Lucy Lawless to Do Nude Scene in 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand'

Lucy Lawless is legendary for her role as warrior legend Xena on the very popular television series 'Xena: Warrior Princess', a show that became highly popular with the lesbian crowd because of Xena's very close relationship with her friend Gabrielle. The show was one of the sexiest on television, and many viewers miss getting to see Xena kick ancient Greek monster and warrior butt (and getting to hear her amazing war cry). But Lucy Lawless' new role as Lucretia in 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand', a television series airing on the Starz channel, will likely be just as big for her, especially since she will be starring in her first nude scene in the series.

Legendary horror director Sam Raimi is one of the producers of 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand', so you can imagine that there will be blood (and plenty of it). The series takes place in ancient Roman times, and Lucy Lawless plays Lucretia (love the name!), a woman that owns a gladiator camp along with her husband. The two have fallen on hard times and are hoping to use the warrior Spartacus to earn a little more gold. So it sounds like she'll be playing a wealthy and spoiled woman with a seductive side (her nude scene would be best put to use this way; I'd hate to see her just give in and do a gratuitous nude scene), and she might be a bit twisted, being the owner of human beings that fight to the death. Beyondhollywood.com reports that Lucy Lawless describes Lucretia as being similar to that of Lady MacBeth.

I'm just hoping Lucy Lawless will have a big role in the 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand'. Since 'Xena', she's done a little work (most notably on 'Battlestar Galactica'), and I'd love to see a strong character like 'Xena' again. Surprisingly, the woman that played such a tough warrior princess was a little squeamish when it came to shooting her nude scene; according to Shewired.com, Lucy Lawless was so stressed out after shooting the scene that she went home and went straight to bed, and she also said that being nude on screen was no fun. So hopefully this is the only time she'll have to do a nude scene in the series; there's no point in doing it if it makes you so uncomfortable.

The series will also star another gorgeous gal, Erin Cummings ('Dollhouse') as Spartacus' wife, but she appears to be one of the more tame characters in the series. Judging from the trailer, there will also be some lesbian/bisexual relationships featured in the series. It appears that the series definitely has captured the kind of orgy-filled opulence ancient Rome is known for, so you really need to make sure your kids stay away from the Starz channel when 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand' airs next year.

'Spartacus: Blood and Sand' seems like it will be nothing like the epic 1960 movie 'Spartacus' directed by Stanley Kubrick and more like '300', since the series seems like it will focus a lot more on the gladiator fighting (but I'd still highly recommend that you see the classic film before the TV series airs on January 2, 2010). And of course the series is going to feature plenty of female and male nude scenes (unheard of in the 60's) and a lot more bloody violence.

So if you liked the movie '300', love Lucy Lawless, and want to see a series that captures what Rome is known for, plenty of sex and lots of bloodshed, then you will probably enjoy this edgy new television series.

SOURCES:
http://www.examiner.com/x-1183-Hollywood-Examiner~y2009m7d30-SPARTACUS-BLOOD-AND-SAND-TO-PREMIERE-ON-STARZ
http://www.shewired.com/Article.cfm?ID=23334
http://www.beyondhollywood.com/comic-con-09-coverage-spartacus-panel-trailer/