MisterMajestic
It ain't easy being King
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I was shocked Lucy was killed off @ the end of season 1...Glad the writers have seen the light..
Season 2 begins Tonight @ 10pm EST only on STARZ....
******************************************************************************************************************************
January 3, 2012
Interview: Lucy Lawless roars back to life with 'Spartacus: Vengeance'
Jorge Carreon
LA Personalities Examiner
Genre icon Lucy Lawless has amassed plenty of experience wielding swords and other symbols of empowerment. Yet, as the deliciously wicked and sexually voracious Lucretia, Lawless is relishing the chance to unleash a persona that is an unrepentant force of nature. Find out what the warrior princess truly loves about being the queen of the arena in this first part of a three-part series with the stars and creative team behind the provocative sword and sandals hit, Spartacus.
Proving you can never keep a bad girl down, only a character as maleficent as the nefarious Lucretia in Spartacus could survive being pierced in her womb. One of many operatic high notes in a series that has ripped open the envelope of mainstream entertainment, the epic rebellion that is Spartacus has spread to become a pop culture sensation.
Sure, the show’s unparalleled depiction of graphic violence and sexuality is enough to pique the interest of the casual viewer. Yet, audiences are staying in great numbers to relish this decadent vision of life in ancient Rome in part to see what the imperious Lucy Lawless will do next.
As the infamous Lucretia, often the instigator for some of the show’s most jaw-dropping moments, only a woman like Lawless could rival the muscle-bound hunks enslaved by the gladiators’ arena. So, how does such a delicious villain escape the sharp point of fate?
“She doesn't have the luxury of falling apart,” Lawless said with seductive glee.
Already a pop culture icon thanks to her star making turn as Xena: Warrior Princess, Lawless is no stranger to bringing a modern sensibility to classic archetypes. However, with all the decorative touches – both artistic and physical -- on display, it is her offering a deadly blend of brains and beauty that often steals the show.
“If I was in those times, I would be Lucretia. And I have no need to lie, cheat, steal or murder people in this life. But, I reckon if I lived in that environment, I would figure it out. Those are survival techniques.”
Taking on such a pivotal role has only broadened Lawless’ legion of fans, who eagerly tune in to watch the feverish machinations spawned by Lucretia and her husband Batiatus (portrayed by John Hannah). The couple often skirts the gray areas of morality in their dealings, which Lawless likens to the famed couple of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Yet, she refuses to judge the characters’ motivations or complex values.
“Is there morality in art?” Lawless pondered. “I don't know. I guess I try to approach this as art and as my craft, and morality? I check that at the door.”
While some critics of the Spartacus series take issue with its blood lust and overt carnality, Lawless refuses to let such comments diminish the true impact of its success. For many involved with the hit series, they are reflecting a mirror on an era that is no different than today. The subject proved a lively one for the actress, who held a glamorous court in Hollywood at a press event for the home video releases of Blood and Sand and Gods of the Arena, as well as the series' return with Vengeance. The 43 year-old native New Zealander was every bit a glamorous and charming as her Roman alter ego, fearlessly tackling a myriad of subjects relating to the series’ vision and impact.
“Maybe this is the pendulum swinging back towards the carnal, do you think?” Lawless countered. “That's pretty good. I like that. I don't know. I just leave all that stuff to you guys, to be all erudite about it.
Given the perils to avoid while working in the Hollywood arena, it goes without question that Lawless is a true expert in how survive and seduce an audience.
QUESTION: Was there any discussion about whether Lucretia would or would not come back after Blood and Sand?
LAWLESS: From the start, I was slated to die at the end of (episode) 13. We shot it both ways because they were on the fence a little bit. I think by the time we shot it, it was pretty clear that I'd come back. But, I always credit the press with keeping me alive because you guys showed up to interview me. They couldn't afford to get rid of me! Was it Terence (Roman playwright, 195/185-159 B.C.) who said, "I am a human being; nothing human can be alien to me?" If you dare to do these terrible things, but in a very human, believable way, people will relate to it. My mission is to take you through hell. We've shot some really, really crazy stuff in the last month and a half that I'm very proud of. I'm a little nervous how it's going to come off. I hope it's as good as it felt dreadful to make; because nothing makes me prouder than to take you through my experiences, good or bad. I see her just as extremely human and very vulnerable to attack. Therefore, she has to live by her wits. Fortunately she's got a lot of tools in her chest.
QUESTION: So, where do we find her in Vengeance?
LAWLESS: She's lost everything. She's bereft. And she's mad as batsh*t.
QUESTION: Lucretia follows her own moral code. What do you think motivates her relentless quest for power?
LAWLESS: She believes she is fulfilling a destiny, particularly in Vengeance. Do I agree with her? Well, I try to put myself in the shoes of every character I do. I think, “This is who I would be if I were back in ancient Rome.” That's why you understand her so well in the beginning of the prequel (Gods of the Arena). She seems so reasonable and so normal and somebody that you could actually be friends with. Then you watch her as life gets her all twisted up and her very need for survival makes her seem wicked. There are very few purely evil people on the planet, right? They say we're only six meals away from being complete animals, anyway. You'd be fighting over water holes in many places in the world. No doubt, I would fight you to the death for a bottle of water if this is all that's left. Even though, once you've drunk it, it's like killing the dodo. But that's the truth of it, isn't it? Life expectancy was so short in those days. She survives one day, only to die another. It's pretty futile when you think about it like that, but such is life.
QUESTION: Despite the dark shades of Lucretia, you do manage to find moments for some rich comedy.
LAWLESS: I love comedy and that's always my inclination to go in that direction. I want to make things a joke. You can't on this show, because then it's not fun. I'm really enjoying being in this voyeuristic groove. I am beginning to feel like I am living the character's existence, especially starting in Vengeance. She's a little bit more on the receiving end of people's behavior. She's always been on the receiving end, actually. She's just keeping alive with all the sharks coming at her. She's swimming for her life. And, she's a purely reactive human being.
QUESTION: Is it gratifying that the male body is sexualized for once?
LAWLESS: It's not gratifying. But it's like equal opportunity of exploitation. Is that it? [LAUGHS] Yeah. Pretty much, yeah. You don't think so? Why?
QUESTION: Perhaps, the female body is always in a vulnerable position...
LAWLESS: Right, because it's the receptacle. That's why. No? Go on. Make your point.
QUESTION: But women in these circumstances are treated differently.
LAWLESS: That's interesting, yes, though there was a young boy in the first season, a very young man who was predated upon. That's an extremely vulnerable thing. But it is a story and it does happen in human existence. That was something that they were going to express in our show. You're right, because a female carries the next line. That's why I'm not comfortable, even though I consider myself a modern woman and open-minded, I'm not comfortable doing nude scenes because my genetic makeup is that "This is something to be protected. I'm not going to have sex with somebody I'm not attracted to, in front of all these people and, that I have to protect myself because it's about the progeny." My cringe factor in doing these things is about my DNA, about my animal makeup and my design is to protect that. I think only trauma in young ages can make you impervious to it, which is a very sad thing. But I think that's more to do with our animal body than the design of the show. That's all right. It's about how you received it rather than how it's portrayed.
QUESTION: Do you support the manner in which the women are portrayed on the show?
LAWLESS: I don't even think that way. For you guys to describe me or for the audience to describe me is not really my interest. Because you will describe her, and I'll go, "That's nothing. That has no bearing on the way it feels on the inside to play this character." I'm just going to keep doing what I do and leave the inferences to you. That's your prerogative as an audience. But I bloody love her. I love her.
QUESTION: How do you all decompress from the extreme nature of the show? Are you afforded any chances to break character once in a while?
LAWLESS: I did a show out in space, Battlestar Galactica. It's bloody dark. There's nothing green. There's nothing comfortable to sit on. It's dark inside in the room, plus it's Vancouver, so all through the winter it's pretty dark outside. They're lovely people. It's lovely in Vancouver, but something about the darkness in space is very repressive to the human spirit. Xena was bright and really cheerful and really fun. This show is a little bit more towards the fun, because it's heightened reality. It's all that blood. Also, we've got the green screen. Big, massive green curtains, which gives the verisimilitude of nature, which is totally different. It's the opposite of Battlestar. Human bodies don't want to be out in space. Don't go there. Don't do it. It is hell. Yeah. So, it's joyful where you have nature and it’s fun.
QUESTION: What can you tell us about the new Spartacus, Liam McIntyre?
LAWLESS: He is a lion-hearted fellow. You've got to be pretty tough to take to accept that role. He takes it seriously. He's also a delightful being, so I think the audience is going to accept and welcome him in, as we have. We want to be really supportive of him.
QUESTION: Have you had a chance to think of life beyond Spartacus?
LAWLESS: Our show takes a really long time to film, 10 episodes in nine months. It's a really long year, so it's difficult to find something. But I'm at home and it's a nice lifestyle.
QUESTION: What other changes are in store once Vengeance comes to air?
LAWLESS: What really changed the dynamic is that they broke out after that terrible massacre where Ilithyia (portrayed by Viva Bianca) bolted the door. That bitch has got it coming. [LAUGHS] So much is coming down the pike. What changed it is that they broke out. Now there's a different dynamic. Because they used to have, what they call in Britain, "upstairs, downstairs." And you haven't got that pressure cooker of everybody being under the same house. That really worried me, especially with John Hannah gone (as Batiatus). It's like the tent pole being pulled out of the tent. But in its place we still have Lucretia. We have Liam as Spartacus. And we have Ilithyia and her husband who are our new pillars of our world. And they're incredible. Viva Bianca. Great woman. I wish you could all meet her. The chickens come home to roost in Vengeance!
Spartacus: Vengeance returns to Starz on January 27. Spartacus: Blood and Sand and Gods of the Arena are now available on DVD and Blu-ray.
Season 2 begins Tonight @ 10pm EST only on STARZ....
******************************************************************************************************************************
January 3, 2012
Interview: Lucy Lawless roars back to life with 'Spartacus: Vengeance'
Jorge Carreon
LA Personalities Examiner
Genre icon Lucy Lawless has amassed plenty of experience wielding swords and other symbols of empowerment. Yet, as the deliciously wicked and sexually voracious Lucretia, Lawless is relishing the chance to unleash a persona that is an unrepentant force of nature. Find out what the warrior princess truly loves about being the queen of the arena in this first part of a three-part series with the stars and creative team behind the provocative sword and sandals hit, Spartacus.
Proving you can never keep a bad girl down, only a character as maleficent as the nefarious Lucretia in Spartacus could survive being pierced in her womb. One of many operatic high notes in a series that has ripped open the envelope of mainstream entertainment, the epic rebellion that is Spartacus has spread to become a pop culture sensation.
Sure, the show’s unparalleled depiction of graphic violence and sexuality is enough to pique the interest of the casual viewer. Yet, audiences are staying in great numbers to relish this decadent vision of life in ancient Rome in part to see what the imperious Lucy Lawless will do next.
As the infamous Lucretia, often the instigator for some of the show’s most jaw-dropping moments, only a woman like Lawless could rival the muscle-bound hunks enslaved by the gladiators’ arena. So, how does such a delicious villain escape the sharp point of fate?
“She doesn't have the luxury of falling apart,” Lawless said with seductive glee.
Already a pop culture icon thanks to her star making turn as Xena: Warrior Princess, Lawless is no stranger to bringing a modern sensibility to classic archetypes. However, with all the decorative touches – both artistic and physical -- on display, it is her offering a deadly blend of brains and beauty that often steals the show.
“If I was in those times, I would be Lucretia. And I have no need to lie, cheat, steal or murder people in this life. But, I reckon if I lived in that environment, I would figure it out. Those are survival techniques.”
Taking on such a pivotal role has only broadened Lawless’ legion of fans, who eagerly tune in to watch the feverish machinations spawned by Lucretia and her husband Batiatus (portrayed by John Hannah). The couple often skirts the gray areas of morality in their dealings, which Lawless likens to the famed couple of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Yet, she refuses to judge the characters’ motivations or complex values.
“Is there morality in art?” Lawless pondered. “I don't know. I guess I try to approach this as art and as my craft, and morality? I check that at the door.”
While some critics of the Spartacus series take issue with its blood lust and overt carnality, Lawless refuses to let such comments diminish the true impact of its success. For many involved with the hit series, they are reflecting a mirror on an era that is no different than today. The subject proved a lively one for the actress, who held a glamorous court in Hollywood at a press event for the home video releases of Blood and Sand and Gods of the Arena, as well as the series' return with Vengeance. The 43 year-old native New Zealander was every bit a glamorous and charming as her Roman alter ego, fearlessly tackling a myriad of subjects relating to the series’ vision and impact.
“Maybe this is the pendulum swinging back towards the carnal, do you think?” Lawless countered. “That's pretty good. I like that. I don't know. I just leave all that stuff to you guys, to be all erudite about it.
Given the perils to avoid while working in the Hollywood arena, it goes without question that Lawless is a true expert in how survive and seduce an audience.
QUESTION: Was there any discussion about whether Lucretia would or would not come back after Blood and Sand?
LAWLESS: From the start, I was slated to die at the end of (episode) 13. We shot it both ways because they were on the fence a little bit. I think by the time we shot it, it was pretty clear that I'd come back. But, I always credit the press with keeping me alive because you guys showed up to interview me. They couldn't afford to get rid of me! Was it Terence (Roman playwright, 195/185-159 B.C.) who said, "I am a human being; nothing human can be alien to me?" If you dare to do these terrible things, but in a very human, believable way, people will relate to it. My mission is to take you through hell. We've shot some really, really crazy stuff in the last month and a half that I'm very proud of. I'm a little nervous how it's going to come off. I hope it's as good as it felt dreadful to make; because nothing makes me prouder than to take you through my experiences, good or bad. I see her just as extremely human and very vulnerable to attack. Therefore, she has to live by her wits. Fortunately she's got a lot of tools in her chest.
QUESTION: So, where do we find her in Vengeance?
LAWLESS: She's lost everything. She's bereft. And she's mad as batsh*t.
QUESTION: Lucretia follows her own moral code. What do you think motivates her relentless quest for power?
LAWLESS: She believes she is fulfilling a destiny, particularly in Vengeance. Do I agree with her? Well, I try to put myself in the shoes of every character I do. I think, “This is who I would be if I were back in ancient Rome.” That's why you understand her so well in the beginning of the prequel (Gods of the Arena). She seems so reasonable and so normal and somebody that you could actually be friends with. Then you watch her as life gets her all twisted up and her very need for survival makes her seem wicked. There are very few purely evil people on the planet, right? They say we're only six meals away from being complete animals, anyway. You'd be fighting over water holes in many places in the world. No doubt, I would fight you to the death for a bottle of water if this is all that's left. Even though, once you've drunk it, it's like killing the dodo. But that's the truth of it, isn't it? Life expectancy was so short in those days. She survives one day, only to die another. It's pretty futile when you think about it like that, but such is life.
QUESTION: Despite the dark shades of Lucretia, you do manage to find moments for some rich comedy.
LAWLESS: I love comedy and that's always my inclination to go in that direction. I want to make things a joke. You can't on this show, because then it's not fun. I'm really enjoying being in this voyeuristic groove. I am beginning to feel like I am living the character's existence, especially starting in Vengeance. She's a little bit more on the receiving end of people's behavior. She's always been on the receiving end, actually. She's just keeping alive with all the sharks coming at her. She's swimming for her life. And, she's a purely reactive human being.
QUESTION: Is it gratifying that the male body is sexualized for once?
LAWLESS: It's not gratifying. But it's like equal opportunity of exploitation. Is that it? [LAUGHS] Yeah. Pretty much, yeah. You don't think so? Why?
QUESTION: Perhaps, the female body is always in a vulnerable position...
LAWLESS: Right, because it's the receptacle. That's why. No? Go on. Make your point.
QUESTION: But women in these circumstances are treated differently.
LAWLESS: That's interesting, yes, though there was a young boy in the first season, a very young man who was predated upon. That's an extremely vulnerable thing. But it is a story and it does happen in human existence. That was something that they were going to express in our show. You're right, because a female carries the next line. That's why I'm not comfortable, even though I consider myself a modern woman and open-minded, I'm not comfortable doing nude scenes because my genetic makeup is that "This is something to be protected. I'm not going to have sex with somebody I'm not attracted to, in front of all these people and, that I have to protect myself because it's about the progeny." My cringe factor in doing these things is about my DNA, about my animal makeup and my design is to protect that. I think only trauma in young ages can make you impervious to it, which is a very sad thing. But I think that's more to do with our animal body than the design of the show. That's all right. It's about how you received it rather than how it's portrayed.
QUESTION: Do you support the manner in which the women are portrayed on the show?
LAWLESS: I don't even think that way. For you guys to describe me or for the audience to describe me is not really my interest. Because you will describe her, and I'll go, "That's nothing. That has no bearing on the way it feels on the inside to play this character." I'm just going to keep doing what I do and leave the inferences to you. That's your prerogative as an audience. But I bloody love her. I love her.
QUESTION: How do you all decompress from the extreme nature of the show? Are you afforded any chances to break character once in a while?
LAWLESS: I did a show out in space, Battlestar Galactica. It's bloody dark. There's nothing green. There's nothing comfortable to sit on. It's dark inside in the room, plus it's Vancouver, so all through the winter it's pretty dark outside. They're lovely people. It's lovely in Vancouver, but something about the darkness in space is very repressive to the human spirit. Xena was bright and really cheerful and really fun. This show is a little bit more towards the fun, because it's heightened reality. It's all that blood. Also, we've got the green screen. Big, massive green curtains, which gives the verisimilitude of nature, which is totally different. It's the opposite of Battlestar. Human bodies don't want to be out in space. Don't go there. Don't do it. It is hell. Yeah. So, it's joyful where you have nature and it’s fun.
QUESTION: What can you tell us about the new Spartacus, Liam McIntyre?
LAWLESS: He is a lion-hearted fellow. You've got to be pretty tough to take to accept that role. He takes it seriously. He's also a delightful being, so I think the audience is going to accept and welcome him in, as we have. We want to be really supportive of him.
QUESTION: Have you had a chance to think of life beyond Spartacus?
LAWLESS: Our show takes a really long time to film, 10 episodes in nine months. It's a really long year, so it's difficult to find something. But I'm at home and it's a nice lifestyle.
QUESTION: What other changes are in store once Vengeance comes to air?
LAWLESS: What really changed the dynamic is that they broke out after that terrible massacre where Ilithyia (portrayed by Viva Bianca) bolted the door. That bitch has got it coming. [LAUGHS] So much is coming down the pike. What changed it is that they broke out. Now there's a different dynamic. Because they used to have, what they call in Britain, "upstairs, downstairs." And you haven't got that pressure cooker of everybody being under the same house. That really worried me, especially with John Hannah gone (as Batiatus). It's like the tent pole being pulled out of the tent. But in its place we still have Lucretia. We have Liam as Spartacus. And we have Ilithyia and her husband who are our new pillars of our world. And they're incredible. Viva Bianca. Great woman. I wish you could all meet her. The chickens come home to roost in Vengeance!
Spartacus: Vengeance returns to Starz on January 27. Spartacus: Blood and Sand and Gods of the Arena are now available on DVD and Blu-ray.
