Xena - Warrior Princess

Xena, the warrior princess is bent on overcoming her dark and hateful past. She must save innocents to redeem herself, in the eyes of the world and to herself. She is aided along the way by best friend Gabrielle, a struggling bard who later turns warrior herself.

Cast

Lucy Lawless
Role: Xena

Birthplace: Mount Albert, New Zealand
Birthday: 3-29-1968

Lucy was born Lucille Frances Ryan on March 29, 1968, in Mount Albert, Auckland, New Zealand; she was the 5th of 7 children, of Frank and Julie Ryan. Lucy enjoyed acting and appeared in many plays in high school. Later, she attended Auckland University and studied German, Italian and French for a year. As many young people from New Zealand do, she then headed for her O.E. (that's "Overseas Experience"). Lucy left college and headed for Europe where she and her boyfriend, Garth Lawless, traveled around Switzerland and Germany. Then Lucy and Garth headed to Australia to earn some travel money; they found work with a gold mining company outside of Kalgoorlie, about 500 miles from Perth. Lucy and Garth were married in Australia in 1988, and then returned to New Zealand where Lucy had a daughter, Daisy. Lucy was chosen Mrs. New Zealand in 1989. She did a "really bad, cheesy commercial for travel" which led to her first real acting job in a New Zealand comedy troupe show called "Funny Business." Later, Lucy landed the job as co-host for Air New Zealand Holiday, a travel magazine. Lucy worked in numerous television and film productions.
Finally, she got her breakout role of Lysia in Hercules and the Amazon Women (1994) (TV). Shortly thereafter, the producers needed someone to play Xena. Lucy, tall (5' 10-1/2"), athletic, with brown hair and blue eyes, was perfect for the part. But there was a snag: at first, the producers (what do they know?) did not want Lucy for the part of Xena-- after all, she had played a different character already. So, Lucy dyed her light hair a dark brown, making her look a bit different, and history was about to be made! Lucy, in her leather outfit and armed with her mighty Chakram, was thus cast in her signature roll of Xena in 3 episodes of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995)-- "The Warrior Princess"; "The Gauntlet" and "The Unchained Heart"-- that would lead to her own spin-off series, Xena: Warrior Princess (1995).
Although "Xena" immediately got a huge fan following in America, ironically "Xena" was not being shown in her native New Zealand, so Lucy did not achieve her tremendous popularity in her homeland until a bit later. In October 1996, Lucy came to America to be on Jay Leno's Tonight show. She was to do a publicity stunt, making a grand entrance by riding a horse in the parking lot. The horse tripped on the cement, Lucy fell and broke her pelvis. (Ironically, for the entire 6-year run of "Xena," Lucy-- doing her own stunts and riding horses-- never received a serious injury.) After convalescence and another season of "Xena," Lucy returned to America for another visit; Lucy made her Broadway debut playing Betty Rizzo in "Grease" from September to October, 1997. Also Lucy (divorced from Garth in 1995) became engaged to "Xena" executive producer Robert G. Tapert at that time. They married in Santa Monica, California on March 28, 1998. On October 16, 1999, they had a son, Julius Robert Bay Tapert, born in New Zealand. Although Xena: Warrior Princess has been canceled after a fantastic 6-year run, millions of Lucy Lawless fans know it is still just the beginning for her.

Renee O'Connor
Role: Gabrielle

Birthplace: Katy, Texas (suburb of Houston)
Birthday: 2-15-1971

Renee O'Connor was born in Houston, Texas, to Walter and Sandra O'Connor (now Wilson), and raised in Katy, a suburb. She attended Taylor High School (TX) and the Houston High School of Visual and Performing Arts.

Renee then appeared in a few commercials as well as several feature films including Night Game and False Identity. From then on, she appeared in several more movies (both feature and TV) and guest appearances on TV shows such as NYPD Blue, FBI: The Untold Stories, and The Rockford Files. Her next job found her starring as Deianeira in a Hercules TV movie Hercules and the Lost Kingdom. Her performance caought the eye of the producers Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert, who decided to cast Renee in the 1994 feature film, Darkman 2: Return of Durant, as Laurie Brinkman. Not long after Darkman 2, she landed the co-starring role in Raimi and Tapert's next venture, Xena: Warrior Princess. For six unforgettable seasons she played the part of Xena's partner, soulmate, and conscience, Gabrielle. Gathering along the way legions of fans both near and far with her consumate professionalism and blinding charm.

Renee now resides in Los Angeles, CA with her husband Steve Muir (a kiwi she met while living in NZ filming Xena). They have one son, Miles William, who joined the family in September 2001.

Kevin smith
Role: Ares

Birthday: 3-16-1963
Date of Death: 2-15-2002
Cause of Death: Injury due to a fall on the set

One of New Zealand's most popular and accomplished actors, Smith has amassed an impressive list of credits in film, theater and television.
He has enjoyed starring roles in such hit series as TV New Zealand's Gloss, Marlin Bay and Shortland Street and has performed in dozens of stage productions ranging from Othello to A Streetcar Named Desire, Cabaret, Glengarry Glen Ross and Into the Woods.
His feature film credits include his portrayal of Lawrence Hayes in the stylistic turn-of-the century drama Desperate Remedies, which earned international attention at Cannes and other European film festivals.
Kevin has also played in a number of alternative rock bands in New Zealand and he is currently one of the lead singers of The Wide Lapels, a local band which has inspired rave reviews and a devoted following for its camp renderings of the worst songs of the '70s -- songs like Take a Letter, Maria, Tell Laura I Love Her and Billy, Don't be a Hero -- which qualify for the group's repertoire on the basis of having bad lyrics that don't get better with time.

Born in Auckland, where he spent his early childhood, Kevin moved with his family to the small rural town of Timaru in New Zealand's South Island when he was 11.
During high school, he began playing in rock-and-roll bands, but never aspired to a career as an actor.
He had a passion for rugby and his dream was to play for the All Blacks, New Zealand's world-famous rugby team.

At 17, Smith moved to Christchurch and worked at various jobs to pay the rent before enrolling in Canterbury University at the age of 20.
He married his childhood sweetheart, Sue, and stumbled into acting literally by accident when he suffered a concussion playing college rugby in 1987.
He was forced to sit on the sidelines for nearly three weeks and during that period, Sue saw a casting call ad for the touring company of Are You Lonesome Tonight, the musical tribute to Elvis Presley, and signed Kevin up for an audition.
He landed the part of one of the bodyguards and was understudy to the lead.

At 24, Kevin was tapped by Christchurch's Court Theater to become the company's new young leading man and he spent the next three years performing on stage. While starring as Stanley in the company's production of A Streetcar Named Desire, he auditioned for the producers of New Zealand's hit primetime soap opera Gloss, won the role of handsome scoundrel Demian Vermeer and moved to Auckland to star in the series' final season.
Next he was cast as the "archetypal Kiwi bloke" on the sketch comedy series Away Laughing.
Smith went on to perform in the Mercury Theatre productions of Let's Do It, Rose Tattoo, Ladies Night and Fallen Angels before starring as another bad boy in the primetime drama Marlin Bay.
His role on the show lasted two seasons and earned him a 1995 New Zealand Film and Television Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Since then, he has recurred as Ares in more than two dozen episodes of Hercules and Xena. He has also made several appearances in Hercules as the demigod's mortal half-brother, Iphicles.

He had just finished working Warriors of Virtue: The Return to Tao (2002) at Beijing Film Studio when he had an unfortunate fall.
Until the accidental fall which ultimately led to his untimely death on February 16th 2002, Kevin and Sue made their home in Auckland. He is survived by his wife & their three young boys as well as missed dearly by many friends and fans.

Season 1

Pilot: Unchained Heart

Xena's former lieutenant, Darphus, rises from the dead to carry out Ares' evil plan. While working together to stop the marauding Darphus, Hercules and the warrior princess Xena take their personal relationship to a new level.

Sins Of The Past

Episode Number: 1

Xena battles an evil warlord, a vengeful Cyclops and harsh weather during her journey home to Amphipolis, where she's joined by a young woman named Gabrielle, who's a resourceful young protege.

Chariots Of War

Episode Number: 2

Xena defends a town against a band of thugs led by a father and son duo, and when she is wounded, Gabrielle is left worrying for the warrior princess.

Dreamworker

Episode Number: 3

When Gabrielle is kidnapped by a mystic, Xena enters an altered state of consciousness and must face ghosts from her past in order to rescue her friend.

Cradle Of Hope

Episode Number: 4

Xena employs stealthy manouvers to protect an infant who an oracle claims will one day usurp the King's throne. Meanwhile, Xena must also make sure that Pandora, the granddaughter of the legendary original, is able to reset the lock on her precious box.

The Path Not Taken

Episode Number: 5

In order to stop a war Xena must save a princess that has been taken from her home. The kidnapping could lead to a war. Xena realizes that a weapons dealer is the one that has caused everything. When she tracks the dealer, she meets her old love Marcus, but she is not sure how she feels about him.

The Reckoning

Episode Number: 6

Xena is mistaken for the killer who attacked and murdered a group of townspeople and is put on trial, causing Ares, the god of war to be delighted at the success of his plan

The Titans

Episode Number: 7

Gabrielle fools around with an ancient scroll and releases three Titans from centuries of captivity. Once again, Xena must save a village from destruction. Gabrielle also finds time for love.

Prometheus

Episode Number: 8

When the gods capture Prometheus, mankind begins to lose the gifts he gave them: fire and the ability to heal themselves. It's up to Xena, Gabrielle, Hercules and Iolaus to try to free Prometheus from his chains but whoever is the one who frees him, may end up dead.

Death In Chains

Episode Number: 9

Xena must free Hade's sister, Celesta, Death Herself, from King Sisyphus who wants to cheat death by holding her hostage, thus prolonging his life.

Hooves And Harlots

Episode Number: 10

When Xena and Gabrielle encounter the Amazons, Gabrielle tries to save an Amazon and unwittingly finds herself an Amazon princess.

The Black Wolf

Episode Number: 11

Xena infiltrates a band of rebels led by the Black Wolf and helps them defend themselves against Xerxes the warlord.

Beware Greeks Bearing Gifts

Episode Number: 12

Helen of Troy summons Xena and asks her to help end the war between the Greeks and the Trojans, that began over her.

Athens City Academy Of The Performing Bards

Episode Number: 13

Gabrielle wants to enter the Athens City Academy of the Performing Bards, but finds that it is not quite what she thought it would be. She helps another aspiring bard discover his true storytelling talent.

A Fistful Of Dinars

Episode Number: 14

Xena searches for Ambrosia, a substance capable of turning someone into a god. She hopes to find it before someone who is unworthy to be a god does.

Warrior…Princess

Episode Number: 15

The daughter of King Lias, Diana, is the target of assassins. Fortunately, Xena looks almost exactly like her. So, Xena goes undercover to force the assassins out of hiding and capture them.

Mortal Beloved

Episode Number: 16

When her dead love Marcus, asks Xena to help save good souls, she travels to the underworld to set things right.

The Royal Couple Of Thieves

Episode Number: 17

Xena enlists the help of Autolycus, the King of Thieves, in order to steal a treasure chest from a warlord and return it to its rightful owners - unless Autolycus has something to say about that.

The Prodigal

Episode Number: 18

After freezing in the face of danger, a confused Gabrielle returns home to Potidaea, where she receives a not-so-warm welcome from the people, who have hired a so-called warrior to save them from a warlord.

Altared States

Episode Number: 19

Xena helps a young boy whose father and brother want to sacrifice him to their god, because their "faith" demands it.

Ties That Bind

Episode Number: 20

As the god of war, Ares, schemes to make Xena lead his army, the warrior princess meets a man claiming to be her long-lost father.

The Greater Good

Episode Number: 21

Xena helps Salmoneus, aka Lord Seltzer, when a warlord wants him dead, due to a bad transaction. Meanwhile, a mysterious blond woman is stalking Xena.

Callisto

Episode Number: 22

The female warrior Callisto, tries to turn the world against Xena by committing acts of terrorism in her name, while Xena struggles to reclaim her true identity and discover why this angry young woman is doing this.

Death Mask

Episode Number: 23

After learning a raiding party's leader was responsible for the destruction in their village, Xena and her brother set out to destroy him.

Is There A Doctor InTthe House?

Episode Number: 24

Xena attempts to stop a war between two brothers, while Gabrielle tends to a pregnant Amazon sister, who is carrying the child of a centaur.