NINETIES TV icon quits acting for a new career 23 years after her hit series aired.
Lucy Lawless,56, remains a fan favourite, after having rose to global fame in 1995 as the fierce heroine in Xena: Warrior Princess.
The show is a spin-off of the television series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys in which Xena was a recurring character originally scheduled to die in her third appearance.
But the character’s sudden popularity saw producers launch a new series based on her adventures.
It has aired in more than 108 countries around the world since 1998. and in 2004 and 2007, it ranked #9 and #10 on TV Guide’s Top Cult Shows Ever.
Xena’s success has also led to hundreds of tie-in products, including comics, books, video games and conventions.
Dressed in a bronze corset and leather dress from 1995 until 2001 Xena was on a quest to redeem herself from her dark past by using her formidable fighting skills to help people.
Joined by the bard Gabrielle, together they went up against ruthless warlords and gods in an ancient mythological world.
Since then Lucy’s stardom has continued to rise and she has appeared in Parks and Recreation, The Simpsons, Bedtime Stories, and more recently, My Life Is Murder.
Speaking exclusively to SkyNews.com.au, Lucy revealed that of all her roles, playing the sharp-witted private investigator Alexa Crowe in My Life Is Murder comes closest to reflecting her real self.
“As Alexa, I’m acting with my own accent for the first time, so I get to lean back on who I am,” she explained.
“I’m also wearing modern clothes – I can’t tell you how much costume affects your bearing and therefore the way that you speak.”
However, Xena, transformed the image of TV superheroes especially for females and gave a new generation a strong female role model to root for.
But Lucy has got tired of acting and being in front of the camera and has found a new love for directing instead reports the Independent.
Her new documentary Never Look Away chronicles the amazing life of news camera operator Margaret Moth, who braved war zones to capture remarkable footage in the 1990s.
“Any man who abused his status or power, she went after them in a way that was quite violent,” Lucy explains.
“She was one hell of a battleaxe. She got poked by people who didn’t know they were poking a bear.” she adds.
When she was approached to make a film about Margaret’s life, Lucy became fascinated by her story.
Margaret, who died at 58 from cancer in 2010 was a punk and a rebel, who had wild affairs and regularly diced with death.
She was shot in the face by a sniper during the Bosnian War in 1992, leaving her with a shattered jaw and permanent physical damage, then returned to the conflict just two years later.
Lucy explained that she has loved directing the new documentary.
“This directing thing is like a hard 180 degrees the other way. You have total control of it, and it’s made me giddy.
“Not with power exactly, but now it’s all I really want to do. It’s really, really attractive.” she said.
Margaret’s private life makes up a significant portion of Never Look Away.
“I was castigated by one critic for saying that I introduced Margaret by seeing her through her lovers, but how could I not?” Lucy says.
“Margaret was all about sex – you couldn’t leave that out. Sex, drugs and punk music made up at least 50 per cent of her life, and that’s the truth.
“I think some of the business people were a little shocked, because I guess they were expecting a hagiography?
“But I was not going to make that kind of film – I’m not a corporate girl.” she concludes.
Never Look Away is available on digital platforms via Kaleidoscope Entertainment.
