ComicBookResources has a great interview with Lucy about her role as Isabelle “Izzy” Hartley in Season 2 of Agents of SHIELD.
The slogan "Trust No One" applies to more than just "The X-Files." In season one of "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," the team was blindsided and betrayed by their teammate Grant Ward (Brett Dalton), as well as long-time agent and main character Phil Coulson's (Clark Gregg) friend, John Garrett (Bill Paxton). Both secretly served Hydra and were instrumental in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s dismantling.
Now, to rebuild the organization and to continue to confront major threats, Coulson -- now director of the new S.H.I.E.L.D. -- has added to his ranks. One new recruit is Isabelle Hartley (Lucy Lawless), a mercenary agent who has a history with Coulson. Seen most recently as Ron Swanson's love interest in "Parks and Recreation," Lawless has an especially storied career in genre television, including her starring role as "Xena: Warrior Princess," plus the acclaimed "Battlestar Galactica" revival and multiple "Spartacus" series.
Days before the second season premiere, Lawless spoke to CBR News about Isabelle's introduction, history with Coulson, playing the "badass" character, reuniting with "Spartacus" writers (now "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." showrunners) Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen and the many unique actor names (including Reed Diamond and Nick Blood) populating the show in the second season of the ABC action-drama.
Some of the highlights from the interview
From your discussions with Jed and Maurissa, what was your sense of who Isabelle was, and what attracted you to the character?
Well, she's a badass girl. You don't want to mess with her. I was very interested in the fact that she's a mercenary. I quite like people who have a lot of duality. You try to play them as somebody perfectly sensible and likeable, but who does terrible things for a living. I was attracted to that. She's a dangerous gal.
In the teaser clip, there seems to be tension between Isabelle and the other agents during a sting operation. Does she play well with others?
Some. [Pause] She's like a grumpy dude. She knows how to put the team ahead of her own needs, that's for sure. You'll see how that plays out.
How many episodes have they locked you down for?
(Lucy Lawless declined to reveal the number of "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." episodes she's planned for at this point.)
It's unlimited. Whatever their imagination can come up with. I can't talk about all these things or I get in trouble.
For more information about Lucy's role on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D go to the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D subsite