Lucy Lawlesss most famous roles have taken her to different eras of history. As Xena in Xena: Warrior Princess, she starred in a comedic interprettion of Greek mythology. Now on TVs Spartacus, shes in an ultra-violent depiction of Roman gladiators. Her character, Lucretia, runs a gladiator school with her husband Batiatus (John Hannah).
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena is a prequel to the Blood and Sand series, currently airing on Starz. The original idea was to do a short series without the title character while actor Andy Whitfield underwent cancer treatment.
Unfortunately, Whitfield's cancer came back and the series has been forced to move forward with a new star, Liam McIntyre. The prequel is airing to tide viewers over until what was originally intended as season two airs.
Lawless returns as Lucretia. The show is set five years before she and her husband Batiatus start running the gladiator school. In it, a gladiator named Gannicus (Dustin Clare) is positioned as the one that could take them to fortune and glory. Lawless is slated to return for the second season as well.
I may be overthinking Lawlesss role in the portrayal of women in Hollywood. I look at Xena as a strong heroine and an image of alternative beauty. Lawless graciously indulged me but she was modest. I approached her in the hallway of the Langham Hotel in Pasadena, after a Spartacus presentation to the Television Critics Association. She kept insinuating that it was just a job, but I tried to tell her it meant a lot more to us.
SG: What is Lucretia like in the early years?
LL: We start at a time when Lucretia purely is madly in love and is dutiful to her husband. He is the sun and the moon to her. I think she tries to run a good house for him. Shes still in the honeymoon phase of life. Theyre very much poorer. Theres far less jewelry. We made choices with the costume. I came in and the idea was to dress her in sort of subtler version of what she wore before and I said, Ooh, how about, Im kind of wanted like shes come right out of the Sistine Chapel out of those paintings. She should have those kind of pinks and blues, things she would never dream of wearing later are all possible because shes full of hope and has some measure of innocence. Then we break it down so you see the effect of the costume and the hair. Hair and makeup and costume are very well designed to tell story.
SG: How do you enjoy playing that side of her after a whole season of sort of scheming behind his back?
LL: Love it. Well, its so nice because it gives you so far to go. A time when she took good care of her slaves because she cared about their well being, when she had potential for true, genuine friendship, when she had trust in other human beings and you see that chipped away and eroded throughout the course. Her husbands father is still on the scene. This is when Batiatus father is still alive and so they have a really complex beautiful relationship.
SG: Do you enjoy the Greek gladiator period equally or more to Xena style mythic fantasy?
LL: Youre talking about not apples and oranges. This show and Xena are, I don't know, watermelons and some other exotic fruit. I had an amazing time. Xena was the most fun I ever had just in every day work. That was the most fun Ive ever had. This one is the most complex rewarding role itself because its so difficult. I find it really difficult and I want to give myself wholeheartedly to this job. Where Xena was kind of a life start and I didnt give it two thoughts really.
SG: Even as a fan of storytelling, would you go for the comedic historical fantasy or the hardcore violent one?
LL: No, we love both of them. I see Xena as sort of like a Galaxy Quest mode of entertainment and thats totally valid and lovely and I enjoy watching those. Theres nothing wrong with pure entertainment. This is also pure entertainment but theres a lot of complexity to it.
SG: Kickass woman heroes are so common now. Do you see your role in expanding the acceptance of that?
LL: I think Xena certainly was a very important stepping stone in that. I dont give it too much thought because that was just my privilege to be associated with it. Its not like I made the show happen. I was the lucky actress who got to be in that show that happened so I think its fantastic and I love it. I was pleased to be part of that movement.
SG: I think we can thank Xena for Alias, Zoe Saldana and Angelina Jolie's roles.
LL: Well, no, Ive got to give all that credit to Sigourney Weaver in Alien. To me shes the ultimate.
SG: But if thered been nothing in between it wouldnt have gotten this far.
LL: Or perhaps, I know that the French people, when they were trying to pitch Xena initially, after she played as a character on Hercules, they were saying, No, France will never accept a female action hero. We were like, What are you talking about? Wheres Joan of Arc from? It did become very successful in France so I think perhaps in television there was a market for it. So maybe that, thats the difference.
SG: Do you ever look at the current crop of kick ass women, whos got it right and whos doing it wrong?
LL: No. Sorry to say, Im not really attracted to watching those kind of shows. No, and Im not critical in that way so much either. Im just like, Oh, wow, shes working hard. Good for her. Good luck with that. But no, I dont watch them and take them apart. Nothing to do with me.
SG: You have a nude scene in the first season of Spartacus. Was that a huge decision for you?
LL: It wasnt really the decision initially. It was just that this was too good a role and the fact that that was part of it didnt detract. It was like this is just too great a show to turn down. It was later on, I got to repent at leisure, put it that way. But, I still maintain its worth it to tell these stories. Even though I found it very hard to do, it was worth it to me to go through that to be part of this story whereas I probably would not have, never say never, but I probably would not ever pose in a magazine naked because I wouldnt find that in any way rewarding or ravishing or useful. It would be something of celebrity but it wouldnt be acting, whereas this role in its entirety is all about the acting and its extreme.
SG: Did you hear any gratitude from all of your fans that are like, "Thank you for sharing that with us?"
LL: I am kind of getting this kind of 40s Fox thing and Im quite thrilled with it. I wouldnt have tolerated that as a younger person. I wouldnt have liked that at all. But at 42 years old, Im like yeah, bring it man because Im so grateful. I realize how rare it all is.
SG: Did you have an issue with being gawked at as Xena?
LL: No, it wasnt that. You dont want to be objectified. You feel threatened at that age, that people want something from you that you cant possibly deliver. But, the cool thing about Xena was that she was a great kind of feminist icon as well so no, it was awesome. It was a great experience.
SG: Im asking all these analytical questions. Do you feel you had a role in changing the image of beauty?
LL: Oh, I would love to have. I never even thought about that but I would love to think that I was. Again, its kind of by default. I was just a jobbing actor. I was lucky to get the gig. I didnt do it for that reason but its nice that theres this wonderful holistic sort of spin-off.
SG: You showed that you can be tough, have definition and be muscular.
LL: Yes, I think zaftig was the word I was saddles with at the time and I didnt like. Zaftig means great big Amazonian. I didnt really like that either because I felt like, Theyre calling me fat!
SG: That's good company to be in. Wonder Womans an amazon.
LL: Right, well, they certainly meant it as a compliment too but I think as a 20-year-old societys pushing a different kind of model. You know who I think is actually doing great things for the appearance of women is that Kardashian girl. Kim Kardashian is giving an alternative, and I dont know very much about her, I dont read articles but just looking at the pictures you go, Great, theres a girl with an ass and thats fabulous. On behalf of all girls with asses, thank you.
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena airs Friday nights at 10 on Starz.
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena is a prequel to the Blood and Sand series, currently airing on Starz. The original idea was to do a short series without the title character while actor Andy Whitfield underwent cancer treatment.
Unfortunately, Whitfield's cancer came back and the series has been forced to move forward with a new star, Liam McIntyre. The prequel is airing to tide viewers over until what was originally intended as season two airs.
Lawless returns as Lucretia. The show is set five years before she and her husband Batiatus start running the gladiator school. In it, a gladiator named Gannicus (Dustin Clare) is positioned as the one that could take them to fortune and glory. Lawless is slated to return for the second season as well.
I may be overthinking Lawlesss role in the portrayal of women in Hollywood. I look at Xena as a strong heroine and an image of alternative beauty. Lawless graciously indulged me but she was modest. I approached her in the hallway of the Langham Hotel in Pasadena, after a Spartacus presentation to the Television Critics Association. She kept insinuating that it was just a job, but I tried to tell her it meant a lot more to us.
SG: What is Lucretia like in the early years?
LL: We start at a time when Lucretia purely is madly in love and is dutiful to her husband. He is the sun and the moon to her. I think she tries to run a good house for him. Shes still in the honeymoon phase of life. Theyre very much poorer. Theres far less jewelry. We made choices with the costume. I came in and the idea was to dress her in sort of subtler version of what she wore before and I said, Ooh, how about, Im kind of wanted like shes come right out of the Sistine Chapel out of those paintings. She should have those kind of pinks and blues, things she would never dream of wearing later are all possible because shes full of hope and has some measure of innocence. Then we break it down so you see the effect of the costume and the hair. Hair and makeup and costume are very well designed to tell story.
SG: How do you enjoy playing that side of her after a whole season of sort of scheming behind his back?
LL: Love it. Well, its so nice because it gives you so far to go. A time when she took good care of her slaves because she cared about their well being, when she had potential for true, genuine friendship, when she had trust in other human beings and you see that chipped away and eroded throughout the course. Her husbands father is still on the scene. This is when Batiatus father is still alive and so they have a really complex beautiful relationship.
SG: Do you enjoy the Greek gladiator period equally or more to Xena style mythic fantasy?
LL: Youre talking about not apples and oranges. This show and Xena are, I don't know, watermelons and some other exotic fruit. I had an amazing time. Xena was the most fun I ever had just in every day work. That was the most fun Ive ever had. This one is the most complex rewarding role itself because its so difficult. I find it really difficult and I want to give myself wholeheartedly to this job. Where Xena was kind of a life start and I didnt give it two thoughts really.
SG: Even as a fan of storytelling, would you go for the comedic historical fantasy or the hardcore violent one?
LL: No, we love both of them. I see Xena as sort of like a Galaxy Quest mode of entertainment and thats totally valid and lovely and I enjoy watching those. Theres nothing wrong with pure entertainment. This is also pure entertainment but theres a lot of complexity to it.
SG: Kickass woman heroes are so common now. Do you see your role in expanding the acceptance of that?
LL: I think Xena certainly was a very important stepping stone in that. I dont give it too much thought because that was just my privilege to be associated with it. Its not like I made the show happen. I was the lucky actress who got to be in that show that happened so I think its fantastic and I love it. I was pleased to be part of that movement.
SG: I think we can thank Xena for Alias, Zoe Saldana and Angelina Jolie's roles.
LL: Well, no, Ive got to give all that credit to Sigourney Weaver in Alien. To me shes the ultimate.
SG: But if thered been nothing in between it wouldnt have gotten this far.
LL: Or perhaps, I know that the French people, when they were trying to pitch Xena initially, after she played as a character on Hercules, they were saying, No, France will never accept a female action hero. We were like, What are you talking about? Wheres Joan of Arc from? It did become very successful in France so I think perhaps in television there was a market for it. So maybe that, thats the difference.
SG: Do you ever look at the current crop of kick ass women, whos got it right and whos doing it wrong?
LL: No. Sorry to say, Im not really attracted to watching those kind of shows. No, and Im not critical in that way so much either. Im just like, Oh, wow, shes working hard. Good for her. Good luck with that. But no, I dont watch them and take them apart. Nothing to do with me.
SG: You have a nude scene in the first season of Spartacus. Was that a huge decision for you?
LL: It wasnt really the decision initially. It was just that this was too good a role and the fact that that was part of it didnt detract. It was like this is just too great a show to turn down. It was later on, I got to repent at leisure, put it that way. But, I still maintain its worth it to tell these stories. Even though I found it very hard to do, it was worth it to me to go through that to be part of this story whereas I probably would not have, never say never, but I probably would not ever pose in a magazine naked because I wouldnt find that in any way rewarding or ravishing or useful. It would be something of celebrity but it wouldnt be acting, whereas this role in its entirety is all about the acting and its extreme.
SG: Did you hear any gratitude from all of your fans that are like, "Thank you for sharing that with us?"
LL: I am kind of getting this kind of 40s Fox thing and Im quite thrilled with it. I wouldnt have tolerated that as a younger person. I wouldnt have liked that at all. But at 42 years old, Im like yeah, bring it man because Im so grateful. I realize how rare it all is.
SG: Did you have an issue with being gawked at as Xena?
LL: No, it wasnt that. You dont want to be objectified. You feel threatened at that age, that people want something from you that you cant possibly deliver. But, the cool thing about Xena was that she was a great kind of feminist icon as well so no, it was awesome. It was a great experience.
SG: Im asking all these analytical questions. Do you feel you had a role in changing the image of beauty?
LL: Oh, I would love to have. I never even thought about that but I would love to think that I was. Again, its kind of by default. I was just a jobbing actor. I was lucky to get the gig. I didnt do it for that reason but its nice that theres this wonderful holistic sort of spin-off.
SG: You showed that you can be tough, have definition and be muscular.
LL: Yes, I think zaftig was the word I was saddles with at the time and I didnt like. Zaftig means great big Amazonian. I didnt really like that either because I felt like, Theyre calling me fat!
SG: That's good company to be in. Wonder Womans an amazon.
LL: Right, well, they certainly meant it as a compliment too but I think as a 20-year-old societys pushing a different kind of model. You know who I think is actually doing great things for the appearance of women is that Kardashian girl. Kim Kardashian is giving an alternative, and I dont know very much about her, I dont read articles but just looking at the pictures you go, Great, theres a girl with an ass and thats fabulous. On behalf of all girls with asses, thank you.
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena airs Friday nights at 10 on Starz.