Lucy Lawless has been a feminist icon and role model for girls/women since her long-running turn as "Xena: Warrior Princess" from 1995 to 2001. Now, she's returning to her butt-kicking ways on this season's "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."
Lawless plays Agent Isabelle "Izzy" Hartley who is tasked with helping Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) rebuild S.H.I.E.L.D. after it has been infiltrated and left in shambles by the evil terrorist group known as Hydra.
In an interview with E Online, Lawless had many interesting things to say about her new character and her former role as Xena.
On joining the Marvel Universe: "Well, I wanted to be part of the Marvel world. I've never done that and it is really a great nod to my fans from the Comic-Con world and also I have been doing a lot of other quite heavy stuff and it was a chance to slip back into a world that is such a comfortable, no-brainer for me. It was like taking a lovely warm bath."
In regard to taking on Hydra: "I totally kick some butt...yeah! But don't worry, Hydra gives back, so I'm not going to come away completely unscathed, but S.H.I.E.L.D.'s adaptable and we always fight back."
On her relationship with Agent Coulson: "It's a case of 'Who are you going to call?' and he (Coulson) calls the one person the world he knows who will not betray him and that's Isabelle Hartley. She brings her team and she's got this hot, young assistant played by Nick Blood who's a lot of fun. Hartley has a lot of experience with Hydra. That's why Coulson knows he can trust me!"
In regard to "Xena" and it's loyal, enduring fanbase: "Oh, it's incredible fanbase who are a force for good in the world. It's a very loose sorority, although there are a lot of men in that, who are agents for positive change in their communities. They get together...they do amazing things. They raise a lot of money for charities and animals...just service, service to the world. I don't know anybody else who has a fanbase quite like that. I'm sure they do exist, but I really honor them."
