Renee O'Connor Movies
A former Mickey Mouse Club starlet who has since gone on to craft an impressive career in film and television, Renee O'Connor gained widespread exposure thanks to her small-screen role as Xena's (Lucy Lawless) trusty sidekick, Gabrielle, in the hit television adventure series Xena: Warrior Princess. A Texas native who discovered her love of acting while performing at Houston's Alley Theater at age 12, the aspiring actress attended Taylor High School before refining her skills at the Huston High School of Visual and Performing Arts. After donning various cartoon costumes at Six Flags amusement park, O'Connor made the move to Los Angeles and soon landed a role in the Mickey Mouse Club serial drama Teen Angel (a revival of the original series Spin and Marty). Though a subsequent appearance in an Arnold Schwarzenegger-helmed episode of HBO's Tales From the Crypt ultimately ended up on the cutting room floor, early exposure came soon thereafter with a role in the 1991 television miniseries Changes. Following appearances in a pair of features and made-for-television films, O'Connor caught the eye of producer Rob Tapert during an audition for a role in the 1994 made-for-television adventure Hercules and the Lost Kingdom, and in addition to also casting her in the direct-to-video sequel to partner Sam Raimi's Darkman, the duo agreed that she would make a great addition to a new show they were producing. Her participation in the hit series Xena: Warrior Princess proved invaluable, and O'Connnor and Lawless' chemistry gelled right from the start. Following the cancellation of Xena: Warrior Princess, O'Connor would continue her feature career with the 2000 comedy drama Rubbernecking. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide- 1997
Summoned to help their peddler friend Salmoneus (Robert Trebor) prevent a war, Xena (Lucy Lawless) and Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) find themselves in the middle of a beauty pageant -- organized by the selfsame Salmoneus. At first convinced that it's all a false alarm, our heroines soon learn that a war is indeed on the verge of breaking out between three local regents, each of whom has entered a sexy contestant in the pageant. Realizing that an unknown party is trying to foment the hostilities, Xena "dresses down" to pose as a contestant, with Gabrielle impersonating her sponsor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, (more)
- 1997
Already on the run from a vengeful war lord, self-proclaimed king of thieves Autolycus (Bruce Campbell) is plagued by the suddenly deadly behavior of the lovable Joxer (Ted Raimi). Turns out that it's not Joxer at all, but instead his lookalike brother, Jett (Jeremy Birchall), a professional assassin. Together with Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor), Joxer and Autolycus must prevent Jett from carrying out his latest mission: the murder of Queen Cleopatra (Gina Torres). Of course, it would make matters easier if there was anyone who could tell Joxer and Jett apart.... ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, (more)
- 1997
Hoping to purge some more of her inner demons, Xena (Lucy Lawless) visits the site of a city burned down by her former warriors. Before long, Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) is captured by cannibals and Xena is seriously wounded while rescuing her friend. The only hope for Xena's survival is the legendary Healer of Mount Nestus. The first episode of a two-part story, "Destiny" is highlighted by a dazzling flashback sequence in which Xena relives the events leading up to her assuming the mantle of Warrior Princess. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, (more)
- 1997
In this Xena: Warrior Princess spin on the Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day, Xena's friend Joxer (Ted Raimi) is killed after getting enmeshed in a family feud. The next day, Joxer is killed again...and the same the next day, and the day after. Realizing that she is somehow trapped in an endlessly repeating time warp (and she's the only one who realizes it!), Xena (Lucy Lawless) must somehow alter events to set things aright. Alas, it is during another "new day" that Xena causes the death of another very close friend. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, (more)
- 1997
Xena (Lucy Lawless) once again faces destruction at the hands of war god Ares (Kevin Smith), who has formed a new and powerful army under warlord, Agathon (Jonno Roberts). With no other options, Xena and Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) must forge their own ragtag army, consisting of four condemned prisoners. Unfortunately, Ares has a distinct and dangerous advantage: newly forged armor and weapons that render Ares and his minions all but invulnerable. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, (more)
- 1997
The third season of Xena: Warrior Princess gets off to an ominous start when war god Ares (Kevin Smith) demands that Xena (Lucy Lawless) stand judgment before the Furies, charged with the "terrible crime" of leaving her father's murder unavenged. Her sentence: Giggling insanity and endless persecution. It is up to Xena's traveling companion, Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor), to rescue the Warrior Princess by identifying the murderer -- but before this can happen, the crazed Xena may well kill her own mother (Darien Takle). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, (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)
- 1997
Shipwrecked in a melee with pirates, Xena (Lucy Lawless) and Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) are separated. Gabrielle is subsequently "rescued" by Cecrops (Tony Todd), the captain of a ship that has been doomed to travel the seas forever by Poseidion (Charles Siebert). Even though anyone on board Cecrops' ship is doomed to die if he or she attempts to leave, Xena is determined to rescue Gabrielle -- a determination leading to a harrowing encounter with the infamous whirlpool Caribdus. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, (more)
- 1997
Bliss (Cameron Russel), the mischievous son of Cupid (Karl Urban), grabs his dad's bow and arrows and sets out to spread a little love all around. As a result of Bliss' -- er -- cupidity, Xena (Lucy Lawless) falls madly in love with her enemy, the warlord Draco (Jay Laga'aia); Draco is smitten by Xena's traveling companion, Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor); and Gabrielle goes gaga over the klutzy wannabe warrior Joxer (Ted Raimi). This was the final episode of Xena: Warrior Princess' second season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, (more)
- 1997
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Season three of Xena: Warrior Princess was the series' most eventful 22 episodes to date -- as well as the most mobile, with Xena (Lucy Lawless) and her friend and chronicler, Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor), traveling far and wide, from the British Isles to the far-off Orient. It is, in fact, during the ladies' odyssey to the land of "Chin" that the viewer learns more secrets of Xena's checkered past, including her "debt" to the philosopher Lao Ma -- and the birth of a son we never knew she had. In the season's lighter moments, teenaged warrior wannabe Tara (Shiri Appleby) tries to supplant Gabrielle as Xena's traveling companion. And everyone suffers from the comic intrusions of aspiring warrior Joxer (Ted Raimi), capricious Goddess of Love Aphrodite (Alexandra Tydings), and self-proclaimed King of Thieves Autolycus (Bruce Campbell). On the darker side, war god Ares (Kevin Smith) continues to be a thorn in Xena's side. Even more disturbing, Gabrielle is impregnated by the demonic god Dahuk, giving birth to a daughter ironically named Hope (Amy Morrison), who literally grows up before her eyes -- as the incarnation of pure evil. Hope ultimately kills Xena's son, Solan (David Taylor), briefly causing a bitter rift between the grieving mothers, and is herself killed -- twice. It is the second demise of Hope which also costs the life of Gabrielle, a tragedy on which Xena: Warrior Princess concludes its third season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, (more)
- 1996
Escaping from prison, ferocious female warrior Callisto (Hudson Leick) again prepares to wreak vengeance upon her mortal enemy, Xena (Renee O'Connor). Meanwhile, Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) joyously prepares for her marriage to Perdicus (Scott Garrison). When her lover is killed as the result of Callisto's rampage, Gabrielle demands that Xena teach her how to mete out deadly retribution. Unfortunately, both Gabrielle and Xena end up helpless and at Callisto's mercy, leaving only the bumbling Joxer (Ted Raimi) to come to the rescue. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, (more)
- 1996
Once again, series star Lucy Lawless essays the dual role of Xena and her lookalike, Princess Diana. To protect Diana as she prepares to assume the throne from her dying father, Xena switches places with the Princess, and vice versa. As a result, Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) and Joxer (Ted Raimi) become hopelessly confused -- and even more so when another Xena lookalike, a barmaid named Meg (played -- surprise, surprise -- by Lucy Lawless) arrives on the scene with an agenda of her own. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless
- 1996
Through a ruse, Callisto (Hudson Leick) switches bodies with her sworn enemy, Xena (Lucy Lawless), and returns to the world of the Living. Stuck in the nether world of Tartarus, Xena asks Hades (Erik Thompson), God of the Underworld, to be restored to life just long enough to prevent Callisto from wreaking havoc. Unfortunately, Callisto has already used her Xena incarnation to warp the mind of the hapless Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, (more)
- 1996
Still trapped in Callisto's body, Xena (here played by Hudson Leick, aka "Callisto") seeks out her old nemesis Ares (Kevin Smith), God of War, to reverse this phenomenon. Unfortunately, Ares insists that he has been stripped of his immortal powers because someone has stolen his sword. This leads to a competition for the "God of War" title on a remote island, complicated by the capriciousness of that old trickster Sisyphus (Charles Siebert). The fact that this episode was written to compensate for the absence of series star Lucy Lawless due to an injury sustained after falling off a horse is cheerfully acknowledged in the closing "disclaimer." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hudson Leick, Renee O'Connor, (more)
- 1996
The Winter Solstice won't be coming this year thanks to cranky old King Sylvius (Peter Vere-Jones), who has not only outlawed the holiday, but is poised to evict the local orphans. Xena (Lucy Lawless) is all for punching out Sylvius, but Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor), exhibiting the true Solstice Spirit, suggests another method of setting things right. All this leads to a dickens of a denouement, with the help of a local toy maker named Senticles (say all the syllables out loud) and the "timely" arrival of the Three Fates at the King's bedside. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, (more)
- 1996
Xena (Lucy Lawless) vanquishes two thugs who are in league with the warlord who killed her brother Lyceas -- the act that led her into the Warrior Princess "trade" years before. Vowing to track down the warlord himself, Xena discovers to her amazement that her brother is still alive. Alas, appearances are deceived, and the ultimate price to pay is even higher than anyone could have imagined. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, (more)
- 1996
Hudson Leick makes her first official series appearance as ferocious blonde warrior Callisto, who is forsworn to avenge her family's death at the hands of Xena's former army. Callisto sets her plan in motion by posing as Xena (Lucy Lawless) and committing random acts of terror in order to frame the ex-warrior princess for murder. When this plan falls through, Callisto kidnaps Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor), using the girl to lure Xena into a fatal trap. Also making his first Xena appearance is Ted Raimi as klutzy wannabe warrior Joxer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, (more)
Season two of Xena: Warrior Princess is noteworthy for several reasons, though two of these stand out above all the rest. The first was the promotion to full "regular" status of the series' principal comedy-relief character, a bumbling wannabe warrior named Joxer (Ted Raimi), who had previously shown up in the first-season installment "Callisto." The second occurred during the two-part adventure "Destiny"/"The Quest," in which heroine Xena (Lucy Lawless) actually died and was brought back to life -- one of several termination-resurrection scenarios which would proliferate in the seasons to come. A potential series-threatening crisis occurred in October 1996, when star Lucy Lawless fell from a horse during a publicity stunt staged for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Suffering a broken pelvis, the actress was forced to sit out several weeks of shooting, necessitating the hastily written episodes "Intimate Stranger" and "Ten Little Warlords," in which Xena's mind and soul was briefly "possessed" by the body of her arch-enemy Callisto (Hudson Leick). Deftly balancing dead-serious episodes (especially those wherein the usually pacifistic Gabrielle [Renee O'Connor] would toy with the notion of learning how to kill her enemies) with delightful excursions into comedy and whimsy (notably "Here She Comes? Miss Amphipolis" and "A Comedy of Eros"), Xena: Warrior Princess wrapped up its second season with 22 highly-rated installments. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, (more)
- 1996
En route to Athens, Xena (Lucy Lawless) and Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) find themselves in the thick of a battle fomented by two rival brothers. The women find shelter for the wounded, including their pregnant Amazon friend Ephiny (Danielle Cormack). In her efforts to cure the casualties in a healing temple and to end the bloodshed, Gabrielle is herself wounded -- perhaps fatally. This final episode of Xena: Warrior Princess' first season included a disclaimed which poked gentle fun at the excessive violence which obviously disturbed the series' American distributors. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, (more)
- 1996
Out of gratitude for saving their temple, the Three Fates offer Xena (Lucy Lawless) anything she wants. She asks that the Fates alter history so that her brother Lyceas will not be killed -- and that she will never become the evil Warrior Princess she once was. The wish is granted, with one condition: Should Xena kill anyone in her "new life," all things will return to what they were before. But what of Xena's friend and traveling companion Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor), who has likewise been altered in this Alternate Reality? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, (more)
- 1996
Season two of Xena: Warrior Princess finds Xena (Lucy Lawless) en route to Centaur, in search of a warlord who used to be one of her minions. The warlord wants to get his hands on a sacred stone protected by the Centaurs -- a stone with the power to bestow awesome and evil powers on whoever possesses it. As the story unfolds, Xena is unexpectedly reunited with her son, Solan (David Taylor) -- who is subsequently used as bait to lure the former Warrior Princess into a deadly trap. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, (more)
- 1996
Arriving in the land of the Bacchae, Xena (Renee O'Connor) and Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) are reunited with a klutzy wannabe warrior named Joxer (Ted Raimi). It turns out that Joxer has in his possession the head of Orpheus (Matthew Chamberlain), the only person capable of preventing Bacchus and his minions from ending their revelries and reverting to vampirism. While Xena and Joxer endeavor to reunite Orpheus with the rest of his body, Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) is inexorably drawn into the debauchery of the Bacchae females. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, (more)
- 1996
Xena (Lucy Lawless) is reunited with her old mercenary friend Goliath (Todd Rippon). When asked what he has been up to lately, Goliath explains that he has been hired by the Philistines to decimate the upstart Israelites. Initially on Goliath's side, Xena ultimately has reason to switch loyalties, thereby placing herself in the unenviable position of having to kill Goliath -- unless a certain young shepherd boy, recently befriended by Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor), takes a hand in matters. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, (more)
- 1996
Lucy Lawless appears in the dual role of Xena and her lookalike, Princess Diana, the daughter of King Lias (Norman Forsey). In a situation worthy of The Prisoner of Zenda, Xena endeavors to protect Diana from assassins by taking her place en route to a royal wedding. Meanwhile, Diana, posing as Xena, causes all sorts of confusion for poor Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, (more)
- 1996
In this Xena-styled spin on the spaghetti Western genre, a wounded man surrenders a parchment map leading to the lost treasure of the Sumerian Empire. Inasmuch as that treasure includes ambrosia, the substance that can turn humans into immortals, Xena (Lucy Lawless) and Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) decide to go prospecting. In order to find the treasure, Xena is forced to team up with a pair of unsavory characters -- one of whom had been her fiancé back in the Bad Old Days. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, (more)
