At first, being a female role model really terrified me. But it hasn't turned out to be an awful burden. I get a lot of letters from women who tell me that, after watching Xena, they have bought the Harley-Davidson they always wanted or left an abusive relationship.

When you decide to become an opera singer, it's a commitment that allows nothing else to interfere. Even your family - and I have a young daughter - has to take second place.

I was sitting in the looping studio late one night, and I had this epiphany that they weren't paying me for my acting, for God's sake, but to own me. And from then on, it became clear and an awful lot easier to deal with.

I'm a bloody fun-seeker. Whatever the role is, I'll find a way to deliver the line that is confounding.

I'm not someone who ever enjoys violence against women or children.

Now it wasn’t just that Xena was bisexual and kinda liked her gal pal and they kind of fooled around sometimes, it was ‘Nope, they’re married, man.'

It's never very useful to see your character as a villain. You have to play them the way they see themselves.

Who I think is actually doing great things for the appearance of women is that Kardashian girl. Kim Kardashian is giving an alternative. I don't know very much about her and I don't read articles, but just looking at the pictures you go, Great! There's a girl with an ass, and that's fabulous. On behalf of all girls with asses, thank you.

Growing up, I looked up to real women. I didn't go in for hero worship and I still don't. Everybody has feet of clay.

Very often, I'm part of the deception because the way I play things is that I want you to be able to look back and go, Oh, my god, I didn't see that at the time, but now it all makes sense, and you want to watch it a second time with the benefit of hindsight.

I get to do all these really nice, little culty things. It seems to be the world that keeps inviting me back.

For the first time in my life, I put my body and reputation on the line to stand up for my beliefs and do the right thing. I hope I've encouraged other people to do the same.

Happiness is a choice. You grieve, you stomp your feet, you pick yourself up and choose to be happy.

Nudity and sex scenes are two completely different things. Nudity you can kind of get used to, but not when there is movement and relating involved. The sex scenes are very uncomfortable because that's something to be protected, so you have a visceral reaction to not exploit that.

We actually did quite a lot of comedy on 'Xena'. The whole show was very tongue-in-cheek.

We live at the edge of the world, so we live on the edge. Kiwis will always sacrifice money and security for adventure and challenge.

Xena and Gabrielle were a couple...in the end, it was if not explicitly said, it was implicit that...yeah, they totally were.

Up until I came here this week, and I met so many women and young girls who feel, to use their word - and I'm a bit embarrassed, but it's a good word - empowered, by watching. I realized this isn't a burden, this is an honor.