Lucy Lawless - AOL Chat with Lucy Lawless - September 1997




	Lucy Lawless AOL Chat Transcript 22 September 1997 AOL Chat Postcard and Lucy Autograph - click on the thumbnail for the larger scan This transcript is from LaraZielin@aol.com - Many thanks! Many of you are not on AOL, so I thought I'd post the chat log...I filtered out all but the two "demigods" and LL and the questions, so...without further ado... Not much was learned during this chat, but some people want every word our lovely lady of New Zealand has to say...And I'll say I really enjoyed "hearing" from her. Lucy Lawless, AOL Chat on 9/22/97 OnlineHost: Copyright 1997 America Online, Inc. OnlineHost: The auditorium consists of two major areas: the : audience (where you are right now) and the stage, : where the MC/host and guests appear. Remember, : text which you type onscreen shows only to those : in your row, prefaced by the row number in : parentheses, such as (2) if you are in row 2. To : interact with the speaker, use the Interact icon : on your screen. Pomond: Hello Everyone! Welcome to the chat with actress Lucy Pomond: Lawless, who plays the mythical heroine of the hit show "Xena: Pomond: Warrior Princess" ... as well as Betty Rizzo in the Broadway Pomond: production of "Grease!" Pomond: I (Pomond) will be your host today; my co-host is onstage under Pomond: the screen name of Demigod446. Lucy is chatting via screen Pomond: name: LucyLawls from the WPIX-TV studios in New York City. Demigod446: For those who don’t know, Lucy is a native of Mt. Aukland, Demigod446: New Zealand, who first caught the imagination of television Demigod446: viewers with her portrayal of the statuesque Xena in the hit Demigod446: series, "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys." Demigod446: Almost six feet tall, the 29-year-old Lucy is the fifth of seven Demigod446: children. Until the age of eight, she was very much a Demigod446: tomboy, following in the footsteps of her four older brothers. Demigod446: After high school, Lucy attended Aukland University for a Demigod446: short time before her passion for adventure took her to Demigod446: Europe. When her money ran out, she headed back to Demigod446: Australia and worked for a gold-mining company in Demigod446: Kalgoorie as one of the very few women miners. She did the Demigod446: same grueling work s the men – digging, mapping and Demigod446: driving trucks. She later returned to Australia and married, Demigod446: where her now nine-year-old daughter Daisy was born. Demigod446: Lucy’s a natural for the difficult physical challenges that the Demigod446: role of Xena demands. She trains with martial arts master Demigod446: Douglas Wong for the intricate martial arts moves, sword Demigod446: play and stunt work on the show. In additon to her physical Demigod446: prowess, Lucy also has an aptitude for languages -- she Demigod446: speaks English, German, French and some Italian. She’s Demigod446: also studied opera for several years and reportedly has a Demigod446: passion for jazz music. Pomond: Lucy, welcome to this chat! LucyLawls: hey everyone Pomond: How are you doing today? LucyLawls: box of birds Pomond: Sounds like a "can of worms" :-) LucyLawls: it means that's good I am feeling great$done Pomond: Lucy, before we go directly to questions and comments from Pomond: your fans, we wanted to ask you a question or two of our own ... Pomond: Lucy, we understand that you’re currently playing the role of Pomond: Rizzo in the musical "Grease!" through Oct. 19 at the Eugene Pomond: O’Neill Theater in New York City. How did you originally land LucyLawls: yes Pomond: this role? LucyLawls: a producer spotted me on Rosie O'Donnell and offered me the part even though at that stage LucyLawls: they had not seen Xena before Demigod446: She just can't get away from those bad girl roles! Pomond: :-) LucyLawls: Who'd want to Pomond: :-0 Pomond: OK, I've got another question for ya ... Pomond: The character of Xena has been called a feminist icon for the Pomond: 90s. How do you feel about being cast in the position of a role Pomond: model, especially for girls and young women? LucyLawls: whoa LucyLawls: it is an honor to be a part of something that has such a positive influence on other peopl LucyLawls: especially young women and women in their forties LucyLawls: who are perhaps re-entering the workfroce or breaking away from an abusiver relationship LucyLawls: but I am just as pleased that young men are at last seeing a new paradigm LucyLawls: of women in television Pomond: Many people may not realize that you had a big say in Xena’s Pomond: original appearance and character (for instance, your push for Pomond: Xena to have black hair, rather than the original blond.) Do you Pomond: feel that your career and the popularity of Xena have changed Pomond: attitudes in the TV industry about how heroines are portrayed? LucyLawls: I think it may have encouraged a swing towards some sort of equality in terms of LucyLawls: who stars in a show but they are still reluctant to follow us into the female action hero LucyLawls: realm Pomond: You're definitely blazing a new path. Demigod446: Brunettes are better than blondes anyway! LucyLawls: I personally feel that women are the largest growing LucyLawls: i know this sounds silly but LucyLawls: power base in terms of who is holding the remote in the home LucyLawls: whether they are Hispanic African-American, gay... women are starting to find themselves LucyLawls: represented Demigod446: well put :) Pomond: Lucy, we have A TON of people here to see you. ... Pomond: Let's go to some questions from users! Pomond: "Gabby8457" would like to know ... Question: What is it like to be a single mother and have to raise a young daughter? LucyLawls: i am not raising her alone, she has an excellent father with whom I share custody Demigod446: She's a mum of all trades! Pomond: OK, here's another question from a user; this one from "Trellopa" Question: Can we purchase a recording of Grease with you singing on it? LucyLawls: not at this stage Pomond: I've got a question about your musical tastes ... Pomond: We’ve heard that you’re a big fan of music, especially jazz and Pomond: opera. If you could master one musical instrument, what would it Pomond: be and why would you choose it? LucyLawls: I sing on the animated feature coming out in January LucyLawls: hmmmm Pomond: That's yet another singing excursion. LucyLawls: i guess the violin because it can make you cry Pomond: It DOES sound a lot like the human voice ... LucyLawls: or the piano- i'd like to play honky-tonk piano Demigod446: A warrior psrincess who's sensitive, too! Pomond: All right -- we have another user question, this one from "Aryella9" ...\ Question: Hi Lucy! Have you found Grease fun? And what, if any, challenges have presented Question: themselves in playing the character of Rizzo? Also, I hear there is to be a costume change in Question: the 3rd season for your character Xena. Do you like the new or the old costume? LucyLawls: yes Grease is fun, especially now LucyLawls: now that I am not spending every waking moment in fear and trembling that I have to LucyLawls: go on stage every night Demigod446: I'll bet you were a natural for a the fast-talking part of Rizzo! LucyLawls: i like the old costume but its not audience friendly Pomond: ... after you got over your stage fright, that is. LucyLawls: it is not a hero's costume LucyLawls: it's for a bad ass chick Pomond: :-0 LucyLawls: but don't worry Xena hasn't thrown it out yet Pomond: Remind me to have Xena on my side the next time I'm in a fight ... Pomond: :-) Pomond: All right, "RLD1963" would like to know ... Question: how long does it take to film a episode? LucyLawls: on average, eight days LucyLawls: we film thirty-two weeks a year Pomond: Lucy, "Mansuetud" would like to know ... Demigod446: I'll bet you're glad it's close to your home and family in NewZealand. Question: I am a 13 year old girl, have a brown belt in karate, and Xena is my hero. I collect Question: your comics, and am wondering if you are coming out with a movie. LucyLawls: hmmm LucyLawls: it would have to be a REALLY great premise and I would have to be able to have a holiday LucyLawls: as working 18 months-solid would kill me Pomond: All right, here's another question from a user ... Pomond: This one comes from "Lycanthra": Question: Lucy, Do you have any input into the scripts and development of your character? If Question: so, how much? LucyLawls: ummm, my input into scripts is negligible apart from on the day of filming when we LucyLawls: can ad lib LucyLawls: but really the writers and producers don't need my help, frankly, I am too busy trying to LucyLawls: uphold my end LucyLawls: of the bargain LucyLawls: as an actress to worry about tooling around in their business LucyLawls: my job keeps me plenty busy Pomond: All right; we have another question. "Rugrat206" would like to know ... Lpontes: (29)Oh no ball Question: Lucy would you be offended if I told you I loved you? : ) Lpontes: (29)not that nao Demigod446: I'm sure you have a lot of fans who feel that way! :) LucyLawls: thank you very much Pomond: Onward to the next question! Pomond: "JudyWN" asks: Question: Hi Lucy, you are doing a great job in Grease i was wondering if you have been able to Question: enjoy New York while you have been there or is it all bussness? LucyLawls: i am beginning to now LucyLawls: i can relax because I know what my job is now, my daughter and her cousin have arrived LucyLawls: so I am having excellent quality family time with them which always relaxes me Pomond: Here's another user question ... Pomond: This comes from "Animorph1" ... Question: What similaurities do you have with Xena warrior Princess? LucyLawls: hmm LucyLawls: Xena comes out of me, but she is not the whole story Pomond: Let's move on to a question from "ErthCross" ... Question: Lucy- Do you belive in Greek Mythology? LucyLawls: The older I get the more like Xena become, I am becoming testier LucyLawls: more taciturn and I only say what I think LucyLawls: NO! Pomond: (Folks, she's referring to the question from "ErthCross") Pomond: All right, Lucy. I wanted to ask you a question ... Pomond: As I’m sure you’re aware, "Xena ..." has a huge following in the Pomond: lesbian community. How has this attraction affected the show, Pomond: and do you and the show’s producers try to address it within the Pomond: story? LucyLawls: go head LucyLawls: not really LucyLawls: when it was brought to our attention we thought it was an amusing parallel and LucyLawls: had a bit of fun with it, but the show is not about sexuality LucyLawls: and it LucyLawls: realies on great stories with heart, it is about friendship and love Demigod446: How sweet :) LucyLawls: we leave it to the audience to make what they want of it LucyLawls: it is their show Pomond: All right. Let's go back to user questions ... Pomond: This comes from "Animorph1" ... Question: How does the Bid work??? Lpontes: (29)You wanna ge married? Pomond: Oops; sorry -- wrong question. Pomond: Let's move on. Pomond: This question comes from "TTholl 42" ... Question: How many seasons do they plan to continue airing XENA LucyLawls: as long as we make it LucyLawls: at least until the year 2000 Demigod446: Great! :) Pomond: Hey, with ratings like "Xena," you could make it to 3,000 ... Pomond: :-) LucyLawls: LOL Pomond: Here's another question. This one comes from "Mchakram" ... Question: Which do you like doing better, Xena or Broadway? LucyLawls: Xena, I love Broadway but the constant challenge of Xena means that I will be LucyLawls: anxious to get back to New Zealand Pomond: I'll bet! Your homeland ... Pomond: Actually, we have a New Zealand-esque question for you from "Adora96" ... Question: What is your favorite New Zealand food? LucyLawls: Hmmmm LucyLawls: New Zealand Cadbury's chocolate, vegimite Demigod446: I'll bet you love croisus, too. Pomond: vegimite? Sounds pretty dubious to me ... LucyLawls: our food is exactly like the food you have here it is no different Pomond: OK. Here's a question for you from "E2JORL": Question: Hi Lucy! Can I touch your chakrum? :D Please describe you off-screen relationship with Question: Renee O'Connor. Good? Bad? Indifferent? Selling tickets to the cat fights? LucyLawls: Renee is the best friend that have on the set, she rang me before my first performance LucyLawls: on Grease she is often the first person I think to call when I am about to do something LucyLawls: scary... like the first time I went on Letterman Pomond: did you call her before that appearance on Leno? (the one where Pomond: you injured yourself) LucyLawls: no perhaps I should have things might have turned out differently Pomond: All right. Here's another user question. Pomond: This comes from "Clarkerx" .... Question: Will Xena have anymore episodes with Hercules this season? I love those LucyLawls: YES but i crossed over into Herc LucyLawls: I paly a type of gangster's moll LucyLawls: in an alternative universe where is Aries is the God of LOOOOOOVE Pomond: That's weird! Love and war going hand in hand ... Demigod446: :) LucyLawls: where Herc is evil and Xena is an even more low-rent version and nasty LucyLawls: version LucyLawls: of Meg Pomond: Awwww, I wouldn't call Xena "low rent"!!!!! Pomond: :-) Demigod446: low rent but loveable LucyLawls: It is Xena 2: In an Alternative Universe Pomond: Lucy, we're running out of time, unfortunately. Pomond: Let's go to one more user question ... Pomond: This question comes from "FoodSrvEq" ... Question: Is it uncomfortable being so physical in those outtfits you have to wear in character? LucyLawls: no they are perfectly crafted fighting togs LucyLawls: we worked out all the bugs Pomond: ;-) Pomond: I just want to mention a couple things before we finish this off ... Pomond: Folks, if you want to sign up for an autographed picture of Lucy Pomond: on location at the chat studio in New York City, just send an Pomond: e-mail request to lucypict@aol.com. (Be sure to include your Pomond: e-mail address in your message!) Pomond: Hey, folks, if you liked this event, you can keep chatting about Pomond: "Xena: Warrior Princess" in a chat sponsored by WDZL-TV. Join Pomond: DCTEEXENA and WB39Vic at Keyword: DCSF Stage for a chat Pomond: with other fans of the hit TV show! Pomond: Lucy, it has truly been a pleasure having you here with us. Pomond: Do you have any final comments? LucyLawls: Thanks very much hanging around LucyLawls: I know I have only answered a few of your questions Pomond: BTW, thousands of users came to this event. The online universe loves you! LucyLawls: but I appreciate you taking the time to logon LucyLawls: God Bless, see you on the Box Pomond: THANK YOU Lucy! Demigod446: Thanks for stopping by Lucy! We wish you the best. Pomond: Let's have some applause for Lucy! Pomond: <APPLAUSE> Demigod446: More applause! Pomond: Everyone, thanks for coming to the chat with Lucy Lawless! We Pomond: hope you enjoyed this event, and that you come back soon for Pomond: more great online programming!