Detroit Free Press

May 8, 1997

Xena gets it off her chest

WOMC-FM's (104.3) Dick Purtan landed the interview of the day Wednesday, connecting live with "Xena: Warrior Princess" actress-turned-national-anthem-singer Lucy Lawless. In case you didn't hear, Lawless' breasts popped out of a skimpy Uncle Sam costume at Tuesday's Red Wings/Mighty Ducks game in Anaheim. She told Purtan she was unaware of how low her bodice slipped as she removed a blue

blazer: "You mean I've been flashing on national TV? . . . I am horrified; it did not really come down, did it? Only a little popped out. Big deal."

Lawless is a New Zealander who was pictured in this week's "World's 50 Most Beautiful People" edition of People magazine, wearing a black clinging body stocking. "You saw more last night than you see in People," she said Wednesday.

Still, Lawless seemed to be unaware just how much of her bosom was exposed. After Purtan and his morning show cohorts gave her a detailed explanation of how her costume let her down, she said, "Oh, you lie. . . . Oh god, don't do this to me. . . . I don't need that kind of publicity. I get plenty of attention as it is. That costume was too damn small. My mother will cry."

Exposed breasts, she said, were "the least of my worries. I was worried about slipping on the ice in these stupid shoes."

By John Smyntek