‘Xena’ Builds Cult Following For Role-Model Actress

If Isis built up her biceps, if Wonder Woman traded her lariat for a razor-sharp discus, and if they both brushed up on their martial arts, they might - just might - be as tough as their superheroine sister, Xena, played with brawn and bravura by New Zealand actress Lucy Lawless.

Debuting as a power-hungry princess in a 1995 episode of “Hercules: The Legendary Journey,” Xena won raves from fans of the mythic action show. Though she first tried to kill Hercules, they ultimately became allies and lovers - a scenario mere mortals can probably identify with. Last fall, in a feminist masterstroke, Xena spun off into her own series.

Lawless relishes her role in “Xena: Warrior Princess,” but she’s slightly bemused by the cult following she’s attracted. Preteen girls seek her advice, and Internet junkies dissect the show’s plot lines.

Here’s what she has to say:

Q. The show is doing extremely well, and last month Ms. magazine hailed your character as a feminist icon for the ‘90s. What’s driving all this success?

A: The show seems to have hit the world at the right time, when people are ready for a woman hero who is smarter and stronger than she is good-looking. She’s not some silicone-injected stick figure.

Q. Xena seems to attract a lot of young women, older men and Internet junkies. What is your fan mail like?

A. It’s mostly from women, younger and older, who somehow find the show really empowering. For a long time, I was very afraid of all this role model stuff. But only recently I’m realizing that it’s a true honor to be a part of something people find uplifting or motivating. And it’s not that they’re trying to be like me or be like Xena. They’re motivated to go and do things they’ve always wanted to, which is incredible.

Q. As the mother of an 8-year-old girl, who would you like your daughter’s role models to be?

A. I would hope that Daisy’s best role model would be, as my mum was to me, her mother. I would like to be a good example to her, day to day. I hope it’s real people. But I know there are so many kids out there whose lives are not (full of) role models. So if you must have one on television, I guess Xena’s not a bad one to have.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: PROGRAM TIMES “Xena: Warrior Princess” airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on Spokane’s KAYU, Channel 28 (Channel 3 on Cox Cable).

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = By Eileen Glanton The Associated Press