This week we pull up a chair in Cyrene’s Tavern and chat with Kiwi legend Darien Takle!
She is the impossibly talented actor behind Cyrene, Xena’s fierce, funny, and warrior-in-her-own-right Mum 💜
Darien opens up about the raw connection she feels to Cyrene as she reflects on the emotional truth she brought to the role, the magic of filming in Aotearoa New Zealand and even a slightly prophetic dream she had about Lucy Lawless.
From behind-the-scenes stories to reflections on motherhood, art, and authenticity, this kōrero is full of warmth, laughter, and love. Grab an ale, it’s storytime with the one and only Darien Takle!
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Interview #3: Adrienne Wilkinson! Livia/Eve, The Bitch of Rome ⚔️🔥/The Messenger of Peace ☮️
It’s The Bitch of Rome! AKA Xena’s daughter, Livia/Eve! 🔥☮️
In this kōrero/talk we welcome fan favourite Adrienne Wilkinson (aka Livia/Eve) into our extended whānau. She shares what it was like coming to little old Aotearoa New Zealand as a young American actor to work on one of the biggest shows of its time.
From stepping onto set with legendary Kiwis and Aussies to finding her place in the Xenaverse family. Adrienne is not just Xena’s daughter, she’s part of our whānau for life. ⚔️💜
With an impressive career that’s spanned universes from Star Wars to Star Trek, Adrienne reflects on how her time in the Xenaverse helped shape it all. ⚔️🎉🙌
Follow Adrienne on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adrienne.wilkinson/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yo_adriennew/
X: https://x.com/Yo_AdrienneW
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yoadriennew
Visit her website at: https://www.adriennewilkinson.com/
Her consulting website: https://planamediagroup.com/
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Interview #2: Erik Thomson! God of the Underworld, Hades ⚡👑
This week we dive headfirst into the underworld with Erik Thomson, AFI winner, Logie winner, and all around Kiwi Aussie legend ⚡👑
Erik takes us back to the 90s to share what it was like working on such a huge international show as a local actor, and how Xena: Warrior Princess shaped Aotearoa's TV and film industry for years to come.
Tune in for some seriously fun Xena chats with the man who made Hades unforgettable. ⚔️
And yes, consider this the start of our official campaign to get Erik Thomson to the Salute to Xena convention 2026 🎉🙌.
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Interview #1: Donny Duncan! Director of Photography 🎥
In our very first interview we sit down with the legendary Kiwi, Donny Duncan, the Director of Photography for a whopping 77 episodes of Xena: Warrior Princess. From epic battle shots to those dark grungy tavern scenes, Donny’s eye shaped so much of the world we all love. We dive into how he captured the magic, filming in Aotearoa in the 90s. His influence went far beyond the screen, to this day, he champions women stepping into camera roles, opening doors in a male-dominated industry and changing the game for future storytellers. Join us to hear about his infamous on set cheeky prank on Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor, and peek into how Donny’s craft and care helped shape the Xenaverse. Trust us, this one’s a visual feast for the ears! 🎥
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By the Gods, It’s Our First Episode! 🌈⚔️
Join Lou (a Kiwi newbie) and Shell (an Aussie OG fan) on their quest to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Xena: Warrior Princess. In this first episode they nerd out about why Xena still matters, what the show’s all about, and the Kiwis and Aussies they dream of chatting with who made the ‘90s cult classic legendary. 🌈⚔️
Kia Ora and G’day whānau! Join two queer overexcitable fangirls, Lou (Kiwi, new-ish fan) and Shell (Aussie, OG Xenite), deep-dive into Xena: Warrior Princess with charmingly mediocre wit, loads of nostalgia, and at times impenetrable accents.
As Xena: Warrior Princess celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2025, we’re highlighting its legacy by attempting to interview 30 cast and crew who made it legendary, the Kiwis and Aussies responsible for the leather outfits, the sword fights, and let’s be real, making us all a little bit gayer. From behind-the-scenes stories to on-set moments, we’re going to bring you the voices behind the show which changed the world.
🎧 Listen in and embrace the Nutball life! ⚔️🌈
Visit us at: https://xenawarriornutballs.com/
Colombia