A FEW MOMENTS WITH AN ARCH-VILLAIN: HUDSON LEICK AT THE BURBANK XENA CON
By Diane Silver (dswriter@idir.net)
Content © 1997 held by author
WHOOSH! edition © 1997 held by Whoosh!
469 words

Hudson Leick (arch-villain Callisto) stepped on stage in Burbank (January 12, 1997) to the roar of cheers and a thunder of applause. She stood in front of the microphone with her hands clasped and looked, for all the world, like a small, shy cherub.

"This is overwhelming," she said in a quiet voice as the audience calmed down. "It's just a job. I don't really think about people watching it. This is nice."

Photo courtesy of Catherine M. Wilson

After saying that she had not prepared a speech, Leick answered questions. The following account is based on notes and my foggy memory. Not all of the questions are word-for-word quotes. I've done the best I could to reconstruct the quotes.

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE THE BAD GIRL?

"Honestly, I love it!"

Photo courtesy of Debbie Cassetta

DO YOU DYE YOUR HAIR?

A smile, a little-girl look, and a quiet, "Yes".

DID YOU AND LUCY COACH EACH OTHER WHILE PREPARING FOR INTIMATE STRANGERS?

"Yes ... Playing Xena was horrifying for me. I really didn't like it. Before Lucy had her accident, when I was playing the role, we would get together and look at how we stood and walked ... I'd move and she'd try to copy it. We are completely different"

Photo courtesy of Catherine M. Wilson

WHAT'S THE INSPIRATION FOR CALLISTO? DID YOU STUDY ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR?

"I love doing Callisto. It's therapy. I mean, wouldn't you love it, if you got to scream and yell and you got to fight people and you got a sword and no one yelled at you? ... No, I didn't study ... It's just from the inside."

WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE IF YOU COULD CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT CALLISTO?

"I think I'd like more clothes."

Photo courtesy of Catherine M. Wilson

WHAT FUTURE PROJECTS ARE YOU DOING?

"I think I might have a job playing an angel." She laughed. "I know it's very odd."

HAVE YOU EVER PLAYED A GOOD CHARACTER?

"No."

YOU SAID YOU WERE FRUSTRATED PLAYING XENA.

"I didn't like it. I don't want to do it again."

Photo courtesy of Catherine M. Wilson

DO YOU THINK ARES IS CUTE?

"Yes, he's hot."

SOMETIMES ON THE SHOW, THE BANTER BETWEEN CALLISTO AND XENA SEEMS A LOT LIKE FLIRTING. WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH THAT?

Leick's face took on a bit of Callisto before she answered.

"I LIKE it that way," she said and put her hands in her hair. "I think Callisto is obsessed with Xena in every way." Leick flashed a Callisto grin.

DID ANYONE EVER TELL YOU THAT YOU LOOK LIKE A GODDESS?

"If you keep watching the show, you'll find out that perhaps I become one."

Photo courtesy of Catherine M. Wilson

ARE YOU LIKE CALLISTO?

"Yes, that's one part of me .... I don't go around screaming and stalking people, but I have rage and it comes from rage. Who doesn't have rage. Right?"

Photo courtesy of Catherine M. Wilson