How Lucy Lawless’ racy lesbian scenes in Xena: Warrior Princess made her a gay icon

Lucy Lawless, the star of Xena: Warrior Princess, was a household name in the 90s thanks to her role in the fantasy series.

And due to her character’s steamy lesbian scenes, she also became a gay icon. Lawless, 56, who last starred as the racy hero 23 years ago today (June 18), shocked viewers with risqué scenes alongside co-star Renee O’Connor, who played her sidekick Gabrielle, from the first season of the show

She took things up a notch in Spartacus: Gods of the Arena. However, it was Xena’s ambiguous romantic relationship with her travelling companion that led to Lawless becoming a lesbian icon a status she has since expressed immense pride in.

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In one scene, viewers see Xena and Gabrielle’s clothes hanging off a bush, followed by a pan shot revealing the pair naked in a lake.

The scene is filled with innuendo, bordering on the X-rated. Xena tells her friend: “Come on Gabrielle, you’ve been wanting to do this for ages.”

Xena then instructs: “Just reach under this rock, give it your best shot.”

Gabrielle takes a deep breath and dives underwater as the camera switches back to Xena, who flashes a suggestive smile.

As the sexy undertones reach fever pitch, Gabrielle emerges from under the water, revealing she was trying to catch a fish all along.

The cheeky scene was cut short when a lad dashed by, chased by a baddie, and Xena had to step in birthday suit and all.

Lucy Lawless previously spilled the beans to Stellar magazine, confirming that Xena and her sidekick were indeed a couple: “That’s where the characters settled. At first, even [Renee O’Connor and I] didn’t see that coming, but the producers and writers knew what they were doing.

“And it doesn’t even matter. Who cares any more? Gay is part of normal. I know in other parts of the world this is still a new concept but, for god’s sake, we just want total equality.”

Lawless admitted that during her stint as the warrior princess, she was on the fence about Xena’s love life.

However, in a 2003 talk with Lesbian News magazine, she declared that after watching the show’s final episode, it hit her: Xena and Gabrielle were totally an item, saying “they’re married, man”.

Her status as a queer icon was set in stone after her racy “graphic lesbian sex scenes” in Spartacus: Gods of the Arena.

When Lucy Lawless grabbed the role of Lucretia in the Starz! series, she definitely turned heads.

The show was jam-packed with steamy scenes, including some pretty wild romps, and Lawless was right in the thick of it, starring in a number of sizzling lesbian encounters.

In a surprising twist, the series was produced by her husband, Rob Tapert of Evil Dead fame. Following Spartacus, Lawless starred in Spartacus: Gods of the Arena.

Beyond her on-screen roles, she has also been a prominent figure in the LGBT community, making appearances at events such as the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

Her advocacy for LGBT rights, including public support for same-sex marriage, earned her the Star 100-Ally of the Year award at the Australian LGBTI Awards ceremony in 2017.

Currently, Lucy Lawless resides in her native New Zealand with husband Tapert and their three children.

Although she hasn’t been seen as much on screen in recent years, she premiered her directorial debut, Never Look Away, at the Sundance Film Festival in January this year.

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk