LUCY LAWLESS

I get to do all these really nice, little culty things. It seems to be the world that keeps inviting me back.

I was black and blue for about two years, but it's paid off tremendously. You know, if you get enough whacks, your reflexes pick up, and I've become quite good - if somebody throws keys or something, I can catch them.

We live at the edge of the world, so we live on the edge. Kiwis will always sacrifice money and security for adventure and challenge.

Treat everyone the same until you find out they're an idiot.

I am waiting for a sign that will indicate to me what meaning I must give to my life, but right now my existence is satisfactory.

For the first time in my life, I put my body and reputation on the line to stand up for my beliefs and do the right thing. I hope I've encouraged other people to do the same.

My plan is to shock people with what I can do, because I've got a few sides to me that I've never used on screen.

We actually did quite a lot of comedy on 'Xena'. The whole show was very tongue-in-cheek.

Very often, I'm part of the deception because the way I play things is that I want you to be able to look back and go, "Oh, my god, I didn't see that at the time, but now it all makes sense," and you want to watch it a second time with the benefit of hindsight.

Happiness is a choice. You grieve, you stomp your feet, you pick yourself up and choose to be happy.

At first, being a female role model really terrified me. But it hasn't turned out to be an awful burden. I get a lot of letters from women who tell me that, after watching Xena, they have bought the Harley-Davidson they always wanted or left an abusive relationship.

I've tried to divide my time between the US and New Zealand, but it's difficult, and I suddenly realized that I like acting here in Los Angeles anyway. Because when you first come here; especially from New Zealand, you go, This is the ugliest, nastiest, grayest, smoggiest town in the world, and then your scale of beauty adjusts and suddenly you think, Oh, isn't it beautiful, not too much smog today!

Growing up, I looked up to real women. I didn't go in for hero worship and I still don't. Everybody has feet of clay.

Up until I came here this week, and I met so many women and young girls who feel, to use their word - and I'm a bit embarrassed, but it's a good word - empowered, by watching. I realized this isn't a burden, this is an honor.

Some people think that acting's about being somebody else and I don't. I think this is how I would be given the same circumstances. And I do it for my own enjoyment.

I think the people running climate change denial campaigns are sociopaths.

Who I think is actually doing great things for the appearance of women is that Kardashian girl. Kim Kardashian is giving an alternative. I don't know very much about her and I don't read articles, but just looking at the pictures you go, "Great! There's a girl with an ass, and that's fabulous. On behalf of all girls with asses, thank you."

It's never very useful to see your character as a villain. You have to play them the way they see themselves.

Nudity and sex scenes are two completely different things. Nudity you can kind of get used to, but not when there is movement and relating involved. The sex scenes are very uncomfortable because that's something to be protected, so you have a visceral reaction to not exploit that.

My voice likes rock music. My problem is, I can do a lot of things, but I have to find my own voice.

Now it wasn’t just that Xena was bisexual and kinda liked her gal pal and they kind of fooled around sometimes, it was ‘Nope, they’re married, man.'

I just look at what's the most fun thing I can do next. I'm not looking to prove anything, or to break out or to break away. I feel so lucky, honestly, that I'm still working.

Comedies are often half-hour programs and then drama and action series are often an hour.

I've often wanted to play the victim, or somebody who makes terrible choices. I would love to play the alcoholic mother who horribly lets down her children. That's a great morally imperiled role.

When you decide to become an opera singer, it's a commitment that allows nothing else to interfere. Even your family - and I have a young daughter - has to take second place.