martial arts, sword play, or stunt work 	when she landed the role of Xena.  She 	did have some experience with horses, 	having ridden a great deal as a 		teenager.  Blessed with a natural 		aptitude for the kinds of physical 		challenges the role demands, Lucy is 	now working closely with a personal 	trainer in Auckland.  During a brief 	visit to Los Angeles this summer, 
	she also trained with martial arts 		master Douglas Wong ("Dragon: The 	Bruce Lee Story") to learn basic kung fu moves, as well as fighting techniques with swords and staffs.Lawless also has an aptitude for languages and accents.  She speaks English, German, French and some Italian, and has often worked on U.S. co-productions requiring a mid-American accent.  Despite having studied opera for several years, Lucy's passion is for jazz.