AARP Hearing Center
It's been 24 years since Lucy Lawless took on the iconic lead role in Xena: Warrior Princess, once TV's top-rated syndicated drama. The former Amazon thrasher from Thrace tells AARP about her new role: a crime-solving former homicide detective on the 10-episode My Life is Murder (Acorn TV, premieres Aug. 5).
What's detective Alexa Crowe like?
She's a woman my age who is sexy, unapologetic, fully realized, who honestly doesn't give a damn what anybody thinks because she's going to eke out the truth, find the murderer — even if it hurts.
Who's your role model for Alexa?
Who was your role model in life?
When I was a kid, I would watch Quincy, M.E. and I thought I wanted to be a medical detective. Then I realized, “No, I'm not going to study physics and chemistry — I want to be an actor.” Jack Klugman inspired me in both crime and acting. With Alexa Crowe I've come full circle.
TV sleuths are often bitter and cynical — what are My Life Is Murder's characters like?
Flawed but essentially good people in the pursuit of justice. You're left with something satisfying at the end of an hour, instead of feeling dirty and yucky because the world is kind of grim. It's not meant to be an anesthetic by any means, but maybe just a little bit of a physic rest, a recharge.
Now that I am the “older woman,” I want to encourage people that it's never too late to start (yoga).
Do people remember Xena?
Even people who weren't born then. I'm super famous in New York, the Philippines, Turkey, and — I'm told —the Soviet Union. It's so amazing. Xena gave me my husband [Xena producer Rob Tapert], my children. I was able to buy a house. She gave me everything.
What has motherhood taught you?
You can't have everything at once but eventually you can have a little bit of everything. My youngest is 17, one's in college, my older daughter is making a documentary, the boys are scientists. They have no interest in acting. You never see my children on a red carpet — they think that's really boring.
More on Entertainment
Summer TV Preview: 18 Shows You Won’t Want to Miss
The best viewing, from networks to Netflix
Your Ultimate Guide to This Summer’s Best Movies
Don't miss these upcoming films in theaters and streamingThe 10 Baddest Women of Classic TV
These strong, amazing characters were not to be messed with