TO THE LETTER OF THE LAWLESS!

She shot to fame playing the fearless Xena: Warrior Princess in the iconic 1990s series. Now two decades on, leading actress Lucy opens up about her death-defying stunts, the finale that disappointed fans and why playing a cat-loving detective in the new crime drama My Life is Murder is so liberating... aside from ditching the leather corset!

- By Alison James

IF THE 1990s had a Mount Rushmore of TV icons, the face of Lucy Lawless would be chiselled right next to Mr Blobby, David Duchovny and the Fresh Prince with his sideways cap. From 1995 to 2001, Lucy played the title role in Xena: Warrior Princess. With her trademark glass-shattering battle cry, the leather-clad New Zealander chucked her hoop-shaped "chakram" around Ancient Greece, righting the wrongs she'd once inflicted as a ruthless warlord.

After Xena ended in 2001, Lawless popped up in Battlestar Galactica, Spartacus and Parks and Recreation. And now she's smashing it as cat-loving ex-detective Alexa Crowe in the Auckland-set tongue-in-cheek crime drama My Life is Murder.

Think Midsomer Murders, but smarter, sarcastic and, quite frankly, pretty badass. It is murder mystery meets feminist noir with a trendy flat white coffee and trench coat thrown in.

"Alexa is one of the few 'real' women I've ever played, and it's truly liberating", explains Lucy.

"I get to wear modern clothing for a start, which is so great after all those corsets.

"Let me tell you, elastic makes such a difference! Alexa is pretty much me as the show was written with me in mind.

"I'm also acting in my native Kiwi accent which has been a rarity for me.

"In some ways that's just as liberating as not wearing a corset. I'm also a cat woman although I don't have one at the moment - probably because I have an enormous dog right now."

Lucy shares top billing in the series with a silent costar the city of Auckland itself. The show is rather like a love letter to New Zealand's largest city.

"I'm glad you've mentioned that," she says. "In New Zealand, Auckland is considered to be a bit big, a bit ugly and a bit forgettable. But it has some amazing parts and, yes, it does look sexy and scenic and modern on My Life is Murder.

"I really get a kick out of sharing my beautiful hometown with the world."