Lawless spent a couple of weeks in hospital, then went on The Tonight Show to laugh with Leno about it.

She was recently at the Burbank Airport Hilton for the first Hercules/Xena convention, a sold-out gathering that attracted 400 fans who dressed for the occasion in medieval costumes.

"I can't believe all the fuss," said Lawless, who signed autographs and posed for pictures with fans, both young and old.

Although Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is TV's top syndicated drama, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena aren't too far behind.

"There are very few women like Xena on TV," said fan Laura Drane, of Los Angeles. "She's funny and powerful."

Lawless flew in from New Zealand to appear at the convention, to do a guest spot for NBC's Something So Right (as herself) and meet and greet station managers in New Orleans at the National Association of Television Programme Executives convention.

Lawless has been back at work, with doubles handling her stunts. She hasn't gotten back on a horse, and "I'm not going to be pushed into it. I want to recover fully."

She looks back at her accident as a "bad dream--don't care to remember it."

It even brought Lawless and her daughter, Daisy, closer together.

"She's more proud of her mum now that the show is such a success," Lawless said.

"Originally, she hated it. She blamed Xena for the break-up of my marriage. But not anymore."

And Lawless on Xena's popularity: "There are alot of people out there who have suffered from some kind of abuse--women, gays, kids--and they all relate to Xena.

"She's always fighting the good fight."

Back to the Lucy Lawless Library

Back to the Xena Picture Library