Lucy Likely To Get Raucous Herald on Sunday 20 May 2012

Expect the unexpected when Lucy Lawless sings at the King's Arms next Sunday. By Paula Yeoman.

LUCY LAWLESS will unleash her inner bad girl when she takes to the stage at the King's Arms in Auckland this month for a one-off concert. And who could blame her? Recovering from a bout of flu, the actress is juggling filming commitments on the Jane Campion miniseries Top Of The Lake with the equally new role of ''environmental warrior princess''.

So, over a few wines with friends one night, Lawless decided it was time to let her hair down. ''It's just a reaction to life. I'm 44, I'm going disgracefully into middle age. I'm not going to get into a rut and turn to chardonnay to bloody get me through the afternoon.''

Lawless is no stranger to singing. She performed in Grease on Broadway and was runnerup on the US reality TV show Celebrity Duets in 2006. But it is the first time she has properly unleashed her voice on a Kiwi audience.

''I've never cultivated my persona here at all because I love New Zealand so much I want to live here, I don't really want to be famous here,''

REBEL: Lawless refuses to go quietly into middle age. says Lawless. ''But now that I've been here solidly for three years shooting Spartacus, it's time to do what I do from time-to-time in the States, which is just get raucous with my mates on stage.''

By mates, she's referring to a star-studded backing band that includes Anika Moa and Julia Deans who will join her on covers of Pat Benatar's We Belong and Lana Del Ray's Blue Jeans. Lawless isn't giving any more away. Instead, she's urging people to come to the strictly R18 event with an open mind and to expect the unexpected. ''This is not a show for snobs. It's about people who want to get off the chain and let their bad girl out.'' Lucy Lawless and Friends perform at the King's Arms in Auckland on Sunday, May 27. Tickets on sale now from Under The Radar. www.under theradar.co.nz