for it,” she says.

“It blows my mind. Australia liked it much more than New Zealand ever did. It was big around the world.”

Find out more about Lucy's role on My Life is Murder by going to the AUSXIP My Life is Murder subsite

Announced today, independent UK based distributor DCD Rights has sold two leading Australian drama series, The Hunting and My Life Is Murder, to UK broadcasters Channel 5 and UKTV respectively.

A new investigative drama series, My Life Is Murder (10 x 60’), is a CJZ Production for Network Ten Australia, with major production investment from Screen Australia and Network Ten, in association with Film Victoria. The series will premiere on UK screens soon after it airs in Australia on UKTV’s crime drama channel, Alibi. DCD Rights led the sale, and the acquisition was secured for UKTV by Charlie Charalambous, Acquisitions Manager.  The ten-part series will debut on 17^th July at 8.30pm on Network Ten in Australia and in September on Alibi.

Nicky Davies Williams, CEO at DCD Rights, said, “Australian drama has had somewhat of a renaissance lately and The Hunting and My Life Is Murder are prime examples of how the Australian content industry is still in its ascendency.   Both these series are perfect for prime-time schedules in the UK and we are delighted that UK viewers will have the opportunity to enjoy Australian drama at its best.”

My Life Is Murder follows the complex, contrary and compelling investigator Alexa Crowe (Lucy Lawless – Xena: Warrior Princess, Ash vs Evil Dead, Top Of The Lake, Spartacus), who can’t help fighting the good fight – whether it’s solving murders or combating the small frustrations of everyday life. In each stand-alone episode, the fearless and unapologetic Alexa uses her unique skills and insights into the darker quirks of human nature to provoke, comfort and push the right buttons as she unravels the truth behind a raft of the most baffling of crimes.

As Alexa unmasks the hidden passions and dangerous secrets lurking in the energetic, ever-changing city of Melbourne she is ably assisted by ambitious twenty something Madison Feliciano (Ebony Vagulans – Doctor Doctor, The Letdown), who is not so quietly learning from the best – and her former boss, Detective Inspector Keiran Hussey (Bernard Curry – Wentworth, Faking It, Once Upon A Time), who enlists Alexa on his trickiest cases on the understanding it also means he gets to keep an eye on what she’s up to. And then there’s Alexa’s stubborn cat Captain Thunderbolt – Madison’s nemesis, Keiran’s biggest fan and the one personality Alexa will never quite crack…

And at the centre of everything, in all her unrepentant, brilliant, fearless glory, is Alexa Crowe. Ultimately this is a show about a woman who just refuses to give in. Or give up. Or shut up. 

Lucy Lawless (Ash vs Evil Dead, Battlestar Galactica, Xena: Warrior Princess) appears at BUILD Studio on Monday, July 22, 2019 at 11:00 AM.

Tickets (Free) are available here

In My Life is Murder investigator Alexa Crowe (Lucy Lawless) can’t help fighting the good fight – whether it’s solving murders or combating the small frustrations of everyday life. Alexa’s unique skills and insights allow her to unmask the hidden passions and dangerous secrets lurking in the energetic, ever-changing city of Melbourne. The show is ultimately about an unrepentant and brilliant woman who refuses to give in. Or give up. Or even shut up.

PLEASE READ BEFORE ARRIVAL:

Doors open 30 minutes before showtime and CLOSE 5 minutes prior to each show. We cannot guarantee a seat. There will also be a standby line for every show. VALID ID REQUIRED FOR ENTRY for security purposes (No age minimum). Please note we clear the studio after every event and we DO NOT permit autographs on our premises. This event will be streamed LIVE on BUILDseries.com! Make sure to check out the BUILD Series Newsletter for updates and information about our events: https://www.buildseries.com/newsletter/.

Date And Time

Mon, July 22, 2019
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM EDT

BUILD Studio
692 Broadway
New York, NY 10012
United States

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Lucy chats to Flan, Emily Jade and Christo about her new @Channel10AU series 'My Life Is Murder'.

Find out more about Lucy's role on My Life is Murder by going to the AUSXIP My Life is Murder subsite

Xena Warrior Princess Lucy Lawless with Mark and Caroline talk about My Life is Murder

Find out more about Lucy's role on My Life is Murder by going to the AUSXIP My Life is Murder subsite

I just loved these illustrations created by Sunny Yun He and I’m stoked to have them on the site.

Find out more about Lucy's role on My Life is Murder by going to the AUSXIP My Life is Murder subsite

Find out more about Lucy's role on My Life is Murder by going to the AUSXIP My Life is Murder subsite

Here’s some gorgeous photos of Lucy – mainly promoting My Life is Murder.

Click on the thumbnails to get the larger scans

Sunday Terriotorian (NT, Australia)
14 July 2019

Lucy Lawless stars in the new Australian detective series My Life Is Murder. She tells DANIELLE MCGRANE what sets this apart from other cop shows and why she was drawn to the role.

MasterChef spin off. “It’s a beautiful, lush, tasty, fun experience,” the actress said.

But she won’t be baking, whisking or chopping in her new series, instead she’ll be seeking out the truth and solving crimes. My Life Is Murder stars Lawless as a former homicide detective drawn back into the force on a consultancy basis by her former boss.

It’s described as a mystery series which Lawless links back to the quirkier styles of

earlier detective TV shows.

“This was written in the vein of Columbo and Miss Marple, so often there is that round up at the end of the episode,” she explained.

Her character, Alexa, also has a very distinctive method for getting to the bottom of things.

“While she’s hunting for the truth, she’s a bit of a liar. She’s the biggest liar in the whole show. And she’s caught out all the time,” Lawless said.

The New Zealander last worked in Australia on the drama series The Code, and was convinced to make this new series here by the show’s creator Claire Tonkin.

“I decided it was time to take a big punt and back myself, and back this woman, Claire Tonkin, who came to me to pitch the show initially. And I just liked her so I decided to get behind her,” she said.

She could see that she had the opportunity to be involved in the inception of a unique show.

“I was in Sydney when Claire wanted to meet me to pitch me the show and I said, ‘I’ve got an hour and a half and if she can see me in that window, I can talk to her’. And I just saw something about her. It was really a collaboration with Claire from the start,” she said.

Even though it’s been nearly 20 years since Lawless appeared in Xena: Warrior Princess, it was that iconic role that essentially brought Tonkin into her life.

“Claire talked about having been through a pretty significant longterm illness as a teenager and I thought, ‘Here we go, this is a fan thing’ because this is a story I hear a lot from fans, people who’ve watched Xena and got a lot of strength from it when they were going through a very tough time in life. Sometimes that means illness,” she said.

However, she soon realised that Tonkin wasn’t a typical fan.

“You have to be more than a fan to get me to do business with you, and she had this incredible work ethic. She had done the hard yards and achieved a lot and I liked that she was not only a survivor, she’d thrived and I was really excited to see where she’s going next,” she said.

“So it was really about me backing a woman and an idea.”

The actress saw a lot of light and shade in her character Alexa, and she has had some tragedy in her life.

“She gave up her career and retired after the untimely death of her husband, they were both cops, but she has been drawn back into the world by her former colleague,” she said.

“She reluctantly forms an alliance with a young data analyst called Madison.”

The other character in Alexa’s life is a cat called Captain Thunderbolt, who is not actually her cat but, like a lot of cats, he makes up his own mind and has decided to spend his time with Alexa.

It’s an interesting dynamic steering away from the “sad single woman with a cat” image and instead brings together two strong and independent characters.

The cat isn’t the only unexpected guest in her life: at one stage Alexa also hears from an old school friend played by a national treasure.

“You will get to go back in time and see Alexa as a child, as a 14 year old, and in the episode Magda Szubanski plays a friend I knew from school and is so hilarious,” she said.

“Because this was written along the Columbo mode, our guest stars get really big roles. So that’s how we could attract really great talent by giving them really great roles.”

OK! Magazine (Australia)

11 July 2019

Crime-Fighting Queens Team Up To Be Crooks!

Lucy Lawless is familiar with playing a bad-ass on screen – she was Xena Warrior Princess after all! Now the New Zealand actress, 51, has teamed up with acting newcomer Ebony Vagulans, 22, to crack unsolvable crimes in the new quirky crime series My Life is Murder.

What’s the show about?

Lucy: It’s like Agatha Christie meets Sex and the City and the city is Melbourne. It’s modern, sexy and stylish. And Alexa [Lucy’s character] does have some meaningless hot sex just to pass the evening – because she’s a woman and she wants to!

What was it like for you getting this big break, Ebony?

It was amazing. I was at home with my mum and my brother, and we all started crying and dancing around the house when Lucy called – it was such a big deal!

Lucy: Your phone was broken, remember. We couldn’t get hold of you for days and days. So we had to chase her down, but it was meant to be.

Tell us about your characters…

Lucy: My character Alexa is a rule-breaking lady of a certain age who isn’t interested in compromising too much. She solves crimes as a way of getting out of a hole she’d gotten into after the death of her policeman husband.

Ebony: Maddie’s a data analyst, an ambitious and intelligent young woman who desperately wants to become a detective. It’s so exciting for her.

Who was your favourite guest star on the show?

Lucy: It’s very hard for me to go past my dear friend, the always fabulous Magda Szubanski who plays my school frenemy. That was a fun day at work!

premieres Wednesday, July 17 at 8.30pm on Network Ten

Find out more about Lucy's role on My Life is Murder by going to the AUSXIP My Life is Murder subsite

Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess, Parks and Recreation) stars in Acorn TV's newest Australian mystery series MY LIFE IS MURDER

Exclusive U.S. Premiere on Acorn TV beginning Monday, August 5, 2019

An unrepentant and brilliant woman who refuses to give in. Or give up.

The well-crafted and compelling new Australian mystery MY LIFE IS MURDER makes its exclusive U.S. premiere from Acorn TV beginning Monday, August 5, 2019 with the first two episodes; followed by a new episode every Monday through September 30. The 10-part series stars the beloved, award-winning actress Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess, Parks and Recreation) as Alexa Crowe, a fearless private investigator and ex-homicide detective who solves the most baffling crimes, as well as coping with the frustrations of everyday life. My Life is Murder is set to premiere on Network Ten in Australia in mid-July. Called a "glorious streaming service... an essential must-have" (The Hollywood Reporter), Acorn TV is North America's largest streaming service for high-quality British and international TV.

Investigator Alexa Crowe can't help fighting the good fight - whether it's solving murders or combating the small frustrations of everyday life. Fearless and unapologetic, Alexa's unique skills and insights into the darker quirks of human nature allow her to provoke, comfort and push the right buttons as she unravels the truth behind the most baffling crimes.

As Alexa unmasks the hidden passions and dangerous secrets lurking in the energetic, ever-changing city of Melbourne, she is ably assisted by ambitious twenty-something Madison Feliciano (Ebony Vagulans, The Heart Guy, The Furies) - who is not so quietly learning from the best - and her former boss, Detective Inspector Keiran Hussy (Bernard Curry, Home and Away, Wentworth), who enlists Alexa on his trickiest cases.

My Life Is Murder features a stellar line-up of series regulars and guests including Danielle Cormack (Wentworth, Rake, Jack Irish), Don Hany (Serangoon Road, Picnic at Hanging Rock, Strike Back), Magda Szubanski (Kath & Kim), and Nadine Garner (The Doctor Blake Mysteries).

U.S. Premiere Beginning: Monday, August 5 thru September 30, 2019 Format: 10 episodes

From AMC Networks privately owned subsidiary RLJ Entertainment, Acorn TV is North America's largest streaming service specializing in British and international television and adds exclusive new programs every week with a deep library of mysteries, dramas, and comedies with no set end dates or commercials. In 2019, Acorn TV features several commissioned series including London Kills, Queens of Mystery and Agatha Raisin; new episodes of fan favorites Line of Duty, British sensation Doc Martin, Welsh sensation Keeping Faith, and Canadian hit Murdoch Mysteries; along with several new series, including British crime drama Manhunt, Lucy Lawless's My Life is Murder, BBC One Wales family drama Pitching In, New Zealand crime drama Straight Forward and Dutch drama The Oldenheim Twelve; and a growing catalog of popular bingeable dramas A Place to Call Home, Blood, Mystery Road, Detectorists, Jack Irish, George Gently, and Foyle's War; among much more. Facebook: OfficialAcornTV - Twitter @AcornTV

Find out more about Lucy's role on My Life is Murder by going to the AUSXIP My Life is Murder subsite

Just posted: My Life is Murder Review by MaryD - let’s give you all the info about the show and who is in it. What I liked, what I didn’t like, what I thought of the characters and the actors, the writing and direction! http://mylifeismurder.lucylawless.net/show-review/

Find out more about Lucy's role on My Life is Murder by going to the AUSXIP My Life is Murder subsite

Animated NZ Film Mosley Will Stand Upright And Proud
Wednesday, 10 July 2019, 9:35 am
Press Release: Rialto Distribution
Poignant Animated NZ Film Mosley Will Stand Upright And Proud This October School Holidays

Rialto Distribution along with Huhu Studios are proud to announce the NZ release date for MOSLEY and share some clips for this touching family film. MOSLEY will be released in cinemas across New Zealand for the school holidays on October 10.

To save his family, Mosley, must embark on an epic journey to find the legendary Uprights but what he unexpectedly finds will unlock a secret revealing his true nature. With large and layered themes, MOSLEY tells a timeless adventurous tale of family, love and hope.

MOSLEY brings together New Zealand’s loved artists for this heat-warming tale, featuring our own comic genius Rhys Darby as the voice of the hilarious, loud and kind DEAVER. Celebrated actress Lucy Lawless is the talent behind the strong and compassionate character BERA - a mother, a quiet leader and encourager. John Rhys Davies lends his unmistakeable booming voice to the stern but courageous WARNIE and the one and only Temuera Morrison is the brutal broody villain WARFIELD.

Kirby Atkins, MOSLEY Director, says, “Making the film in Snells Beach was an absolute joy. New Zealand is an awe-inspiring country and the artists here are masters in their craft. I’m proud to have become a Kiwi myself and would love to continue making films here in the future.”

“Mosley is a unique family film with a heart-warming story, standing up for what you believe in is a theme New Zealanders can really relate to, particularly poignant this year - we are thrilled to be bringing this film to New Zealand audiences, it is a very special film indeed.” Kelly Rogers CEO Rialto Distribution.

MOSLEY will release in China later in the year and has already been sold to multiple territories worldwide.

“The NZFC is really proud that Mosley, the first official China-New Zealand feature film co-production has been completed,” said NZFC CEO Annabelle Sheehan.

Mosley has captured international attention with Animation Magazine this week www.animationmagazine.net/features/exclusive-behind-the-scenes-of-mosley-an-animated-labor-of-love/and the producers can’t wait for New Zealand to see their film.

"We are delighted with Mosley", said Executive Producer and CEO of Huhu Studios Trevor Yaxley. "We can’t wait for New Zealand audiences to fall in love with this uplifting and life affirming film”
End

The Daily Examiner
10 July 2019

Lucy’s Killer Instincts

Former Xena star is back on the small screen in a drama about a subject close to her heart, writes Seanna Cronin

TRUE crime junkie Lucy Lawless is happy to have one foot in the world of cop dramas.

The award-winning actor, who rose to fame as the fierce star of cult TV hit Xena: Warrior Princess, returns to our screens in the Melbourne-filmed drama My Life is Murder.

“I like that it’s not exactly a procedural,” she tells The Guide.

“It goes into really delicious, tasty worlds, like the most fabulous party you’re never invited to. We’re entering those worlds to solve crime.

“What MasterChef is to cooking shows this is to crime solving shows. Visually, it’s really luxurious and rich.

“There’s a lot of humour through the whole series. It’s racy, but not sexually.”

Lawless, 51, stars as Alexa Crowe – a charismatic and complex former homicide detective. Fearless and unapologetic, Alexa’s unique insights into the darker quirks of human nature allow her to prod, provoke and push as she unravels the truth behind the most baffling and bizarre crimes.

Even though she’s left the force, former colleague and long-time friend Detective Inspector Kieran Hussey (Bernard Curry) brings her back to “consult” on some of his trickier cases, teaming her up with young data analyst Maddison (Ebony Vagulans).

My Life is Murder is the first leading TV role for Vagulans, who was accepted straight from high school into NIDA at the age of 17.

“Working with Ebony was just a dream. She came at 200mph and there was no having to school her. She is going to have a really long career and I’m going to take full credit for her success (laughs),” she says.

“I love the girl pal aspect that’s developing, but they’re still an odd couple because of the age difference. The only thing that makes it tolerable for a slight misanthrope like Alexa to tolerate having a youngster around is that she’s a really smart cookie.”

Wentworth star Leah Purcell directed the first two episodes.

“What a force of nature. Leah helped us all find our bearings in this new world,” Lawless says. “With Ebony and I and (writer, producer) Claire Tonkin, this is such a strong women’s production – with a lot of great people who happen to be males along for the ride.”

The series has attracted some talented guest stars including Magda Szubanski, Don Hany, Danielle Cormack and Ryan Corr, but the real scene-stealer is Lawless’s feline co-star Captain Thunderbolt.

“I’ve worked with buckets of rats, locusts, cockroaches, big spiders in my mouth, lots of horses of course, but this is my first cat,” she says. “He’s a bit of a drama king. He commands the set of course. I wanted him in all my scenes because I love cats but sometimes he decided the scene was over.”

Find out more about Lucy's role on My Life is Murder by going to the AUSXIP My Life is Murder subsite

Rule of Law

Western Suburbs Weekly
9 July 2019

LUCY Lawless became an actor because of her desire to live alternate lives.

“Every role that you do, you get to experience a new country, a new city, a new way of dressing, a new way of relating to people,” Lawless said.

“There might be horses in it or there might be airplanes or you might be thrown out of a helicopter.

“That’s the wildness of my career and I’ve been so lucky to be able to continue it for so long.”

Based in Auckland, the Xena: Warrior Princess star has added to her acting bio with her first Australian lead role as Alexa Crowe in Ten’s drama My Life Is Murder, starting Wednesday, July 17.

Crowe is a former homicide detective who left the police force after her husband, also a cop, died.

“Alexa gets dragged back in to solving crimes by her former colleague Kieran (Bernard Curry),” Lawless said.

“She’s a bit of a misanthrope and it’s with reluctance that she learns to love all these uninvited visitors in her life.

“She is rather unfiltered, which I think is attractive because we all wish we could be a little bit more truthful.

“And she gets in a lot of trouble but she doesn’t care, which is kind of attractive too.

“She’s on a quest for truth and sometimes the truth hurts her and sometimes the truth hurts other people.”

Filmed in Melbourne, the show features an impressive list of guest stars whom Lawless said were more like co-stars.

“We’ve managed to get amazing people like Don Hany and Magda Szubanski because we’re offering them a tasty role,” she said. “We probably couldn’t afford to pay them what they deserved, but we knew we were offering more than the average guest star position.

“We’re very proud of the show and believe we’ve made something very special that’s very Australian but also international.”

Channel 10 has released a featurette on “Who is Alexa Crowe” with interviews with the cast and production crew about Lucy’s character. The video is geoblocked and can only be seen by Aussies (and maybe kiwis). Find out more about Lucy's role on My Life is Murder by going to the AUSXIP My Life is Murder subsite

Video is here:

Find out more about Lucy's role on My Life is Murder by going to the AUSXIP My Life is Murder subsite

Aussies fire up your browsers and hop on to 10 Play to watch Lucy’s new show My Life Is Murder. It will be available for 2 days only on the streaming service for Channel 10 and then it goes to TV.

For non Aussies: My Life is Murder will screen on Acorn TV (US / Canada). I’m not sure when it will air in the UK.

MY LIFE IS MURDER

(10Play - Wednesday, July 10 from 12pm for 48 hours)

If there’s one person you want solving your murder, it’s Xena the Warrior Princess. Sorry, that should have read Lucy Lawless. Well, technically her character Alexa Crowe, an oddball but whip-smart former homicide detective.

Just because she’s a civilian doesn’t mean she’s going to give up her sleuthing ways, so her ex-colleague brings her on as a consultant, because the one thing these procedural crime shows need, it’s a character who seems to be the only person who can solve the crime.

My Life is Murder relies heavily on Lawless’ charisma and screen presence to make it stand out.

The first episode will be available to stream this week, but only for 48 hours, and then it will be broadcast on Channel 10 next week.

Welcome back to Battlestar Galacticast ... time to talk Battlestar Galactica Season 2!Pain is temporary; film is forever! Tricia and Marc are joined by special guest Lucy Lawless to discuss Season 2, Episode 8: "Final Cut." Lucy played D'Anna Biers/Number Three, but what BSG character would she have wanted to take on if not that one? Also, what's in Tricia’s bra? And what the heck does "verite" mean? Watch out for the funky little dudes and listen on ...

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#LucyLawless appears to be in LA and she's going to be on #triciahelfer's #BSG Podcast - they were goofing off and adding some filters - pretty cool I must say! Video is from Tricia's Instagram account. https://t.co/3UHnK3wxv7 pic.twitter.com/BGUgM56aUS

— AUSXIP Lucy Lawless (@lucylawlessnet) June 22, 2019