New Zealand New Idea

February 6, 1999
page 9

[though not identified in the article, this is Claire Stansfield with Lucy]

The Secret of Lucy's Success

A motivational guru rescued Lucy Lawless from ending her career

Our favourite Warrior Princess Lucy Lawless has admitted that motivational guru Tony Robbins saved her from ending her successful acting career.

'I didn't know why I was doing the show anymore. I realised fame doesn't keep you warm at night and in quieter moments I thought, "What am I doing?" '

Despite her recent marriage to Xena producer Rob Tapert, owning luxury homes in Los Angeles and Auckland and being the proud mother of 10-year-old Daisy (from her first marriage), Lucy wasn't comfortable with her life.

'I don't have to worry about my bank account and I live in a dream house. I couldn't figure out why I was so unhappy.'

But when she saw Leeza Gibbons enthusing about self-improvement expert Tony Robbins on TV, she bought some of his motivational audio tapes and her destiny changed.

She realised that with the help of Tony's motivational techniques she could grasp control of her future again.

Since then Lucy's life has been back on track and she's been out shopping for antique furniture to furnish her new secluded property in [California] - a home she recently purchased for $2 million. Surrounded by trees, this private home will be their US base.

Having married for the second time, Lucy is facing a number of questions about whether she and Rob intend to have children. Buying a new home could well be | an indication the couple are thinking of expanding their family but Lucy is quick to say she'll always be a working mum.

'Especially with a young baby, it's a 24-hour part-time job. When the baby goes to sleep, what are you going to do? How many times can you vacuum under the rug?'