Memorable Lucy Lawless Movie & TV Roles, Ranked

7 minute read

By Riley Jones (@moviemanjones)

From playing the fearsomely awesome Xena in the long-running series Xena: Warrior Princess to starring alongside the great Bruce Campbell in the Ash vs Evil Dead series, Lucy Lawless has starred in some of the best TV shows of the last 25-30 years. Lawless is best known for TV, but some comic book fans may remember her hilarious 3-second cameo in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man (2002) or when she played Madame Vadersexxx in the 2004 comedy, EuroTrip (2004).

“I’ve learned you can aleays make things more painful.” ~ Ruby Knowby 

Join us as we rank the New Zealand native’s best films and TV series, from worst to best. Enjoy!

15. Boogeyman (2005)

Synopsis: As a young boy, Tim (Aaron Murphy) witnesses the horrifying event of his father (Charles Mesure) being dragged away by the boogeyman. Despite the reassurances of his mother (Lucy Lawless) that the boogeyman is not real, he is never the same afterward. Years later, Tim (Barry Watson) manages to create a normal life for himself — though he lives without closets and keeps his mattress on the floor. But when he learns of his mother’s death, Tim must return home to face his childhood trauma.

Starring: Barry Watson, Emily Deschanel, Lucy Lawless, Skye McCole Bartusiak, Tory Mussett, and Charles Mesure

Created by: Stephen Kay

Source: Screenshot via Sony Pictures Releasing

14. Bedtime Stories (2008)

Synopsis: Hotel handyman Skeeter Bronson (Adam Sandler) gets an unexpected surprise when he discovers that the tall tales he has been telling his niece and nephew are somehow coming true. Hoping to make the most of the mysterious phenomenon, Skeeter spins one outlandish yarn after another, but the children’s unexpected contributions to the stories turn Skeeter’s life upside down.

Starring: Adam Sandler, Teresa Palmer, Keri Russell, Courteney Cox, Russell Brand, Guy Pearce, Richard Griffiths, Laura Ann Kesling, Jonathan Pryce, Jonathan Morgan Heit, and Lucy Lawless

Directed by: Adam Shankman

Source: Screenshot via Walt Disney Studios

13. Hercules and the Amazon Women (1994)

Synopsis: The son (Kevin Sorbo) of Zeus (Anthony Quinn) kills the serpent Hydra, then meets a queen (Roma Downey) and her savage band of beauties.

Starring: Kevin Sorbo, Lucy Lawless, Roma Downey, Rose McIver, Anthony Quinn, Jill Sayre, Nina Sosanya, Michael Hurst, Jenny Ludlam, and Lloyd Scott

Directed by: Bill L. Norton

Source: Screenshot via NBCUniversal Television Distribution

12. Eurotrip (2004)

Synopsis: After a brutal breakup at a high-school graduation party, lovelorn Ohio teen Scott Thomas (Scott Mechlowicz) goes on a quest across Europe to find his sexy German pen pal, Mieke (Jessica Boehrs). Joining him are his brainless buddy (Jacob Pitts) and a pair of twins (Travis Wester, Michelle Trachtenberg) they meet up with in Paris. Scott’s quest does not turn out to be easy, however, and the backpackers become embroiled in many farcical situations as they hop from country to country.

Starring: Michelle Trachtenberg, Matt Damon, Scott Mechlowicz, Kristin Kreuk, Jacob Pitts, Travis Wester, Jessica Boehrs, Vinnie Jones, Lucy Lawless, and Fred Armisen

Directed by: Jeff Schaffer

Source: Screenshot via DreamWorks Pictures

11. The Code (2014-Present)

Synopsis: The first six-part series, set in both outback and metropolitan areas of Australia, interweaves several plot lines. The second follows the accident, which sees teacher Alex Wisham (Lucy Lawless) and policeman Tim Simons (Aaron Pedersen) becoming involved in the personal affairs of accused teenager Clarence Boyd (Aaron L. McGrath).

Starring: Dan Spielman, Lucy Lawless, Ashley Zukerman, Adele Perovic, Chelsie Preston Crayford, Aden Young, Daniel Wyllie, Adam Garcia, David Wenham, Paul Tassone, Anthony LaPaglia, Sigrid Thornton, and Ella Scott Lynch

Created by: Shelley Birse

Source: Screenshot via Playmaker Media ABC

10. Hercules: The Legendary Journey (1995-1999)

Synopsis: Hercules: The Legendary Journey stars Kevin Sorbo as Hercules and regularly features Michael Hurst as his sidekick Iolaus. … Indeed, Hercules is often referred to as “the favorite son of Zeus”. Zeus makes several appearances on the show, even saving his son’s life and restoring his superhuman strength on one occasion when he needs it the most.

Starring: Kevin Sorbo, Lucy Lawless, Michael Hurst, Robert Trebor, Bruce Campbell, Alexandra Tydings, and Tawny Kitaen

Created by: Christian Williams

Source: Screenshot via NBCUniversal Television Distribution

9. Salem (2014-2017)

Synopsis: The series stars Janet Montgomery as Mary Sibley, a powerful witch who controls the Salem witch trials by exacerbating hysteria among the Puritans while executing her plan of summoning the Devil. Problems arise when her long lost love, John Alden (played by Shane West), returns to Salem, complicating Mary’s plans. The show has prominent elements of Gothic romance.

Starring: Janet Montgomery, Shane West, Ashley Madekwe, Seth Gabel, Tamzin Merchant, Elise Eberle, Iddo Goldberg, and Lucy Lawless

Created by: Brannon Braga and Adam Simon

Source: Screenshot via 20th Television

8. Justice League: The New Frontier (2008)

Synopsis: At the end of the Korean War, an all-powerful evil entity vows to destroy mankind due to its violent ways. With life itself hanging in the balance, a group of superheroes including Superman, Batman, The Flash and Wonder Woman unite.

Starring: Neil Patrick Harris, David Boreanaz, Lucy Lawless, Miguel Ferrer, Kyle MacLachlan, Jeremy Sisto, Brooke Shields, Kyra Sedgwick, Phil Morris, John Heard, Alan Ritchson, Vicki Lewis, and James Arnold Taylor

Created by: Dave Bullock

Source: Screenshot via Warner Home Video

7. Spider-Man (2002)

Synopsis: “Spider-Man” centers on student Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) who, after being bitten by a genetically-altered spider, gains superhuman strength and the spider-like ability to cling to any surface. He vows to use his abilities to fight crime, coming to understand the words of his beloved Uncle Ben: “With great power comes great responsibility.”

Starring: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Willem Dafoe, J.K. Simmons, Rosemary Harris, Elizabeth Banks, Cliff Robertson, Joe Manganiello, Bill Nunn, Lucy Lawless

Directed by: Sam Raimi

Source: Screenshot via Sony Pictures Releasing

6. Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009)

Synopsis: Battlestar Galactica is set in a distant star system, where a civilization of humans lives on a group of planets known as the Twelve Colonies. In the past, the Colonies had been at war with an android race of their own creation, known as the Cylons. With the unwitting help of a human scientist named Gaius Baltar (James Callis), the Cylons launch a sudden sneak attack on the Colonies, laying waste to the planets and devastating their populations.

Starring: Nicki Clyne,

Created by: Glen A. Larson, Grace Park, Richard Hatch, Katee Sackhoff, Tricia Helfer, Edward James Olmos, Aaron Douglas, Leah Cairns, Mary McDonnell, Lucy Lawless, Jamie Bamber, Kandyse McClure, James Callis, Kate Vernon, Alessandro Juliani, Tahmoh Penikett, and Michael Hogan

Source: Screenshot via NBCUniversal Television Distribution

5. Parks and Recreation (2012-2014)

Synopsis: Parks and Recreation revolves around Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), the deputy director of the parks and recreation department in the fictional Indiana town of Pawnee. Local nurse Ann Perkins (Rashida Jones) demands a construction pit next to her house be filled in after her boyfriend, Andy Dwyer ( Chris Pratt), fell in and broke his legs.

Starring: Amy Poehler, Aubrey Plaza, Nick Offerman, Chris Pratt, Adam Scott, Aziz Ansari, Retta, Rashida Jones, Jim O’Heir, Rob Lowe, Lucy Lawless, Paul Schneider, and Billy Eichner

Created by: Greg Daniels and Michael Schur

Source: Screenshot via NBCUniversal Television Distribution

4. Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (2011)

Synopsis: The House of Batiatus is on the rise, basking in the flow of its infamous champion Gannicus (Dustin Clare), whose skill with the sword is matched only by his thirst for wine and women.

Starring: Lucy Lawless, Dustin Clare, John Hannah, Manu Bennett, Peter Mensah, Marisa Ramirez, Jaime Murray, Lesley-Ann Brandt, Craig Walsh-Wrightson, and Nick E. Tarabay

Created by: Steven S. DeKnight

Source: Screenshot via STARZ

3. Ash vs. Evil Dead (2015-2018)

Synopsis: The series is set approximately 30 years after the first three Evil Dead films, and serves as a sequel to that trilogy. Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) works at the “Value Stop” as a simple stock boy. Also working at the store is his friend Pablo (Ray Santiago) and the object of Pablo’s affections, Kelly (Dana DeLorenzo). Ash has seemingly done very little with his life since returning from 1300 AD at the end of Army of Darkness, and the beginning of the series sees him living in a trailer and drinking alone in bars. However, Ash must soon renounce his routine existence and become a hero once more by taking up arms and facing the titular Evil Dead. Pablo and Kelly decide to join him on his quest to save humanity.

Starring: Bruce Campbell, Dana DeLorenzo, Ray Santiago, Lucy Lawless, and Jill Marie Jones

Developed by: Sam Raimi, Ivan Raimi, and Tom Spezialy

Source: Screenshot via Lionsgate Television

2. Spartacus (2010-2012)

Synopsis: Spartacus (Andy Whitfield) is purchased by Batiatus (John Hannah) for gladiator training, who promises to help him find Sura (Erin Cummings) if he proves himself in training. As the series develops, the story follows the betrayals and machinations of Roman life and a tale of one man’s heroic quest for vengeance.

Starring: Andy Whitfield, Liam McIntyre, Manu Bennett, Lucy Lawless, Dustin Clare, Peter Mensah, Dan Feuerriegel, Nick E. Tarabay, Ellen Hollman, Jai Courtney, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Craig Parker, Viva Bianca, Erin Cummings, and John Hannah

Created by: Steven S. DeKnight

Source: Screenshot via STARZ

1. Xena: Warrior Princess (1995-2001)

Synopsis: Xena, a mighty Warrior Princess with a dark past, sets out to redeem herself. She is joined by small town bard, Gabrielle. Together they journey the ancient world and fight for the greater good against ruthless Warlords and Gods. … Xena Warrior Princess sets out to redeem herself for her dark past.

Starring: Lucy Lawless, Renee O’Connor, Ted Raimi, Hudson Leick, Karl Urban, Alexandra Tydings, Danielle Cormack, Adrienne Wilkinson, Kevin Smith, Charles Mesure, and Manu Bennett

Created by: John Schulian and Robert Tapert

Source: Screenshot via NBCUniversal Television Distribution

Riley Jones (@moviemanjones)

Contributor

Riley is the Managing Editor of Goliath. When he's not at the movie theatre or binging some new tv series, he likes to spend his time shooting hoops and play MTG. He doesn't like 'Breaking Bad,' loves 'The Simpsons,' hates mayonnaise, and has been repping the Toronto Raptors since '95. Follow him on IG and Twitter @moviemanjones.