Kiwification

photo credit: XeniteBrazil

“We live at the edge of the world, so we live on the edge. Kiwis will always sacrifice money and security for adventure and challenge.”
- Lucy Lawless on the lives of New Zealanders.

Her stage name, “Lucy Lawless”, brings back images of the leather-clad beauty running amok in ancient greece (New Zealand, actually), “lawless-ly” belching fire, kicking ass and taking names

But even if you weren’t a teenager in the 90s, you’ll still recognize Lucy as smoldering Cylon “Number Three” from the latest Battlestar Galactica, with the “infinite loop” messianic destiny / delusion.

Born Lucille Francis Ryan, Lawless is a Kiwi in both name, nationality and nature. Irreverent and self-assured, she’s a unflappable straight-shooter who speaks on camera (mostly) with her (sexy) native Kiwi accent.

Having gained a large following from the lesbian community in her years as Xena (her “friendship” with Gabrielle was ambiguous until the end), she continually acknowledges their support, and while she’s heterosexual, Lucy has attended gay pride events such as the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

Quick Kiwi Facts about Lucy Lawless

Born March 29, 1968, Lucy:

• Lives in Auckland (”the boondocks”) of her native New Zealand.
• Played herself in an episode of The Simpsons.
• Has a “dwarf planet” unofficially named after her character, Xena.
• Played a cameo in Spiderman as a punk: “.. a guy with eight hands.. sounds hot.”
• Would have been cast as Galadriel in Lord of the Rings, but was pregnant.
• Uses an iPhone.

Lucy Lawless Au Naturale

(singing, talking, etc - i.e. “in her natural state”)