One of the most shipped couples in TV history, Xena and Gabrielle, are finally getting back together.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: I’m getting slight goosebumps just seeing you two together on the same screen.
How did your onscreen reunion inMy Life Is Murdercome about?
Renee O’Connor and Lucy Lawless on ‘My Life Is Murder’.Matt Klitscher/AcornTV
She was like, “This is not gonna happen.”
I was like, “Oh, we’re bringing you, girlfriend!”
It’s a huge gift to them.
‘Xena: Warrior Princess’ alums Michael Hurst, Renee O’Connor, and Lucy Lawless reunite for Lawless' ‘My Life Is Murder.'.Matt Klitscher/AcornTV
Renee, what did you think when the overture was made for you to guest star?
By the time I came out of quarantine, it was Lucy’s birthday.
O’CONNOR:She did not have a clue!
Renee O’Connor and Lucy Lawless on ‘My Life Is Murder.'.Matt Klitscher/AcornTV
I finally had to take my mask off, [and thought], Lucy c’mon!
LAWLESS:Yeah, always.
And life just didn’t work out that way.
From left, Danielle Cormack, Alison Bruce, Lucy Lawless, and Renee O’Connor on “Xena: Warrior Princess.".Everett Collection
Because at this time of your life, there’s only love.
O’CONNOR:It felt that way on set too.
And it just felt like walking into Lucy’s living room and having friends over.
It was so charming and loving.
And it was like that all the way to the very end.
I actually had a little withdrawal when I finished filming.
LAWLESS:Did you?
O’CONNOR:I did!
O’CONNOR:Thank you, Lucy.
LAWLESS:It was incredible.
The whole episode is just to die for.
O’CONNOR:Lucy just kind of tingles off stage.
She’s constantly just throwing things [in] here and there just so it feels electric.
LAWLESS:Yeah a bit of ad-libbing goes on.
Renee, who are you playing inMy Life Is Murder?
O’CONNOR:Okay, she’s a cult leader.
It’s funny because I didn’t really know who I was playing until I was in quarantine.
It was a lovely homecoming, aye Ren?
O’CONNOR:Yeah, and Michael Hurst has the most enthusiasm of anyone that I know.
What’s the dynamic between your characters in the episode?
LAWLESS:And you could imagine that Alexa is taking this with many pinches of salt.
She’s there on a mission, she’s not there to improve herself.
[There’s] lots of snark.
Also, the person who plays Renee’s son in the episode is Renee’s [actual] son.
It was so thrilling, the stars aligned just right.
He’s a fine young actor and we managed to get him into the show.
I didn’t really think…
LAWLESS:Renee would never ask for anything.
Her family, they don’t expect any favors.
It was really lovely for me.
O’CONNOR:His name is Miles Muir.
LAWLESS:And I ran into him in the supermarket the other day.
O’CONNOR:That’s when he called me.
LAWLESS:Like a warm bath, baby!
It wasn’t like we were stuck in a certain mindset with our relationship to one another as actors.
We got to play dual roles and all kinds of things [onXena].
So, it was just more play.
It was cool, aye Ren?
O’CONNOR:Yeah, it was even better than I expected.
And it was all there for the taking.
Did you have to consciously get Xena and Gabrielle out of your minds?
O’CONNOR:Not at all.
LAWLESS:Probably, probably.
It doesn’t have to be put there for them to find it, buddy!
I don’t know.
I don’t think that was part of the writing.
So if it’s there, it’s because we just slipped it in because we’re like that.
That was something thatXena: Warrior Princesskinda had fun with.
LAWLESS:You know what, that was written into the DNA ofXena: Warrior Princessfrom the get-go.
It was only Renee and I who weren’t aware.
In this one, times have changed.
And also addressing the issuewe’re all learning about pronouns right now, so how to honor that idea?
Utilize that idea in a way that is intelligible to people who have never had any exposure?
And aren’t looking for a lesson, by the way.
It’s really challenging, but I think we pulled it off.
I’m very proud of that episode.
How do you feel about how Xena and Gabrielle’s status as queer icons?
I feel like, well, surely everybody’s forgotten about us by now?
LAWLESS:Yeah it’s much more subtle and deep and everything.
I’m really in awe of this generation, actuallythey’re fantastic.
Do people often ask you about a potentialXenareboot?
LAWLESS:Well, certainly pre-pandemic, they used to, all the time.
But nobody’s quite been able to write the script that does it in the modern idiom.
So, let’s see.
LAWLESS:Yeah, but it’s not going to beaboutthe relationship.
Or maybe it is?
Maybe it could be that.
Would they hold hands?
Get into big PDAs?
I dunno, I guess that’s in the hands of the creatives.
O’CONNOR:They wouldn’t be hiding for sure, they wouldn’t be in the closet.
They never were in the closet.
Ren and I’ll be playing like, we’ll be in a fruit stall or something.
We’ll be in the background in some bit part.
We’ll be the old lesbians in the corner.
O’CONNOR:We’ll be the oracles.
How often do you both hear about Xena and Gabrielle?
Are they a part of your daily life?
They could be the producer, they could be a musical director, they could be an actor.
It’s amazing to me how they’re all around.
But they’re peers, so it’s not the first thing they show when we meet.
Do you get that much of that Lucy?
LAWLESS:Well, in the days when I would travel, I would get that a lot.
Filipinos can pick me out if I’m lying under a sofa in a bloody train station.
Like, certain regions, depending on if they grew up with you.
Like in Italy or something those young thirty-somethings are gobsmacked that you’re walking past them on the street.
O’CONNOR:And a lot of young girls too.
And I say young, meaning for me, in their twenties.
I get a lot of that.
How closely have you two stayed in touch over the years?
LAWLESS:We have a relationship, which was…forged in the heat of battle.
O’CONNOR:Yes, Yes.
LAWLESS:Awww, that’s nice.
So yeah, we’ve got a lot of good people from that show.
And now that you’ve acted together again are you keen to do it again?
Because Renee has gotten better and better.
O’CONNOR:Oh man, thank you, Lucy.
LAWLESS:Yeah, I love what you did.
Stage work, I’ve always in the back of my mind wondering if Lucy would be available.
So this one really the first time it worked out and I’m hoping it’s not the last.
LAWLESS:No, no.
There’ll be many more.
And we get a really fun guest star in Martin Henderson [Virgin River,Grey’s Anatomy].
What a joy to have him available and willing to come and play my brother.
It was written to be my father.
And we all went, “Oh, that interesting.”
Because there’s a long way to go with a brother.
With a father, your relationship’s kind of done and dusted by the time you’re eight.
It’s all unpacking that.
But with a brother, it goes on and on and on.
How does being back in her hometown of Auckland affect Alexa’s investigative prowess?
LAWLESS:Oh she’s sharper than ever!
It’s the same show in a fresh environment.
It’s just so much fun.
The team really managed to kick it into high gear and make Auckland look like a bloody star.
Renee, did you watch season 1 prior to becoming involved?
O’CONNOR:Yes I did.
I saw a few faces that I recognize from theXenadays.
But I was really curious to see how it would change in Auckland.
It looks like any international city that you could visit and have multiple shopping experiences, tourism experiences.
It’s changed quite a bit…
LAWLESS:Since you were here?
O’CONNOR:Yeah, but you’re also capturing that in the show.
Lucy, I understand that you are personally a little bit obsessed with murder?
Can you expand on that?
LAWLESS:Yes, I do like true crime.
Well, actually, it’s not the crime, it’s the justice that I like.
Is that what drew you to this series?
LAWLESS:No, that’s coincidental I think really.
One’s entertaining and one is just tragic and banal and ugly, brutish, and stupid.
Usually, it’s stupidmurder is so stupid.
And we’re doing it in a beautiful setting with good-looking people and a little pseudo-family that you like.
And you get to have some armchair tourism.
So it’s this lovely little jewel box of an experience.
It’s great, it’s like turning our old relationship on its head.
