Lucy Lawless Movies
Best known for her role as the fearsome Xena: Warrior Princess in the long-running series of the same name, athletic worldly beauty Lucy Lawless didn't achieve the fame in her native New Zealand that flooded her in the U.S. until much later in her career, due to the fact that the wildly popular adventure series didn't air there until long after it was a staple of American television.Born into water at her home in Mount Albert, Aukland, New Zealand, in 1968 to the mayor of that city, Lawless began acting early and frequently appeared in school plays in her youth. A active child of diverse interests and with many siblings, Lawless went on to study German, French, and Italian at Aukland University for a year before traveling through Europe with boyfriend and eventual first husband Garth. They worked odd jobs to finance their trip and eventually ending up in Australia. Working in a gold-mining camp in Kalgoorlie to finance the final leg of their journey, the couple was married in Australia in 1988 and soon returned home to bear a daughter.
Crowned Mrs. New Zealand the following year, the busy new mother got her first acting experience in Funny Business, a popular TV comedy troupe. Studying acting in Vancouver, Canada, at the William Davis Center for Actors Study, Lawless soon landed small roles in films (The End of Golden Weather [1991]) and television (For the Love of Mike [1991]), with her next regular job as of co-host on television's Air New Zealand Holiday. After appearing in The Rainbow Warrior in 1992, Lawless landed the role that would propel her to stardom and become her calling card into the new millennium.
Initially appearing in the role of Lysia in Hercules and the Amazon Women, Lawless went on to appear as Xena in three episodes of Hercules before spinning off into her own series in 1995. It was a physically demanding adventure series in which the sporty actress performed many of her own stunts; Lawless ironically broke her pelvis after falling off of a horse while preparing to make a grand entrance on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno in 1996. After a quick recovery, Lawless made her Broadway debut as Rizzo in Grease the following year. Her first marriage dissolved, Lawless was remarried to Xena producer Rob Tapert in October 1999, two years before the final episode of Xena. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 2006
Lucy Lawless portrays a member of the Cylon leadership, who honors Number Six and Sharon as heroes on Caprica. Elsewhere, Kara's lover, Samuel Anders (Michael Trucco), plans to attack the Cylons. ~ Michael Chant, All Movie Guide
- 2005
To ease tensions with the civilian fleet, Adama and Roslin give a journalist (Lucy Lawless) complete access to Galactica's overworked pilots and crew. Meanwhile, Col. Tigh receives a death threat; Cottle is called in to treat Cylon Sharon's unborn child; and a Viper pilot (Luciana Carro) loses control of her fighter. ~ Michael Chant, All Movie Guide
The Pacifier director Adam Shankman helms this children's fantasy concerning a hotel handyman who gradually begins to realize that the imaginative bedtime stories he tells his niece and nephew are somehow beginning to manifest themselves in the real world. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adam Sandler, Keri Russell, (more)
- 2009
- R
A sex-bomb, a psycho-slut, and a stripper find their attempt to extort a powerful underworld kingpin spiraling out of control in this outrageous homage to the exploitation films of yesteryear. They thought it was a foolproof plan, but these three bad girls are about to see just how bad things can get when the truth comes out, allegiances start to shift, and other desperate criminals attempt to muscle in on the take. Later, the stakes are raised when it's revealed that the entire plan was a setup. With the fate of the world resting in their not-so-delicate hands, these three violent beauties are about to discover that everything they thought they knew about the job is wrong, and that their may be an extraterrestrial invader lurking in their midst. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Julia Voth, Erin Cummings, (more)
A man learns his past was more truth than imagination in this horror story. Tim (Barry Watson) is a man who is still haunted by traumatic memories of his past, many linked to the death of his father. Desperate to resolve his issues, Tim returns to his old hometown so he can pay a visit to the house where he grew up. But while Tim wants to convince himself the ghostly memories he carries are just a figment of his imagination, circumstances lead him to believe that there may be a kernel of truth to them. Boogeyman also features Emily Deschanel, Lucy Lawless, and Skye McCole Bartusiak. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barry Watson, Emily Deschanel, (more)
Jeannie Epper and Zoe Bell are two women who get hurt for a living -- they're Hollywood stuntwomen, who take the falls and dodge the punches while taking the place of glamorous stars. Epper's big break came when she was hired to stand in for Lynda Carter on the Wonder Woman television series in the 1970s, while Bell made a name for herself doing Lucy Lawless' stunt work for Xena: Warrior Princess. Double Dare is a documentary which looks at the lives and careers of these two women, as well as their friendship. Epper, in her early sixties, finds herself dealing with ageism in the entertainment industry, just as she's dealt with sexism much of her life, as she struggles to stay in the game, while Bell learns from her older friend not only the nuts and bolts of stunt work but the trails Epper and her compatriots had to blaze to be respected in their profession. Double Dare also features appearances by Quentin Tarantino and Steven Spielberg. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeannie Epper, Zoe Bell, (more)
- 2007
- PG13
- Add Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight to QueueAdd Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight to top of Queue
In this animated film based on the popular series of fantasy books, six friends - a dwarf, a warrior, a half-elf, a mage, a knight and a kinder - have come together once again after spending five years searching for proof that the gods do in fact exist. Sadly, they reunite amidst rumors of a growing evil and an impending war - but now, with horror and chaos looming on the horizon, the goal of their searches may finally be within their grasp in the form of mysterious warrior princess bearing a crystal blue staff. A threat like none of them have seen is poised to overtake their homeland, but if these heroes can stand against it, they will become legends. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Rosenbaum, Kiefer Sutherland, (more)
Written and directed by Alec Berg, David Mandel, and Jeff Schaffer, Eurotrip is a teen comedy from the Montecito Picture Company (makers of similar movies Old School and Road Trip). Mainstream teenager Scott (Scott Mechlowicz) forms an online friendship with German student Mieke in order to get a passing grade in his high school German class. When he finds out Mieke is a buxom blonde girl (Jessica Böhrs), he travels to meet her with his pals Cooper (Jacob Pitts), Jenny (Michelle Trachtenberg), and Jamie (Travis Wester). The group of randy teens head to Berlin by way of London, Paris, and Amsterdam. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Scott Mechlowicz, Jacob Pitts, (more)
- 1997
- PG
- Add Hercules & Xena: The Battle For Mount Olympus to QueueAdd Hercules & Xena: The Battle For Mount Olympus to top of Queue
Hercules and Xena assume animated form in this feature-length cartoon adventure. Hera, the Queen of the Gods (not to mention Hercules' step-mother), decides it's her turn to rule the universe, and frees the Titans of the Underworld to bring chaos to the world. Will Hercules, Xena and their fellow warriors be able to retake Mount Olympus against such adversaries? ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1994
The mythic Greek hero Hercules comes to life in this made-for-TV movie. Ioalus (Michael Hurst) is soon to be married, and his close friend Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) arrives to help him prepare the celebration. However, before the wedding can occur, word circulates that a nearby village has been overrun by a deadly menace. Hercules and Ioalus come to the rescue to discover the invaders are actually a tribe of Amazonian warriors, who are determined to lay waste to the men of the region. Roma Downey plays Hippolyta, Lucy Lawless appears as Lysia in her pre-Xena days, and Anthony Quinn highlights the supporting cast as Zeus. Hercules and the Amazon Women was the pilot film for the popular television series Hercules: The Legendary Adventures. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1998
In the conclusion of a two-part story, the evil Callisto (Hudson Leick) has traveled back in time to prevent the birth of Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) by murdering the hero's future mother Alcmene (Kim Michalis). To prevent this, Hercules' friend Iolaus (Michael Hurst) likewise ventures "forward into the past." Meanwhile, Hercules and his despotic parallel-dimension lookalike, the Sovereign (also Kevin Sorbo), are trapped in the netherworld. Even if Hercules manages to escape, how will he bring Iolaus back to the present? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Michael Hurst, (more)
- 1995
Nemis the Centaur (Cliff Curtis) is given the opportunity to avenge the death of his twin brother at the hands of Hercules (Kevin Sorbo)--who is at this moment en route to a wedding in the town of Nespa. Since Nemis also covets the bride Penelope (Jacqueline Collin), he looks forward not only to killing Hercules but claiming Penelope for himself. Upon his arrival, Hercules agrees to take on Nemis and his friends in a "friendly" game of combat--only to be rendered blind by the duplicitous Lyla, the girlfriend of one of Nemis's Centaur cronies. Lucy Lawless, later cast as warrior princess Xena, is seen as Lyla. This episode of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys contained the first of the series' semi-satirical disclaimers ("No Centaurs were harmed during the production of this picture"). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Robert Trebor, (more)
- 1997
In the conclusion of a three-part story, Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) has given up his super-strength so he can marry Serena (Sam Jenkins), a demigod who has likewise relinquished her immortality. Meanwhile, war god Ares (Kevin Smith) and his nephew, Strife (Joel Tobeck), step up their efforts to destroy Hercules -- beginning with the murder of Serena. Accused of the crime, Hercules is targeted by a lynch mob. Will his loyal friends (including Xena the Warrior Princess Lucy Lawless) be able to rescue Hercules in time -- and will he ever regain his godlike strength? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Michael Hurst, (more)
- 1995
Deric the Centaur (Peter Muller), his human bride Lyla (Lucy Lawless), and their "half-breed" son Kefor (James Croft) are subjected to the cruel bigotry of a group of Cretans promoting "Athenian Purity." In the course of events, Lyla is killed, Deric is forced to commit murder, and Kefor is kidnapped by the Cretan Jakar (Jon Brazier), who is determined to lynch both Deric and his son. It is up to Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) to save Jakar's intended victims from the crowd's wrath and to teach an important lesson in tolerance (with a little help from Hercules' immortal father, Zeus). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Michael Hurst, (more)
- 1997
Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) and Iolaus (Michael Hurst) plunge into a parallel dimension reminiscent of a certain modern superhero's "bizarro" world. In this strange land, Hercules is a despotic ruler named "The Sovereign" (also played by Kevin Sorbo); the brave Iolaus is a weak-kneed court jester; warrior princess Xena (Lucy Lawless) is the Sovereign's cuddly consort; surly god of war Ares (Kevin Smith) is the charmng god of love; and hedonistic goddess of love Aphrodite (Alexandra Tydings) is the prudish Queen of the Gods. In their efforts to prevent the Sovereign from killing Zeus, the "real" Hercules and Iolaus must hark back to the earlier story arc involving the demigod Serena (aka "The Golden Hind"). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Michael Hurst, (more)
- 1995
Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) and his cousin Iloran (Dean O'Gorman) are determined to put an end to plundering and pillaging of warrior princess Xena (Lucy Lawless). As it turns out, however, the real villain of the piece is not Xena, but instead her treacherous lieutenant Darphus (Matthew Chamberlain). When Xena unexpectedly shows compassion in battle, Darphus accuses her of being unfit to lead her minions, forcing her to run the deadly Gauntlet ritual. This puts Hercules in the embarrassing position of having to join forces with his old enemy Xena in order to expunge the "greater evil." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Lucy Lawless, (more)
- 1995
Lucy Lawless, previously seen on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys as the duplicitous Lyla, makes her first appearance as fierce and fearsome warrior princess Xena. Determined to gain full control of the land of Arcadia, Xena realizes that she must first kill Hercules (Kevin Sorbo). Posing as a damsel in distress, she lures Hercules' friend Iolaus (Kevin Hurst) into a trap, the better to lure our hero out in the open. The climactic confrontation between Hercules and Xena is capped by a deadly promise. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Michael Hurst, (more)
- 1995
Now fighting side by side as allies rather than enemies, Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) and Xena (Lucy Lawless) do battle against mutual enemy Darphus (Matthew Chamberlain), who has risen from the dead to wreak more havoc. As usual, this resurrection is the handiwork of war god Ares, who is using Darphus to harvest meat for Ares' vicious man-eating dog, Graegus. Hercules' friend, Iolaus (Michael Hurst), wants to join the fight against the villain, but he has no good reason to trust Xena. Things come to a head when Darphus kidnaps Salmoneus (Robert Trebor) to lure Hercules into a trap. This final episode of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys' first season neatly sets the stage for episode one of the spinoff series Xena: Warrior Princess. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Lucy Lawless, (more)
In this comedy from New Zealand, Jodie Rimmer plays a young prostitute, who hasn't been on the job long enough to have become embittered with the world. However, she sure doesn't love her job, and when she gets wind of a major drug deal her pimp is plotting, she hatches a scheme to swipe the loot, which will give her and her fellow floozies enough of a financial cushion to quit the business once and for all. Jodie Rimmer shines here in a charming comic performance. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jodie Rimmer, Carl Bland, (more)
- 2008
- PG13
- Add Justice League: The New Frontier to QueueAdd Justice League: The New Frontier to top of Queue
Adapted from the six-issue comic book series originally published in 2004, the animated adventure Justice League: The New Frontier follows the epic adventures of Superman and his fellow DC Comics superheroes from the end of World War II to the global tensions of the Cold War. In addition to detailing the ultimate fate of DC war comic squadron The Losers and showing how reluctant fighter pilot Hal Jordan made the stunning transformation into The Green Lantern, the film also follows Superman and Wonder Woman as they struggle with their involvement on the East Asia battle arena, finds the Martian Manhunter arriving on planet Earth, and showcases John Henry's valiant struggle against the evil Ku Klux Klan. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kyle MacLachlan, Jeremy Sisto, (more)
- 1993
Lucy Lawless stars in this dramatic short subject which predated her rise to fame as an action star on the television shows Hercules: The Legendary Adventures and Xena: Warrior Princess. Sal (Tania Simon) is a woman from New Zealand who is involved in a going-nowhere relationship with Mog (Joel Tobeck), a hulking brute who shows her little respect. A chance encounter with an easy-going female truck driver (Lawless) encourages Sal to take more chances in her life, symbolized by the purchase of a tasty but out-of-season peach. For video release, Peach was paired with another short subject featuring Lucy Lawless, A Bitter Song, in which she plays a nurse working with a young girl with emotional problems. Some video editions of the film include a third film, Lavender Limelight: Lesbians in Film. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1998
This 1998 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Lucy Lawless and features musical guest Elliott Smith. ~ Skyler Miller, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Elliott Smith, (more)
- 2003
The third live-action TV series based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' immortal "King of the Jungle" (there had also been a few cartoon series and innumerable theatrical features), the WB network's Tarzan offered a few new up-to-date spins on the classic canon. Orphaned in the jungle as an infant, John Clayton (played by male model Travis Fimmel) was raised by apes and came to maturity as the resourceful Tarzan. All this changed when John/Tarzan was captured by his uncle, billionaire industrialist Richard Clayton (Mitch Pileggi), and flown to New York City, there to take his rightful place as the heir apparent of the vast Greystoke business enterprises. As uncomfortable as Tarzan felt in his new civilized surroundings, it was nothing compared to the discomfiture expressed by Richard Clayton's sister, acid-tongued publisher Katherine Clayton (Lucy Lawless), who wished that Tarzan would return whence he came so that she could take over Greystoke. At last fed up by all the inter-family squabbling and backstabbing, Tarzan escaped to the concrete jungle known as Manhattan, where he befriended feisty female NYPD detective Jane Porter (Sarah Wayne Callies). Ultimately, Me-Tarzan teamed with You-Jane to track down elusive criminals, while Jane's detective boyfriend, Michael Foster (Johnny Messner), and her official partner, Sam Sullivan (Miguel Nunez Jr.), expressed dismay at the girl's newfound bravado -- and while Jane's younger sister, aspiring actress Nicki Porter (Leighton Meester), lolled around awaiting her next "damsel in distress" assignment. The new Tarzan swung into view on October 5, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Travis Fimmel, Sarah Wayne Callies, (more)
The horror film The Darkroom concerns an amnesia victim who has been in an asylum for years. One day he begins to remember flashes from his life, decides to escape from the hospital, and soon befriends a teenager. As he pieces together his former life, he begins to suspect he may be in terrible danger. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Reed Diamond, Greg Grunberg, (more)
