View source for Lucy Lawless

{{Short description|New Zealand actress (born 1968)}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=May 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name             = Lucy Lawless
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MNZM|size=100%}}
| image            = Lucy Lawless by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg
| caption          = Lawless at the 2016 [[San Diego Comic-Con]]
| birth_name       = Lucille Frances Ryan
| birth_date       = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1968|03|29}}
| birth_place      = [[Mount Albert, New Zealand|Mount Albert]], [[Auckland]],<br />New Zealand
| occupation       = {{hlist|Actress|singer}}
| years_active     = 1989–present
| spouse           = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Garth Lawless<br />|1988|1995|end=div}}
* {{marriage|[[Robert Tapert]]<br />|1998}}
}}
| children         = 3
| website          = 
}}
'''Lucille Frances Lawless''' {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MNZM}} ({{nee|'''Ryan'''}}; born 29 March 1968) is a New Zealand actress and director. She is best known for her roles as [[Xena]] in the television series ''[[Xena: Warrior Princess]]'', as [[Number Three (Battlestar Galactica)|D'Anna Biers]] on the re-imagined ''[[Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' series, and [[List of Spartacus characters#Lucretia|Lucretia]] in the television series ''[[Spartacus: Blood and Sand]]'' and associated series.  Since 2019, she has starred as Alexa in the television series ''[[My Life Is Murder]]''.

Lawless had recurring roles as Diane Lewis-Swanson on the [[NBC]] sitcom ''[[Parks and Recreation]]'' (2012–2014), and as [[Countess Palatine Ingrid Von Marburg]] on the [[WGN America]] supernatural series ''[[Salem (TV series)|Salem]]'' (2015). She also starred as Ruby on the [[Starz]] horror-comedy series ''[[Ash vs Evil Dead]]'' (2015–2018).

== Early life and education==
Lucille Frances "Lucy" Ryan was born on 29 March 1968<ref>{{cite news |title=Lucy Lawless – La biographie de Lucy Lawless avec Voici.fr |url=https://www.voici.fr/bios-people/lucy-lawless |access-date=19 May 2022 |publisher=Voici.fr |language=fr}}</ref> in the [[Auckland]] suburb of [[Mount Albert, New Zealand|Mount Albert]] to teacher Julie Ryan (née Haynes) and Mount Albert's mayor, banker [[Frank Ryan (mayor)|Frank Ryan]].<ref name=filmreflawless>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/11/Lucy-Lawless.html |title=Lucy Lawless Film Reference biography |publisher=Filmreference.com |access-date=2 February 2014}}</ref> She is the fifth of six siblings (four brothers and one sister). She has described her family as "this big, sprawling [[Irish Catholics|Irish Catholic]] family",<ref name=AUSXIP>{{cite web|title=ESSENTIAL LUCY|url=http://www.lucylawless.info/lucy.php#Biography|work=Lucy Lawless|publisher=AUSXIP|date=2 April 2012|access-date=9 April 2012|archive-date=15 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110915071120/http://www.lucylawless.info/lucy.php#Biography|url-status=dead}}</ref> and while filming in Ireland for the [[Discovery Channel]] in 2004, told ''[[Ireland on Sunday]]'' that her father's family originated in [[Quilty, County Clare]], Ireland.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gaffney|first=Siobhan|title=Grainne Mhaol|url=http://www.creationent.com/outback/fanclubs/ww/ww.html|newspaper=[[Ireland on Sunday]]|year=2004}}</ref>

Her first musical was at age 10<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzonscreen.com/person/lucy-lawless?tab=biography|title= Biography|website=[[NZ On Screen]]}}</ref> and she began acting in secondary school. She attended [[Marist College, Auckland]], and began studies at [[Auckland University]] in languages.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=May 2006 |title=Lucy Lawless On Her Family Crisis, Her Precious Children and Celebrity Life in LA |url=http://www.lucylawless.net/articles/2006/nzww0406/index.html |magazine=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] |access-date=10 June 2020 }}</ref> At 18, she went on her "[[overseas experience]]", travelling through Europe and Australia with her future husband, Garth Lawless.<ref name="bio" /> At 21, she won the 1989 Mrs New Zealand competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/38695/lucy-lawless-mrs-new-zealand-1989 |title=Lucy Lawless, Mrs New Zealand 1989|website= Te Ara}}</ref>

Lawless has said she suffered from [[Bulimia nervosa|bulimia]] as a child, but was able to overcome the illness.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,615184,00.html|title=Lawless Bulimic No More| magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]]|date=17 May 1999|access-date=18 June 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120908072925/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,615184,00.html|archive-date=2012-09-08}}</ref>

== Acting career ==
Lawless's television debut was in the New Zealand sketch-comedy series, ''Funny Business''. Then she studied drama at the [[William Davis Centre for Actors Study]] in [[Vancouver]], Canada.<ref name=bio />

In 1994, Lawless appeared in ''[[Hercules and the Amazon Women]]'', that became the television pilot for ''[[Hercules: The Legendary Journeys]]''. In [[List of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys episodes|that episode]], she played a man-hating Amazon named Lysia. She went on to play another character, Lyla, in the first-season episode "As Darkness Falls".

=== ''Xena: Warrior Princess'' ===
{{Main|Xena: Warrior Princess}}
[[File:Lucy Lawless by Gage Skidmore.jpg|Lawless at [[San Diego Comic-Con]] in July 2010|thumb|upright]]
Lawless received her best-known role as a heroic warrior woman named [[Xena]] in the first season of ''Hercules''. She first appeared in the episode "The Warrior Princess" which aired in March 1995. R. J. Stewart dramatised the teleplay from a story that [[Robert Tapert|Robert G. "Rob" Tapert]] commissioned John Schulian to write. The character became a fan favourite. [[Vanessa Angel (English actress)|Vanessa Angel]] was originally cast in the role, but she fell ill and was unable to travel to New Zealand for shooting. To differentiate between Xena and the similar Lysia, Lawless's hair, previously an ash blonde, was dyed black. She also wore a much darker costume. Lawless returned as Xena in two more episodes of the first season of ''Hercules'', which portrayed her turn from villainess to a good, heroic character.

The character was popular enough that a [[spin-off (media)|spin-off]] series was created: ''[[Xena: Warrior Princess]]'' debuted on 4 September 1995. ''Xena: Warrior Princess'', like its parent programme, was a huge hit and achieved high ratings and cultural significance, lasting six seasons. The series brought Lawless an immense amount of attention and she became an international celebrity.

While taping an appearance on ''[[The Tonight Show with Jay Leno]]'' in October 1996, Lawless suffered a fractured pelvis when the horse she was riding lost its footing in the studio car park. She made a complete recovery, but several episodes of the second season of ''Xena'' were rewritten to focus on background characters to minimise the time Lawless was needed on set.<ref name="60 Seconds Interview">{{cite web|title=60 SECONDS: Lucy Lawless|url=http://metro.co.uk/2007/05/29/60-seconds-lucy-lawless-394067/|publisher=Metro.co.uk|access-date=2 April 2015|date=29 May 2007}}</ref>

=== Other acting work ===
Lawless first appeared on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] in September 1997 in the ''[[Grease (musical)|Grease]]'' revival, as the "bad girl" character Betty Rizzo. She wanted to play the lead role of Sandy and later stated her belief that the producers typecast her to play "bad girls" following her success as Xena. She said the Sandy character was very similar to her sheltered childhood, growing up in New Zealand with many protective older brothers.<ref name="Grease">{{cite web|url=http://www.lucylawless.info/grease/articles-photos.php|archive-url=https://archive.today/20040808063140/http://www.lucylawless.info/grease/articles-photos.php|url-status=dead|title=Lucy Lawless – Rizzo – Grease – Pics Scans Images|date=8 August 2004|archive-date=8 August 2004|website=Lucylawless.info|access-date=5 August 2017}}</ref>

From 2005 to 2009, she had a recurring role in the television series ''[[Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)|Battlestar Galactica]]''. Lawless appeared as D'Anna Biers, a reporter with the Fleet News Service who worked on a critical documentary about the crew of the [[Battlestar Galactica (ship)|''Galactica'']] and was later revealed to be [[Humanoid Cylon]] model Number Three.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

Lawless has also performed as a [[voice actor]] in several animated features: In 2008, Lawless voiced the animated character of [[Diana Prince]]/[[Wonder Woman]] in the direct-to-video superhero animated film ''[[Justice League: The New Frontier]]'', adapted from the [[DC Comics]] limited series.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://people.com/movies/lynda-carter-and-beyond-the-celebs-who-have-played-wonder-woman/|title=Lynda Carter and Beyond: The Celebs Who Have Played Wonder Woman|date=1 June 2017|magazine = [[People (magazine)|People]] |access-date=5 August 2017}}</ref> In 2014, Lawless voiced the militaristic "Queen of the Ants" in the American animated television series ''[[Adventure Time]]'' on the [[Cartoon Network]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ew.com/article/2014/11/24/adventure-time-lucy-lawless-ant-queen/|title='Adventure Time' video: Lucy Lawless as the Ant Queen!|date=24 November 2014|website=Ew.com|access-date=5 August 2017}}</ref>

In 2007, Lawless was to appear as one of the leads in the ensemble cast of the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] television series, ''[[Football Wives]]'', based on the popular British series ''[[Footballers' Wives]]''. The series did not continue past the pilot episode, but the network extended the options on its contracts with Lawless and the other actors slated to star in the series, including [[Gabrielle Union]], [[Kiele Sanchez]], [[Ving Rhames]], and [[James Van Der Beek]].<ref>[http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-footballwivesstillalive,0,2633414.story ''ABC's 'Football Wives' Still Alive''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120925215841/http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-footballwivesstillalive%2C0%2C2633414.story |date=25 September 2012 }}, zap2it.com, 28 June 2007.</ref><ref>[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3if3c2face58f90735ed568cb477b3024d "Football" still in ABC's game], ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'', 28 June 2007</ref>

Lawless returned to television on 10 November 2008 in a guest-starring role on the [[CBS]] television series ''[[CSI: Miami]]'', in a Season 7 episode, "Cheating Death", playing a madam with connections to a murder and helping [[Horatio Caine|Horatio "H" Caine]] with his inquiries.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-previews/csi-miami---five-9pm-411789|title=CSI: Miami – Five, 9pm|first=Jane|last=Simon|date=10 August 2009|website=Daily Mirror|access-date=5 August 2017}}</ref>

In 2009, Lawless appeared in two episodes of the final season of ''[[The L Word]]'' as Sergeant Marybeth Duffy.<ref name="nzonscreen.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/person/lucy-lawless|title=Lucy Lawless – NZ On Screen|website=Nzonscreen.com|access-date=5 August 2017}}</ref> She played a role in the [[Adam Sandler]] movie ''[[Bedtime Stories (film)|Bedtime Stories]]'' released December 2008.<ref name="nzonscreen.com" /> Also in 2008, Lawless appeared with her former ''Xena'' stuntwoman [[Zoë Bell]] in [[Sony Pictures Television|Sony]] ([[Crackle (company)|Crackle]])'s new web series ''[[Angel of Death (web series)|Angel of Death]]'', written by [[Ed Brubaker]], which debuted online in early 2009.<ref name="cool">{{cite web|author=Hustvedt, Marc|url=http://news.tubefilter.tv/2008/10/21/behind-the-scenes-with-sonys-angel-of-death-zoe-bell/|title=Behind the Scenes with Crackle's 'Angel of Death' Zoe Bell|publisher=[[Tubefilter News]]|date=21 October 2008|access-date=21 October 2008|archive-date=6 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206035055/http://news.tubefilter.tv/2008/10/21/behind-the-scenes-with-sonys-angel-of-death-zoe-bell/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2009, Lawless guest-starred in the [[HBO]] series ''[[Flight of the Conchords (TV series)|Flight of the Conchords]]'' as Paula, assistant to the [[Prime Minister of New Zealand]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fangoria.com/new/evil-dead-series-adds-lucy-lawless-becomes-full-fledged-raimi-reunion/|title="EVIL DEAD" Series Adds Lucy Lawless; Becomes Full-Fledged Raimi Reunion|work=FANGORIA®}}</ref>

Lawless co-starred in the [[Starz (TV channel)|Starz]] original series ''[[Spartacus: Blood and Sand]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blastr.com/2015-3-9/bruce-campbell-lucy-lawless-joining-ash-vs-evil-dead|title=Bruce Campbell: Lucy Lawless joining Ash Vs. Evil Dead|work=Blastr|date=9 March 2015}}</ref> The show was based on the life of [[Spartacus]], the famous gladiator, and the slave revolt he led, and was produced by long-time ''Xena'' producers [[Sam Raimi]] and [[Robert Tapert|"Rob" Tapert]], her own husband. Lawless played the role of [[Lucretia (Spartacus)|Lucretia]], the wife of [[Lentulus Batiatus]], who were both the owners of a gladiator [[Roman Ludus|ludus]], which also saw Lawless doing [[Nudity in film|nude scenes]] for the first time. Lawless won the 2011 [[Saturn Award]] as Best Supporting Actress for her role as Lucretia in ''Spartacus: Blood and Sand''. Lawless reprised her role as Lucretia in ''[[Spartacus: Gods of the Arena]]'', which chronicled life in the Ludus before Spartacus's arrival, and she also returned for the sequel ''[[Spartacus: Vengeance]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/92582/lucy-lawless-joins-ash-vs-evil-dead/|title=Lucy Lawless Joins Ash vs. Evil Dead|work=Dread Central|date=9 March 2015}}</ref>

Lawless provided the voice of [[Goldmoon]] for ''[[Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight]]'', a direct-to-DVD animated movie based on the [[Dragons of Autumn Twilight|novel]] of the same name. From 2012 to 2014, she had a recurring role on the NBC series ''[[Parks and Recreation]]'' as Diane, the love interest and eventual wife of [[Ron Swanson]].

In 2014, Lawless guest-starred in ''[[Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.]]'' as [[Isabelle Hartley]] in the [[Shadows (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.)|season two premiere]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/agents-shield-lucy-lawless-season2-1084667/|title=Exclusive: Lucy Lawless Heading to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.|first=Natalie|last=Abrams|date=21 July 2014|work=TVGuide.com}}</ref> and reprised the role later in episode 15 of season two, "[[One Door Closes]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://marvel.com/news/tv/24258/declassifying_marvels_agents_of_shield_one_door_closes|title=Declassifying 'Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.': One Door Closes – News – Marvel.com|work=marvel.com}}</ref> In 2015, Lawless landed the recurring guest role of [[Countess Palatine Ingrid Von Marburg]] in [[WGN America]]'s ''[[Salem (TV series)|Salem]]''. Countess Marburg is presented as one of the last remaining survivors of the legendary line of ancient German witches. The series ended in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/01/lucy-lawless-stuart-townsend-cast-salem-video-1201349947/|title=[WATCH] Salem Season 2 Teaser – – Deadline|first=Denise|last=Petski|work=Deadline|date=14 January 2015}}</ref> In March 2015, it was announced that she would be portraying the role of Ruby in [[Starz]] horror-comedy series ''[[Ash vs Evil Dead]]''. The series ended in 2018.<ref name="usatoday ash">{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2015/10/29/bruce-campbell-lucy-lawless-ash-vs-evil-dead/74603008/|title=Bruce Campbell's Ash returns to fight 'Evil Dead'|date=29 October 2015|work=USA TODAY}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3335391/lucy-lawless-joins-sam-ramis-ash-vs-evil-dead/|title="Ash vs Evil Dead" Casts Lucy Lawless as Ash Hunter!|work=bloody-disgusting.com|date=9 March 2015}}</ref>

In 2019, Lawless began playing Alexa Crowe, a private investigator in ''[[My Life Is Murder]]''. The [[Acorn TV]] series began in 2019 and reached its third season in 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/my-life-is-murder-season-3-renewed-lucy-lawless-acorn-tv/|title='My Life Is Murder': Lucy Lawless' Murder Mystery Series Renewed for Season 3 on AcornTV |first=Jon|last=Mendelsohn|date=10 February 2022|work=Collider.com}}</ref>

==Filmmaking==
In 2023, Lawless co-wrote and directed ''[[Never Look Away (2024 film)|Never Look Away]]'',<!---not yet an article, just a redirect to further info on the film---> a film based on the life of New Zealand-born [[CNN]] photojournalist and camerawoman [[Margaret Moth]]. The film had its world premiere in the World Cinema Documentary Competition section of the 40th  [[Sundance Film Festival]] in [[Park City, Utah|Park City]] and [[Salt Lake City]], [[Utah]], in January 2024,<ref>{{cite web |title=Lucy Lawless' Debut Feature Never Look Away to Premiere at Sundance |website=New Zealand Film Commission |date=11 December 2023 |url=https://www.nzfilm.co.nz/news/lucy-lawless-debut-feature-never-look-away-premiere-sundance |access-date=14 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lucy Lawless' Debut Feature Never Look Away to Premiere at Sundance |url=https://www.nzfilm.co.nz/news/lucy-lawless-debut-feature-never-look-away-premiere-sundance |access-date=2024-01-01 |website=New Zealand Film Commission}}</ref> and has gone on to feature at several other film festivals in 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=Never Look Away |website=[[New Zealand Film Commission]] |url=https://www.nzfilm.co.nz/films/never-look-away |access-date=14 October 2024}}</ref>

== Music ==
[[File:Lucy Lawless 2 cropped.jpg|thumb|Lawless performing at the [[The Roxy Theatre|Roxy]], 2007|upright]]
Lawless, who has a background in musical theatre, played Betty Rizzo on Broadway in a production of ''Grease'' in 1997.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lucylawless.info/grease/index.php |title=AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Grease! Lucy Lawless on Broadway |publisher=Lucylawless.info |date=28 September 1997 |access-date=19 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225114731/http://www.lucylawless.info/grease/index.php |archive-date=25 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> She continued to sing during the run of ''Xena'', even contributing dirge music of her own composition; this made it into the episode "The Path Not Taken" as the dirge "Burial", which she sang for the first time in the episode. Two musically-oriented episodes, "The Bitter Suite" and "Lyre, Lyre, Heart's on Fire", also showcased not only her singing but also that of some of her castmates. (''See also'' [[List of Xena: Warrior Princess episodes|List of ''Xena: Warrior Princess'' episodes]] ''for details''.)

Lawless was encouraged to resume her singing career after being a contestant on ''[[Celebrity Duets]]'', which she finished as runner-up to [[Alfonso Ribeiro]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ew.com/article/2012/01/27/podcast-spartacus-xena-lucy-lawless-liam-mcintyre/|title=Inside TV Podcast: Lucy Lawless and Liam McIntyre|date=27 January 2012|website=Ew.com|access-date=5 August 2017}}</ref> She made her solo debut at the [[The Roxy Theatre|Roxy]] in Hollywood, a venue of 500 seats, on 13 January 2007, with a sold-out crowd for consecutive concerts.<ref name="Roxy Singing Premier">{{cite web|last1=Butler|first1=Brendan|title=Lucy Lawless: Goodbye Warrior Princess, Hello Rock Star|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/music/Lucy-Lawless-Goodbye-Warrior-Princess-Hello-Rock-Star-2357.html|publisher=Cinema Bend|access-date=3 June 2015|date=14 January 2007}}</ref>

== LGBT rights icon ==
{{See also|Xena: Warrior Princess in popular culture}}
Xena's ambiguous romantic relationship with travelling companion [[Gabrielle (Xena)|Gabrielle]] ([[Renee O'Connor]])<ref name=":0" /> led to Lawless becoming a lesbian icon, a role of which she has said she is proud.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://nytlive.nytimes.com/womenintheworld/2015/11/25/lucy-lawless-on-the-xena-revival-her-new-show-and-seizing-life-with-both-hands/|title=Lucy Lawless on the "Xena" revival, her new show and seizing life with both hands|date=25 November 2015|work=Women in the World in Association with The New York Times – WITW|access-date=6 May 2017}}</ref> She has said that during the years she was playing the role, she had been undecided on the nature of the relationship,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lucylawless.net/articles/lesnews03/index.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721020411/http://www.lucylawless.net/articles/lesnews03/index.html|url-status=dead|title=AUSXIP Lucy Lawless – Lesbian News 2003|date=21 July 2012|archive-date=21 July 2012|website=Lucylawless.net|access-date=5 August 2017}}</ref> but in a 2003 interview with ''Lesbian News'' magazine, she said that after viewing the series finale, she had come to see Xena and Gabrielle's relationship as definitely gay, adding "they're married, man".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lucylawless.net/articles/lesnews03/index.html|title=AUSXIP Lucy Lawless {{!}} Lesbian News 2003|website=Lucylawless.net|access-date=6 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.afterellen.com/tv/83231-an-interview-with-lucy-lawless|title=An interview with Lucy Lawless – AfterEllen|date=7 January 2011|work=AfterEllen|access-date=6 May 2017}}</ref> This reputation became cemented after her "graphic lesbian sex scenes" in ''[[Spartacus: Gods of the Arena]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2011-06-22/news/girl-on-girl-action-becomes-pass/|title=Girl on girl action becomes passé|last=McCroy|first=Winnie|date=22 June 2011|publisher=Villagevoice.com|access-date=2 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afterellen.com/blog/dorothysnarker/lucy-lawless-and-lesbians-bring-the-sexy-to-the-spartacus-blood-and-sand-trailer|title=Lucy Lawless and lesbians bring the sexy to the "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" trailer. AfterEllen.com|date=27 July 2009|publisher=Archive.is|access-date=2 February 2014|url-status = dead | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120722121649/http://www.afterellen.com/blog/dorothysnarker/lucy-lawless-and-lesbians-bring-the-sexy-to-the-spartacus-blood-and-sand-trailer|archive-date=22 July 2012}}</ref> She has appeared at [[gay pride]] events such as the [[Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ausxip.com/mardigras.html|title=Lucy and Renee in Sydney in 1999 – Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras|publisher=Ausxip.com|access-date=2 February 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707060223/http://ausxip.com/mardigras.html|archive-date=7 July 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

For her support of [[LGBT rights]], including her public support for same-sex marriage,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.afterellen.com/general-news/18928-lucy-lawless-goes-glamorous-for-lgbt-rights-in-san-francisco|title=Lucy Lawless goes glamorous for LGBT rights in San Francisco – AfterEllen|date=16 July 2007|work=AfterEllen|access-date=6 May 2017}}</ref> Lawless was given the Star 100–Ally of the Year award at the Australian LGBTI Awards ceremony in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.aol.com/article/entertainment/2017/03/03/xena-warrior-princess-star-lucy-lawless-looks-totally-differe/21872819/|title='Xena: Warrior Princess' star Lucy Lawless looks totally different now – see the stunning pics!|author=AOL Staff|work=AOL.com|access-date=6 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.australianlgbtiawards.com.au/star100---ally-of-the-year.html|title=Star100 – Ally of the Year|website=AUSTRALIAN LGBT AWARDS|access-date=6 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520194945/http://www.australianlgbtiawards.com.au/star100---ally-of-the-year.html|archive-date=20 May 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Other activities==
Lawless is a member of the board of trustees of the StarShip Foundation, the charity arm of the [[Starship Children's Health]] which is part of the Auckland District Health Board.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.starship.org.nz/foundation/about-the-foundation/board-of-trustees/|title=Board of Trustees|work=starship.org.nz}}</ref> It is set up to provide additional equipment, support and help to staff, patients and families.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.starship.org.nz/ |title=Home |publisher=Starship.org.nz |access-date=19 March 2011}}</ref> She helps fundraising for the organisation. She recently{{when|date=December 2022}} sat for the New Zealand television series ''The Sitting'',<ref>{{youTube|gWt8DYh6FaE|Lucy Lawless on ''The Sitting''}}</ref> an arts series where celebrity portraits are produced during an interview session, with the portraits later auctioned for charity.

Since 2006, 21 September marks "Lucy Lawless Feel the Love Day/Week". The day, organised by the Official Lucy Lawless Fan Club, begins a week of charitable acts and donations by fans in honour and support of Lawless.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://lucylawless.net/events/Feel_The_Love_Day/index.php | title=Lucy Lawless Feel The Love Week – Doing Charitable Acts in Honour of Lucy Lawless | publisher=Lucy Lawless site | access-date=4 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.lucylawlessfanclub.com/feellove2013.html | title=Feel the Love 2013 | publisher=Official Lucy Lawless Fan Club | date=20 October 2013 | access-date=4 December 2014}}</ref>

In May 2009 Lawless became a "climate ambassador" for the [[Greenpeace]] "Sign On" campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.signon.org.nz |publisher=[[Greenpeace New Zealand]] |title=Sign On |access-date=19 March 2011}}</ref>

In February 2012, she and six other Greenpeace activists boarded an oil drilling ship at [[Port Taranaki]], and remained on it for 77 hours to stop it leaving for the [[Arctic]] where it was going to take part in [[Petroleum exploration in the Arctic|oil exploration]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.3news.co.nz/Lucy-Lawless-boards-oil-drilling-ship/tabid/1160/articleID/244040/Default.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718210005/http://www.3news.co.nz/Lucy-Lawless-boards-oil-drilling-ship/tabid/1160/articleID/244040/Default.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 July 2012 |title=Lucy Lawless boards oil drilling ship |publisher=3news.co.nz |date=February 2012 }}</ref> She was subsequently arrested and charged with burglary, which carried an imprisonment term of up to 10 years if convicted.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/lawless-charged-burglary-after-ship-protest-4743249 |title= Lawless charged with burglary after ship protest |publisher= [[Television New Zealand]] |date= 27 February 2011 |access-date= 27 February 2011}}</ref> She pleaded guilty on 14 June 2012 to trespass charges regarding the February incident. Lawless said she intended for now to remain involved with Greenpeace.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/actress-lucy-lawless-pleads-guilty-trespass-16562451 |title=Actress Lucy Lawless Pleads Guilty to Trespass|publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |date=14 June 2012|first=Nick|last=Perry |agency=[[Associated Press]]| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615021153/http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/actress-lucy-lawless-pleads-guilty-trespass-16562451#.VH__MZM3G00 | archive-date=15 June 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> In February 2013, Lawless and the other six activists were each sentenced to pay a fine of NZ$651 and undertake 120 hours of [[community service]]. The judge denied the NZ$545,000 in reparations that [[Shell Todd Oil Services]] had sought from the activists. Following the sentencing, Lawless said: "I consider it a great victory that the court has struck down the reparation demand from Shell, which I think was absolutely ludicrous."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://herocomplex.latimes.com/tv/lucy-lawless-sentenced-greenpeace-protest/#/0|title=Lucy Lawless sentenced, and the warrior princess is thrilled|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=7 February 2013|access-date=24 February 2013}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
[[File:Lawless 09 (41432802265).jpg|thumb|Lawless with her husband [[Robert Tapert]] in 2018]]
In 1988, she became pregnant from her boyfriend Garth Lawless while working with him in the Australian [[outback]]. They married in [[Kalgoorlie, Western Australia]], that year, then returned to New Zealand where their daughter was born. They divorced in 1995.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20103221,00.html|title=Xena-Phile|author=Schneider, Karen S.|date=8 April 1996|magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]]|access-date=30 March 2015|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402101759/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20103221,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 28 March 1998, Lawless married ''Xena's'' executive producer, Pacific Renaissance Pictures CEO [[Robert Tapert]] at [[St. Monica Catholic Church (Santa Monica, California)|St. Monica Catholic Church]] in [[Santa Monica, California]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-07-21 |title=Santa Monica,Ca. Actor Kevin Sorbo And His Wife Sam, Leaving The... |url=https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/santa-monica-ca-actor-kevin-sorbo-and-his-wife-sam-leaving-news-photo/51099087 |access-date=2024-08-26 |website=Getty Images |language=en-us}}</ref> They have two sons.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 November 2013 |title=There's something about: Lucy Lawless, Actress |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/theres-something-about-lucy-lawless-actress/6OO33K2LBUUH46TZBUSTINIGZY/ |access-date=3 May 2022 |website=NZ Herald}}</ref>

==Recognition and awards==
In the [[2004 Birthday Honours (New Zealand)|2004 Queen's Birthday Honours]], Lawless was appointed a [[Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit]], for services to entertainment and the community.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/publications/queens-birthday-honours-list-2004 |title=Queen's Birthday honours list 2004 |date=7 June 2004 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=30 May 2020}}</ref>

Astronomer [[Michael E. Brown]] nicknamed his newly discovered [[dwarf planet]] "Xena";{{when|date=October 2024}} its then-provisional designation being {{mp|2003 UB|313}}. When this object was initially determined to be larger than [[Pluto]], it gained international attention and forced a year-long debate among astronomers as to the [[definition of planet|definition of a planet]]. (Observations made by [[New Horizons]] subsequently found Pluto to be marginally larger than the object, which was ultimately named [[Eris (dwarf planet)|Eris]].) The object's nickname "Xena" was used in the press. ''[[New Scientist]]'' magazine polled the public on their preferred final name for the so-called tenth planet; "Xena" ranked number 4.<ref>{{cite journal| url=https://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn7811| title=Your top 10 names for the tenth planet| author=O'Neill, Sean |date=8 August 2005 |journal= New Scientist|access-date=2 February 2014}}</ref> Lawless called Brown in December 2005 to thank him for his "senseless act of beauty", and claimed that she "never dared hope [the name] would stick".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lucylawlessfanclub.com/messages.html |title=Messages from Lucy |publisher=Lucylawlessfanclub.com |access-date=2 February 2014}}</ref> Eventually, both it and Pluto were deemed not to be true planets, and were instead classified as dwarf planets. Although "Xena" is now officially known as Eris, Brown made an indirect tribute to Lawless by naming Eris's moon [[Dysnomia (moon)|Dysnomia]] after [[Dysnomia (mythology)|the Greek goddess of lawlessness]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Tytell |first=David |url=http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/all-hail-eris-and-dysnomia/ |title=All Hail Eris and Dysnomia |website=SkyandTelescope.com |date=14 September 2006 |access-date=2 February 2014}}</ref>

=== Awards and nominations ===
{{BLP unreferenced section|date=August 2019}}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
|-
! Year
! Award
! Category
! Production
! Result
|-
|1997
|[[Saturn Award]]
|Best Genre TV Actress
|''Xena: Warrior Princess''
|{{nom}}
|-
|2010
|[[Golden Nymph]]
|Outstanding Actress – Drama Series
|''Spartacus: Blood and Sand''
|{{nom}}
|-
|2010
|[[Saturn Award]]
|Best Supporting Actress on Television
|''Spartacus: Blood and Sand''
|{{won}}
|-
|2016
|[[Fangoria]] Chainsaw Awards
|[[Fangoria|Best Supporting Actress on Television]]
|''Salem''
|{{nom}}
|}

== Filmography ==

=== Film ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1990
| ''Within the Law''
| Verity
|
|-
| 1990
| ''{{sortname|A|Bitter Song|nolink=1}}''
| Nurse 1
| Short film
|-
| 1991
| ''{{sortname|The|End of the Golden Weather}}''
| Joe's Girl
|
|-
| 1996
| ''Peach''
| Peach
| Short film
|-
| 1997
| ''Hercules & Xena: Wizards of the Screen''
| Xena
| Short film
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Hercules and Xena – The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus|Hercules and Xena – The Animated Movie]]''
| Xena
| Voice role
|-
| 2000
| ''[[Ginger Snaps (film)|Ginger Snaps]]''
| Announcer on School's PA System<ref>{{cite web|title=Whatever Happened to the Cast of Ginger Snaps?|url=https://www.looper.com/615615/whatever-happened-to-the-cast-of-ginger-snaps/|last=Kench|first=Sam|website=Looper|date=14 November 2022|access-date=21 June 2024}}</ref>
| Uncredited
|-
| 2002
| ''[[Spider-Man (2002 film)|Spider-Man]]''
| Punk Rock Girl
| Cameo
|-
| 2004
| ''[[EuroTrip]]''
| Madame Vandersexxx
|
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Boogeyman (film)|Boogeyman]]''
| Mary Jensen
|
|-
| 2006
| ''{{sortname|The|Darkroom|nolink=1}}''
| Cheryl
|
|-
| 2008
| ''[[Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight]]''
| Goldmoon
|
|-
| 2008
| ''[[Justice League: The New Frontier]]''
| [[Wonder Woman]]
| Voice role
|-
| 2008
| ''[[Bedtime Stories (film)|Bedtime Stories]]''
| Aspen
|
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Bitch Slap]]''
| Mother Superior
|
|-
| 2010
| ''Lez Chat''
| Construction Worker
| Short film
|-
| 2017
| ''[[The Changeover (film)|The Changeover]]''
| Miryam Carlisle
|
|-
| 2018
| ''[[The Breaker Upperers]]''
| Client
|
|-
| 2019
| ''[[Mosley (film)|Mosley]]''
| Bera
| Voice role
|-
| 2021
| ''[[The Spine of Night]]''
| Tzod
| Voice role
|-
| 2022
| ''[[Minions: The Rise of Gru]]''
| Nun-chuck
| Voice role
|-
| TBA
| {{pending film|[[Pike River (film)|Pike River]]}}
| [[Helen Kelly (trade unionist)|Helen Kelly]] ||
|}
{{pending films key}}

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1989
| ''Funny Business''
| Various
| Unknown episodes
|-
| 1990
| ''[[Shark in the Park]]''
| Kim Hughes
| Episode: "Double or Quits"
|-
| 1991
| ''For the Love of Mike''
| Helen
| Episode: "1.6"
|-
| 1992
| ''{{sortname|The|Ray Bradbury Theater}}''
| Liddy Barton
| Episode: "Fee Fie Foe Fum"
|-
| 1992-1994
| ''[[Marlin Bay]]''
|
| TV series
|-
| 1993
| ''{{sortname|The|New Adventures of the Black Stallion|nolink=1}}''
| Sarah McFee
| Episode: "Riding the Volcano"
|-
| 1993
| ''{{sortname|The|Rainbow Warrior|The Rainbow Warrior (film)}}''
| Jane Redmond
| Television movie
|-
| 1993
| ''Typhon's People''
| Mink Tertius
| Television movie
|-
| 1994
| ''[[High Tide (TV series)|High Tide]]''
| Undercover policewoman
| Episode: "Shanghied"
|-
| 1994
| ''[[Hercules and the Amazon Women]]''
| Lysia
| Television movie
|-
| 1995
| ''[[High Tide (TV series)|High Tide]]''
| Sharon List
| Episode: "Dead in the Water"
|-
| 1995
| rowspan=2 | ''[[Hercules: The Legendary Journeys]]''
| Lyla
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1995–1998
| rowspan=2 | [[Xena]]
| Recurring role, 6 episodes
|-
| 1995–2001
| ''[[Xena: Warrior Princess]]''
| Lead role
|-
|1997
|''[[Something So Right (TV series)|Something So Right]]''
|Herself
|Cameo, Season 1 EP 23
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''
| Herself/host/Various
| Episode: "Lucy Lawless/[[Elliott Smith]]"
|-
| 1999
| ''[[The Simpsons]]''
| Herself (voice)
| Episode: "[[Treehouse of Horror X]]"
|-
| 2000
| ''[[Celebrity Deathmatch]]''
| Herself (voice)
| Episode: "The Return of Lucy Lawless"
|-
| 2001
| ''[[Just Shoot Me!]]''
| Stacy
| Episode: "The Auction"
|-
| 2001
| ''{{sortname|The|X-Files}}''
| Shannon McMahon
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2003
| ''[[Tarzan (2003 TV series)|Tarzan]]''
| Kathleen Clayton
| Recurring role, 7 episodes
|-
| 2003
| ''Warrior Women with Lucy Lawless''
| Herself
| 5 episodes
|-
| 2004
| ''[[Less than Perfect]]''
| Tracy Fletcher
| Episode: "Ignoring Lydia"
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Two and a Half Men]]''
| Pamela
| Episode: "It Was 'Mame', Mom"
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Locusts (2005 television film)|Locusts]]''
| Maddy Rierdon
| Television movie
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Vampire Bats (film)|Vampire Bats]]''
| Maddy Rierdon
| Television movie
|-
| 2005–2009
| ''[[Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)|Battlestar Galactica]]''
| [[D'Anna Biers]]
| Recurring role, 16 episodes
|-
| 2006
| ''[[Veronica Mars]]''
| Agent Morris
| Episode: "[[Donut Run]]"
|-
| 2007
| ''[[Burn Notice]]''
| Evelyn
| Episode: "False Flag"
|-
| 2007
| ''[[Curb Your Enthusiasm]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "The TiVo Guy"
|-
| 2007
| ''[[Football Wives]]''
| Tanya Austin
| Unsold TV pilot
|-
| 2008
| ''[[CSI: Miami]]''
| Audrey Yates
| Episode: "Cheating Death"
|-
| 2009
| ''{{sortname|The|L Word}}''
| Sgt. Marybeth Duffy
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Flight of the Conchords (TV series)|Flight of the Conchords]]''
| Paula
| Episode: "[[New Zealand Town]]"
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Angel of Death (web series)|Angel of Death]]''
| Vera
| Episode: "Help"
|-
| rowspan="2"|2009; 2022
| ''[[RuPaul's Drag Race (season 1)|RuPaul's Drag Race]]''
| rowspan="2"|Herself
| rowspan="2"|Guest Judge
|-
| ''[[RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under (season 2)|RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under]]''
|-
| 2010
| ''[[Spartacus: Blood and Sand]]''
| rowspan=2 | [[List of Spartacus characters#Lucretia|Lucretia]]
| Main role, 13 episodes
|-
| 2011
| ''[[Spartacus: Gods of the Arena]]''
| Main role, 6 episodes
|-
| 2011
| ''[[American Dad!]]''
| Stacy (voice)
| Episode: "[[A Piñata Named Desire]]"
|-
| 2011
| ''[[No Ordinary Family]]''
| Helen Burton
| 4 episodes
|-
| 2012
| ''[[Spartacus: Vengeance]]''
| Lucretia
| Main role, 10 episodes
|-
| 2012–2014
| ''[[Parks and Recreation]]''
| Diane Lewis
| Recurring role, 10 episodes
|-
| 2013
| ''[[Top of the Lake]]''
| Caroline Platt
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2014–2015
| ''[[Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.]]''
| [[Isabelle Hartley]]
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2014
| ''[[The Code (2014 TV series)|The Code]]''
| Alex Wisham
| Recurring role (season 1), 6 episodes
|-
| 2014
| ''[[Adventure Time]]''
| General Tarsal (voice)
| Episode: "Dentist"
|-
| 2015–2017
| ''[[Salem (TV series)|Salem]]''
| [[Countess Palatine Ingrid von Marburg|Countess Marburg]]
| Recurring role, 15 episodes
|-
| 2015–2018
| ''[[Ash vs. Evil Dead]]''
| Ruby Knowby
| Main role, 27 episodes 
|-
| 2016
| ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012 TV series)|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]''
| Hiidrala (voice)
| Episode: "The Cosmic Ocean"
|-
| 2017
| ''[[The Changeover#Film adaptation|The Changeover]]''
| Miryam Carlisle
| Television movie (Sci Fi New Zealand)
|-
| 2019–present
| ''[[My Life Is Murder]]''
| Alexa Crowe
| Main role
|-
| 2020
| ''[[Star Wars Resistance]]''
| Aeosian Queen (voice)
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2020
| ''[[Big City Greens]]''
| Mimi O'Malley (voice)
| Episode: "Cricket's Tickets"
|-
| 2021
| ''[[Mr. Corman]]''
| Cheryl
| Episode: "Funeral"
|-
|}

=== Video games ===

* ''[[Hunted: The Demon's Forge]]'' (2011), as Seraphine<ref name="btva">{{cite web |title=Lucy Lawless (visual voices guide) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Lucy-Lawless/ |website=Behind The Voice Actors |access-date=6 August 2024|postscript=. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.}}</ref>
* ''[[Evil Dead: The Game]]'' (2023), as Ruby Knowby

== Stage ==
*1997: ''[[Grease (musical)|Grease!]]'' – On Broadway, NY USA
*2002: ''[[The Vagina Monologues]]'' – Auckland, NZ
*2005: ''[[Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (musical)|Gentlemen Prefer Blondes]]'' – Seattle, USA
*2011: BARE For Christchurch – Auckland, NZ
*2013: Chicago The Musical – Hollywood Bowl, LA, USA
*2013: Chicago The Musical – Auckland, NZ
*2014–2015: Sleeping Beauty and Her Winter Knight – Pasadena, CA, USA
*2017: Pleasuredome The Musical – Auckland, NZ<ref>{{cite web|title=Cast and Crew|url=http://www.pleasuredomethemusical.com/cast-and-crew/|website=Pleasuredome|access-date=21 January 2018}}</ref>

== Discography ==
; Albums
*''Come 2 Me''
*''Come to Mama: Lucy Lawless in Concert: The Roxy Theater in Hollywood''

;Concert DVDs
*''Come to Mama: Lucy Lawless in Concert: The Roxy Theater in Hollywood''
*''Gimme Some, Sugar: Lawless, NYC''
*''Lucy Lawless Live in Chicago: Still Got The Blues''
*''Lucy Lawless Live at The Roxy Theater: Ho Down''
*''Lucy Lawless Live in Concert: Welcome to the Pleasuredome''

;Other songs
*"Little Child" on ''[[Unexpected Dreams]] – Songs From the Stars''
*"4 All of Us" with [[Pauly Fuemana]] ([[OMC (band)|OMC]])
*"Little Child" on ''The Starship Christmas Album'' 2012 – [[Starship Foundation]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Lucy Lawless}}
{{Wikiquote}}
*{{IMDb name|0005128|Lucy Lawless}}
*{{emmytvlegends name|lucy-lawless}}
*{{IBDB name}}

{{S-start}}
{{succession box | before = [[Susan Eisenberg]] (2001–2006) | title = Voice of<br />[[Wonder Woman]] | years = 2008 | after = [[Keri Russell]] (2009)}}
{{s-end}}

{{Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lawless, Lucy}}
[[Category:1968 births]]
[[Category:20th-century New Zealand actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century New Zealand actresses]]
[[Category:New Zealand LGBTQ rights activists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit]]
[[Category:New Zealand expatriates in Australia]]
[[Category:New Zealand expatriate actresses in the United States]]
[[Category:20th-century New Zealand women singers]]
[[Category:New Zealand film actresses]]
[[Category:New Zealand people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:New Zealand stage actresses]]
[[Category:New Zealand television actresses]]
[[Category:New Zealand video game actresses]]
[[Category:New Zealand voice actresses]]
[[Category:People educated at Marist College, Auckland]]
[[Category:Actresses from Auckland]]
[[Category:21st-century New Zealand women singers]]
[[Category:University of Auckland alumni]]
[[Category:New Zealand documentary film directors]]
[[Category:New Zealand women film directors]]