- Born
- Birth nameLucille Francis Ryan
- Nicknames
- Unco, short for Uncoordinated
- Luce
- LL
- Height5′ 9½″ (1.77 m)
- New Zealand icon Lucy Lawless is most known for her role as "Xena the Warrior Princess." Lucy is married to producer Rob Tapert (Robert Gerard Tapert) and resides in New Zealand. They have two sons, Julius Robert Bay Tapert and Judah Miro Tapert, who were both born in New Zealand. Lucy also has a daughter, Daisy Lawless, from her first marriage to Garth Lawless.
Lucy was born Lucille Frances Ryan in Mount Albert, Auckland, to Julie, a teacher, and Frank Ryan, a banker and the city's mayor. She was awarded an Order of Merit in the New Zealand Queen's Birthday Honor List in June 2004. Lucy, whose role as Xena in "Xena: Warrior Princess" made her a cult television star, has been involved with the Starship Foundation and has held a role on its board of trustees. She was awarded the Order of Merit for services to entertainment and the community.
In 1995, Lucy landed the role of "Xena: Warrior Princess" in the show, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995), in a three-story arc, that led to her own spin-off show, Xena: Warrior Princess (1995), for six seasons.
Whilst she has been primarily known for her role on "Xena: Warrior Princess," Lucy has also appeared in the classic TV series, Battlestar Galactica (2004), in the semi-regular role of "D'anna Biers," among her other many and varied roles, including the hit Adam Sandler movie, Bedtime Stories (2008). Lucy was also in several made-for-TV movies including: Locusts (2005) and Vampire Bats (2005). She also lent her voice to the straight-to-video movies: Justice League: The New Frontier (2008) and Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight (2008). During 2011, Lucy appeared in the "No Ordinary Family" as the mysterious "Mrs. X" and also appeared in the prequel to Spartacus (2010), Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (2011) and "Spartacus Vengeance" as "Lucretia."
She portrayed "Caroline Platt" in Jane Campion's Top of the Lake (2013), a BBC Mini-Series in New Zealand, with Holly Hunter and Elisabeth Moss, the recurring character of "Diane Lewis" on NBC's Parks and Recreation (2009), and "Velma Kelly" in the Auckland Theatre Company's adaptation of "Chicago: The Musical," the latter from November 1-24, 2013.
As of 2019 she can be seen starring as Alexa Crowe in the light, colorful, Auckland-set mystery, "My Life is Murder."- IMDb mini biography by: Valeo Entertainment
- SpousesRob Tapert(March 28, 1998 - present) (2 children)Garth Lawless(1988 - 1995) (divorced, 1 child)
- ChildrenJulius Robert Bay TapertTapert, Judah
- ParentsJulie RyanFrank Ryan
- RelativesJosie Ryan(Sibling)Timothy Ryan(Grandparent)Gladys Ida Cartwright(Grandparent)
- Silvery blue eyes
- The role of Xena in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995) and Xena: Warrior Princess (1995)
- Was asked by Peter Jackson to audition for the role of "Galadriel" in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), but had to back out after becoming pregnant and was worried production would get delayed.
- According to the book "The Evil Dead Companion", she was horrified by The Evil Dead (1981) and wondered what kind of people could make such a movie. Not only did she end up working with these same people, since Sam Raimi later created Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995) and Xena: Warrior Princess (1995), she ultimately married one of them, producer Rob Tapert.
- Said that her partner at Xena: Warrior Princess (1995), Renée O'Connor, has been one of the few people who have joined her true friends from youth. As an example, she invited her to her wedding with Rob Tapert. They also appear together at conventions.
- Wanted to be an opera singer until she was 16, then learned that they have a strict diet and were not allowed to stay out all night. After that she changed her mind, but still sings. Her vocal range is alto.
- A natural ash blonde, she dyed her hair black for Xena: Warrior Princess (1995).
- Treat everyone the same until you find out they're an idiot.
- Usually? I don't even consider myself usually. Soccer mom, that's what I consider myself. Yeah, I think I'm a funny person. I started out in comedy. You know, I remember the moment I realized the value of comedy [ . . . ] I was eight years old and I was sitting in class and I realized that if I just acted really stupid, I could get away with a lot of stuff. And it would defuse a lot of tension and the teachers would focus on you. I just found out the value of being a funny dunce at times.
- I don't take business seriously, I take acting seriously. I take my job really seriously, but a lot of the job is not about acting, but I don't take business seriously.
- 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.
- 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.
- Xena: Warrior Princess (1995) - NZ$1.5M/Episode
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