No - we would never have recognised her either! Lucy Lawless goes punk for her new film role

Kiwi superstar Lucy Lawless is unrecognisable in her punk gear.

Lucy Lawless has swapped her leather jerkins and breast plates for ripped tops and a nose ring for her latest movie role.

Rather than swords, it's sex pistols for Lucy's cameo role in the new blockbuster Spider-man.

The Kiwi beauty showed her new look, with spiked hair, heavy black eyeliner, wearing chunky jewellery and hanging off a fag as she filmed the new role in New York.

Spider-man is directed by Sam Raimi, who was executive producer of both the series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess. It stars Tobey Maguire, William Dafoe and Kirsten Dunst.

The film is sure to be hit in the US and millions of Xena fans will queue at cinemas to spot Lucy looking so dramaticaliy different.

Many of her fans are lesbian women, who admire her for playing a strong female character.

Lucy filmed her final episode of Xena, Warrior Princess last month here in New Zealand.