Xena: Warrior Princess Official Magazine #10 September 2000

Blond Ambition
by Kate Barker

As season six of Xena: Warrior Princess enters production, Renee O'Connor returns to the side of her best friend and companion, Xena, as bard-cum-warrior Gabrielle. In a revealing chat with Kate Barker during filming of the opening episode, Heart of Darkness, the actress waxes lyrical about her alter ego's development, the subtext and wearing Joxer's hat...


Xena Magazine: Let's start with your history, for those of us who don't know it: did you always plan to become an actor, and how did it all start?
Renee O'Connor: Ha - I was just crazy! No -originally I think a friend of mine made the suggestion that because I was sort of shy and quiet, acting would help me break out of my shell a bit. That was when I was really young -at least before I was ten. I just started dabbling in theatrical activities and that was it: I got the bug!

Where did you study acting?
There were probably two turning points in my acting training. Besides the performing arts high school that I went to in Houston, the first one was going to the Alley Theatre in Houston, where they had a children's programme. They encouraged you to write your own plays, make your own costumes and produce. We were able to use all the technical capabilities that the adults used in their repertory theatre. It was a wonderful environment for creativity.
That was the beginning; that nurtured my creative desires. Later on when I started looking at acting as a professional career that I would want to continue for a lifetime, I went and studied with an acting coach in Los Angeles who changed my view of how to approach acting and changed everything I was doing. It was great!

Is it true that one of your earliest jobs involved dressing up as a Porky Pig character at a local theme park?
Yes! It was my first job -at the age of sixteen, when you're actually considered as an adult and can legally work in the system. I applied for a job at an amusement park as a costumed character. They had dancing auditions so I went and danced away, having had no dancing experience, and they actually cast me. To my horror, later on I would be wearing this Porky Pig outfit with this giant ceramic head that was as wide as my body. One day the little snap broke in the head and it started revolving. All these little children just stopped clapping and cheering, and looked in horror at this Exorcist Porky Pig head going around and around!

You guest starred as Laura Sue Dean in an episode of the television show The Rockford Files. Did you audition for this role or had somebody seen you in something else and just decided to cast you?
I've always auditioned for everything! Nothing's ever been given to me except for Rob Tapert offering me the lead role [of Laurie Brinkman] in Darkman. That was the only time I've actually been offered anything.
I auditioned for the character [of Laura Sue Dean] and immediately understood how precious and self-centered she was. To me that was quite a funny way to live, so I just understood the comedy around that.

Did your appearance as Deianeira in Hercules and the Lost Kingdom represent your first association with the Renaissance team or had you known some of them before?
The first time I met the entire Renaissance crew was with the Hercules telemovie, and it was just a fluke. I received the audition piece the same afternoon I went in, and I think the casting director just called me in as an afterthought! He liked my readings, and he said, "Why don't you look at this other piece and come back in about an hour?" It worked out that I could come back, so I did this other piece and it ended up being one of those lucky things.

Do you think that role influenced your being asked back to audition for Gabrielle?
I believe Rob was pleased with that character, which inspired him to create a sidekick for Xena who was similar to Deianeira. I don't think that I was the person he had in mind. My personality and looks were similar to what he wanted, but it basically came down to an audition and being lucky enough that I worked out. Rob pushed for me; not everyone was convinced that I would be appropriate for this character, but he just kept insisting that I was the one. So there you go.

Do you remember the audition for Gabrielle?
I remember a room full of people -who I've obviously gotten to know over the years -being a very easy audience. It wasn't too awful. They were very sincere in their laughter! I have to say that overall the audition process is a nerve-racking experience; it doesn't matter how old or how experienced you are, it's difficult for everyone. But I knew Rob going into it, so that seemed to help. I had someone who I could see smiling and go, "okay, this is working." So that was good.

Before you started work on Xena, did you get to meet Lucy or any of the other actors and crew on the show?
I met with Lucy once before I was actually cast as Gabrielle. She was the only person who I knew would be on the show.

Did you know much about Greek mythology before Xena?
I was a fan of Greek mythology in high school. I loved how dramatic all the women were, like the Greek chorus on the sidelines. For some reason I latched onto Greek mythology more than I did Shakespeare or any other form of literature. So when I realised that Xena was going to show its personal view of what the playwrites wrote, by incorporating this fictitious character, I thought it was humorous. I mean, it's a great way to create a modern look at the classics. I was never offended by it and I think some people were maybe a bit pedantic and worried we would shatter the image of a classic. Maybe we just have a warped sense of humour; that's probably what it is!

The inside view

Renee O'Connor offers her take on that all-important subject: the show's subtext. "It's funny, because we're talking about six years [since the original concept]. It was very early on in the show that I think we added remarks for titillation. But the most important aspect of the show is that Xena has a friend - who happens to be a woman - who she relies on more than any other person in the world, and they have a loving friendship. To me, that's more important than whether or not they are having sex. I mean, that's what it's all about. It cuts through the prejudices; these people would do anything for each other." "I'm sure all the rest is just speculation and sort of exciting to think about, but I don't think we need to address it. It ruins the show if we say yea or nay. Also, that's what's exciting about it as well: everyone can watch the show and see an aspect of themselves in the characters. If we were to say, "Yes there is subtext", or "No there isn't", it might alienate people, and that just seems unfair." "A lot of people can't handle the fact that there might be a relationship there that thay can't identify with or personalise, so it's best to just let everyone see what they want. It's about love... and that's universal."

First there was Hope, then Eve, and then the way Gabrielle had to deal with the Eve storyline in the fifth season... It must have required a different mindset to take the character into that protector type of role.
Yeah, that's what I definitely think we saw Gabrielle doing last year. I mean, obviously Xena was capable of defending herself and her baby, but Gabrielle -who's our little loyal friend -felt she had to get in there and help out as much as she could. It definitely explored a strengthened side of Gabrielle that she could take on and have the desire to take on as many people in battle as she had to in order to protect her family. That's been a first, I'm sure. She stopped asking Xena if she needed any help and just jumped in when she could.
- Actually, I take that back; I don't think Gabrielle's ever really asked if Xena needs help. What's so endearing about her is that she just loves Xena and everything that Xena represents so fully that she will do everything she can to be with her.

Do you think the dynamics of the relationship between the two characters has changed or strengthened because of that?
I can't really speak for Lucy, but I think of anything it proves a relationship where Xena can be more dependent on a person than she has ever been in her life; because she has a sidekick who can hold her own and help out in situations. She's never had that before. It does make Xena more vulnerable, though. I mean, she now has a daughter and a friend who she cares about. The more people that she invests in emotionally, the more vulnerable she is as a warrior.

What are your overall impressions of the fifth season?
It was probably the ballsiest -I don't know if that's a proper word -or the most staunch that I've ever seen Gabrielle. She hasn't been going through any emotional turmoil in the last year. However, she is balancing the idea of being a bard versus being a mini-warrior, and she's trying to become as strong as Xena. That's about as convoluted and complicated as she became, and that's been pretty easy really.

Can you give us any hints about what's coming up in the sixth season?
I haven't a clue what we're doing this year! I think some of it's about trying to discover how Gabrielle will balance it all, because she realises she's not a pragmatic warrior like Xena. She still feels that burden of killing a person in cold blood. That is distressing to her. So we're trying to find a way to balance all the years together in one person. I do know that we're trying to have Gabrielle be the more sympathetic person of the pair, like she used to be. So we're exploring a new way to justify that transition. We're just getting started, so that's as much as I know at the moment! Lucy and I are just excited that we're here, possibly for our last year...

How do you feel about that? Would you want the series to continue, do a couple of Xena movies, or would you rather do something completely different?
I'm the type of person who likes to go out on a high. I feel we've explored the characters in so many ways that if this is our last year it's a wonderful opportunity for us to unite and be thankful as actresses for the blessing that we've had in this show.

The Right Directory

Following her recent directorial debut with the season four Xena episode Déja Vu All Over Again, O'Connor ponders her directorial career. "I used to think that I would always just direct, but it's one of those things where you a stage and you think maybe you're not quite satisfied in your acting work so you want to pursue something else. I realise now that if I do have a career in directing, which would be cool, I'll always keep the acting going because I love it so much. So I think directing is complemetary to my acting." "I received the script for Déja Vu All Over Again just before Christmas [1998], so I had time over Christmas to basically make decisions on what genre I wanted to create with this episode. All that's very self-explanatory within the writing, but as a director you can still sort of create a mood in an episode. So I was able to think about all that before I saw Lucy and Ted and the others. I told them what goals I had and they were wonderful -they were so trusting! I couldn't believe it!" "It was an experiment for me in the style of comey. it's amazing what a director can do; a director can create power ib characters, they can create a sense of adventure... They basically create the entire environment with the camera and also with the setting that the actors are in when they work. I'm still learning all of that, but acting is like a great challenge for me that I'll never feel I can grasp and say 'Yes, I know how to do that.'" "It's a growing experience every time."

You've obviously enjoyed working on the show. How does it feel knowing you've been doing this for over five years now?
I'ts always a surprise that we've had such a successful run. Obviously I look at it as a wonderful situation that I've been placed in. As an actor, having this sort of work is ideal and mostly unheard of. But when the occational moment comes around when I'm not working on the show and I can step back and say, "What is this show about and how does it affect me as a person who's not involved?", I do find it inspiring for women. Lucy in herself -as herself- is very much like Xena in that she does try to do it all, but I won't go into it all that or it'll sound too sentimental! I just find that the show has been a wonderful tool for empowering women. It has effected me even more than I probably realise. I'd like to walk away knowing that we did our best for six years, and hopefully that will be the case.
It'll be ten years from now when I'll go back and look at all the episodes of the show, and realise, "Oh of course -that's what it's about!"

There have certainly been some trying times for your characters over the last five years. Does the intensity affect you in any way?
I have to say that any time I have an episode or story that Gabrielle tells which is heavy or dark in some way, it tends to bother me. I tend to subconsiously carry it a bit in my mind. For instance, I'll see things throughout the day that will remind me of what she's going through or of her story. Otherwise, it doesn't affect my personal relationships; I'm capable of dropping stuff and going home.

How easy is it for you to debrief yourself once you leave the set for the day?
I think it all depends on your day! I'm very fortunate to have someone who I can come home to and talk to about something besides Xena, and that's really helpful. I do have a life -somewhat of a life- after the show ends each day, so that keeps me fairly grounded.

How does it feel being engaged through all this and anticipating getting married?
It's been so exciting because I've been planning everything for the last months while I've been in the United States and since I've been back here in New Zealand. It's made me think about my future: where will we live when the show's over, do we start a family right away; do I continue acting? It's hard for women to try to juggle a family and a career at the same time, and I've just been thinking about it all.

Of course, Lucy can do it.
Yeah, she can. But Lucy's not the average woman! No, that sounds wrong; Lucy's quite a strong-willed person and she manages to do it all, but I don't think it's easy for her and I don't think it's easy for a lot of women. I'm just getting ready to take on the challenge and get myself psyched up! I would definitely like to carry on with my own projects -I want to start a family -so there's a lot gong on and it's about time I thought about these other things.

What other things do you think you'd be doing if you hadn't landed this role?
I'm sure I'd still be in California, but then I wouldn't have met my fiancé. I wouldn't have all these wonderful friends that I have here in New Zealand. I wouldn't have that culture of living in another country that is ingrained in my blood now. I have a much more worldly outlook on politics, religion and many other things. I also think the show encourages a global way of thinking, which I've been inspired by.
I mean, every day is such a bizarre adventure; next week we're going off on a boat around the islands again, and Gabrielle uses her Indian dancing to entertain... There are just so many weird and wonderful situations.

No Hope

One of the strangest memories Renee O'Connor has of her time in Xena is the scene in Gabrielle's Hope (Sacrifice I-transcriptor's note) in which Hope emerges from her cocoon. So what on earth was that stuff she was covered in? "That was Elmer's glue! Elmer's glue and plastic wrap, wrapped around me several times. It was fantastic!" "It was funny, because while they were slapping the glue on, I felt like a wall, with everybody applying the wallpaper! I was just covered in this white stuff and it was quite cold. But as I started to play with this plastic material that they had draped over me, it became quite fun." "It didn't take very long to film the scene. They were pretty good to me! It was maybe an hour at the most, so it wasn't that bad." "As for the application -you know fast-turnaround television: you have to have everything done in a couple of minutes. Two guys -and Barbara, the make-up artist for my character- put it on in about fifteen minutes." "To take it off took one quick shower -a very hot one! It was water-soluble. Well, obviously it was, since I'm not wearing it now!"

If you could play any other character in the Xenaverse, who would it be?
Joxer! That would be funny! Ted and I should swap roles. I prefer doing comedies.
Actually, I just want to wear his hat!

Talking of comedy, what is it actually like on the Xena set? Do you play practical jokes, hang out together, make it fun for each other?
We've had so many important people leave the show lately that we've been creating crew gifts for people. When Ted Raimi left, we developed this photo album where everyone wore his Joxer hat. Poor guy -he said, "You guys have just been tortured like I have." When our Director of Photography left, Donny Duncan, we all took photos of ourselves in the black Cleopatra wig, so we had some cross-gender effects going on there! Those were really projects we've had as a group where we've anticipated something and put it together; it's been this sort of united front. It's really felt like a family.
With Lucy, I take little pieces of her hair and cut it when she's not looking; I stuff dirty socks in her boots so she has to pull them out every morning... actually, I don't do any of those things. You know that, right?

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