HipOnline Interview
March 2004

Lucy Lawless has left, she's been here all the time! We talk to her about life, Eurotrip, and Xena.


You’ve got Eurotrip coming out and Xena DVDs.

I know and a series for Discovery as well. I’m busy bee.

Can you still believe the curiosity and fan interest still in Xena?

I’m blown away; the show has got legs man. It’s got legs with boots on. I’ve really had nothing to do with it since it’s finished, but the demand for the DVDs, posters, and the conventions still go on. When it got people it got them good. They’ve taken something of it and made a community. It’s amazing.

There are only so many shows that have that and you can’t believe the legs, it’s like Star Trek.

They had updates with movies and things and it’s an incredible thing. The Star Trek and Xena fans are different. The Star Trek fans are more into the science fiction aspect whereas our show was more about hearts and guts and more earthy. Different dynamics.

Are there talks of a Xena movie like Star Trek?

I hear people going on about that all the time. But there is a rights problem and nobody knows who owns the rights. For the moment it’s not happening.

Can you embrace the fans love for the show still today? Or do you want to just move on?

All these actors who complain about a character they played and being recognized are crazy. I love it. I still talk to Renee, and Ted Raimi all the time.

Is it nice to have Xena in your back pocket?

Having it in your back pocket doesn’t make it a cushion to land on because you still have to move on. I’m excited and it’s great to have a curiosity part. Everyone thinks I’m a 300 pound gorilla. I was on a set yesterday for a Mike Judge movie and I heard Mike wanted to meet me. So I got the script and was like “I’m so excited because they’ve finally discovered my comic genius” and then I read that the character was this huge Chyna like woman. I was like “oh my God they think I look like Chyna!” The funny thing is I look so different now and talk different too.

I was reading about Eurotrip, was it great to have comedy?

Comedy is my heart. We did a lot of comedy in Xena, but it was very tongue in cheek. I think that was part of its appeal. I want to do more comedy, but for some reason there is a perception that women can’t do comedy. I know I can do it.

I saw some of Eurotrip, it seems they want to dress you up sexy and make you intimidating.

I know I have this weird, raunchy image. (We both laugh) This simply isn’t true, but its fun to play those bad girls. They are in me somewhere. I’m so damn suburban that it isn’t even funny. (We both laugh)

Is it weird because you have children, you leave home, go to the set and here you are playing this person so different from yourself.

It’s not so different than my outfits I have for special occasions, like Valentine’s Day. (Laughs) But seriously,
that is what movies are for.

Did you bring the Eurotrip costume home for your husband?

No, they actually auctioned it off for charity.

He didn’t bid?

Who my husband? (Laughs) No, he probably would have loved to see it. You know what is weird? We filmed that part in Prague and they have the absolute most beautiful women in the world in Prague. So all the women around me are topless and are knockout human beings, but they don’t even know it. They are supermodels. It’s unbelievable.

What are you working on?

I did a thing for my husband in one of his movies where I’m a drug addict mother who gives up her son. It felt like a good part to do.

When you go out in public do they say ‘Lucy can I have an autograph’ or do they call you Xena?

You’d be surprised that no one recognizes me at all. I look nothing like her. My hair is curly, and I’m so much smaller and thinner than people expect and have kids hanging all over me. I’m a soccer mom. (Laughs)

They think you are like six foot eight-

-Yeah, that I’m some enormous woman like Chyna.

I read there might be another TV show in the works.

I’m actually in very delicate negotiations right now about that and can’t get into it, but I’ll say it is incredibly exciting and nerve racking at the same time. That’s Hollywood for you. If I worked with Mike Judge I wouldn’t worry about another thing.

Are you interested in doing things behind the camera?

I’d like to write. I’d like to do something where I could have full control and not waiting for people to give you a job. I’d like to go away and write a novel.

If you wrote something would it be serious or a comedy?

I’d be a black comedy. Some dark humor.

What is the advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps?

If you have something else you can do, do that. Unless you have what it takes to get up every morning just to get punched in the stomach. It’s got to be your only thing. You have to get up and say; “go on! Punch me in the stomach!” (Laughs)

I wonder if American Idol isn’t throwing everything out of wack because kids think they can get famous overnight.

Right. And even when you get fame it’s not the Holy Grail. An Oscar isn’t the end of the line. Mike North said in an LA Times interview that he liked failure because when you win a statuette you go back to your room and are lonely, and when you lose you have happiness at home. Easy for me to say because I had a great job, but that is what you find when you have success.

Losing can make you hungrier.

Yeah man, ain’t that the truth. (Laughs) It’s taken me years to want to get back to work.


Interview originally at:
http://www.hiponline.com/artist/tv/x/xena/100453.html