She was awarded an Order of Merit in the New Zealand Queen's Birthday Honor List in June 2004. Lucy, whose role as Xena in Xena: Warrior Princess made her a cult television star, has been involved with the Starship Foundation and has held a role on its board of trustees. She was awarded the Order of Merit for services to entertainment and the community.
In 1995 Lucy landed the role of Xena: Warrior Princess in the show Hercules: The Legendary Journeys in a three story arc that led to her own spin-off show Xena: Warrior Princess for six seasons.
Whilst she has been primarily known for her role on Xena: Warrior Princess, Lucy has also appeared in the classic TV series Battlestar Galactica in the semi-regular role of D'anna Biers amongst her other many and varied roles including the hit Adam Sandler movie Bedtime Stories. Lucy was also in several made-for-TV movies including: Locusts and Vampire Bats. She also lent her voice to the straight-to-video movies: Justice League: The New Frontier and Dragonlance: Dragons of the Autumn Twilight. During 2011 Lucy appeared in the No Ordinary Family as the mysterious Mrs X and also appeared in the prequel to Spartacus: Blood and Sand, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena and Spartacus Vengeance as Lucretia.
Her most recent role was Caroline Platt in Jane Campion's Top of the Lake, a BBC Mini-Series in New Zealand with Holly Hunter and Elisabeth Moss.
She plays the recurring character of Diane Lewis in NBC's Parks and Recreation.
She will play Velma Kelly in the Auckland Theatre Company's adaptation of Chicago The Musical from 1-24 November 2013. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Valeo Entertainment
Spouse
Robert G. Tapert (28 March 1998 - present) (2 children)
Garth Lawless (1988 - 1995) (divorced) (1 daughter)
Trade Mark
Silvery blue eyes
The role of Xena in Hércules (1995) and Xena, la princesa guerrera (1995)
Trivia
Chosen by "People" magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World.
Fractured her pelvis after falling from a horse. She was practicing a scene for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992) . [October 1996]
Studied drama at the William Davis Center for Actors Study, under William B. Davis.
Lucy suffered a miscarriage immediately following the filming of the last episode of Xena. She considered canceling the appearance she was to make with Xena partner 'Renée O'Connor (I)' (Gabrielle) at a fan convention. However, she decided to show up despite the tragic event just a few days earlier and even though Renee was 6 months pregnant with her first baby.
Sister-in-law of actress Mary Beth Tapert.
Wanted to be an opera singer until she was 16. Then she learned they have a strict diet and can't stay out all night. After that she changed her mind but still sings. Her vocal range is contralto.
Speaks German, French, some Italian.
Owns a holiday house at Taupo on the shores of Lake Taupo, New Zealand.
Was asked by Peter Jackson to audition for the role of "Galadriel" in "Lord of the Rings", but declined because her pregnancy would stall production.
Is a natural ash blonde before coloring her hair black for the role of "Xena".
She said that her partner at Xena, la princesa guerrera (1995), Renée O'Connor, has been one of the few people who have joined her true friends from youth. As an example, she invited her to her wedding with Robert G. Tapert. They also act together on conventions stages.
She was offered the role of "Ellen Tigh" in Galáctica, estrella de combate (2004), but she refused. That role was played by Kate Vernon and the scriptwriters created another role for her, the evil "D'anna Biers".
Awarded the New Zealand Order Of Merit (NZOM), Queen's Birthday Honours 2004, for services to NZ entertainment and the community.
Member of the Starship Foundation board of trustees since 2000. Starship is NZ's main children's hospital.
A vocal supporter of gay rights, Lawless is considered something of a gay icon. After the cancellation of Xena, la princesa guerrera (1995), Lawless has said she considered her character a lesbian. Since that time the actress has also worked to support equal protections for gay and lesbian couples including protesting Proposition 8, which stripped gay and lesbian couples of the right to wed in California.
The dwarf planet Eris was originally informally named Xena, with its moon nicknamed Gabrielle (after Xena's sidekick). The official names, Eris and Dysnomia, refer to Greek goddesses associated with lawlessness, another wink to Lucy Lawless.
Gave birth to her first child at age 20, a daughter Daisy Lawless on July 15, 1988. Child's father is her first husband, Garth Lawless.
Gave birth to her second child at age 31, a son Julius Robert Bay Tapert on October 16, 1999. Child's father is her second husband, Robert G. Tapert.
Gave birth to her third child at age 34, a son Judah Miro Tapert on May 7, 2002. Child's father is her second husband, Robert G. Tapert.
Lawless says she had "no regrets" about boarding and preventing an oil-drilling ship from leaving a New Zealand dock, a protest action that saw her plead guilty on Thursday June 14, 2012 to trespass charges.
Personal Quotes
Treat everyone the same until you find out they're an idiot. Lucy Lawless, Starlog - Savage Sword of Xena.
Usually? I don't even consider myself usually. Soccer mom, that's what I consider myself. Yeah, I think I'm a funny person. I started out in comedy. You know I remember the moment I realized the value of comedy is when I was eight years old and I was sitting in class and I realized that if I just acted really stupid, I could get away with a lot of stuff. And it would diffuse a lot of tension and the teachers would focus on you. I just found out the value of being a funny dunce at times.
I don't take business seriously, I take acting seriously. I take my job really seriously, but a lot of the job is not about acting, but I don't take business seriously.
Salary
Xena: Warrior Princess (1995) NZ$1.5M/Episode
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