Lawless' stripping nightmare

NIGHTMARE: Xena star Lucy Lawless says stripping off for her new part in Spartacus was ‘stressful’.

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Kiwi icon Lucy Lawless has revealed that getting naked and taking part in sex scenes for her new telly project has been "extremely stressful".

The Xena: Warrior Princess star has been promoting her latest drama, Spartacus: Blood and Sand, at arts convention Comic-Con in San Diego, California.

And she admitted getting naked on screen for the first time had been challenging.

"The first time I had to do a sex scene I went home and I went straight to bed it was so stressful," the mum-of-three said.

"When they go 'action' it takes the biological imperative out of it then you have to make the unsexy look sexy.

"Just getting your kit off is extremely stressful."

Spartacus is the latest mythical action TV show to be filmed in New Zealand following in the footsteps of Xena and Hercules.

Auckland-born Lawless has been back in the country working on it since March.

Her husband, Rob Tapert, is one of the producers of the series, which is loosely based on the story of Spartacus, the Thracian man who led a slave revolt against the Romans in 73BC.

"It's Gladiator meets 300 for television," Lawless said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.

"It really puts big fun back on to the small screen. It's got action and intrigue ... and it's very sexed-up."

Spartacus is played by McLeod's Daughters hunk Andy Whitfield while Lawless is Lucretia, "the Lady Macbeth character".

Her intimate scenes involve romping with on-screen husband Batiatus The Mummy actor John Hannah.

"He's quite a star and I couldn't have had a better partner to get through this with," Lawless said.

Due to the repeated nudity in the show, which is being made for US cable channel Starz, the cast have to deal with some interesting props.

"I've been fitted for a merkin a pubic wig," Lawless giggled.

"I haven't busted out the merkin yet but we have one just in case the urge overcomes me!"

Other cast members include Kiwi actors Manu Bennett who was cast opposite Josh Hartnett in 30 Days of Night and Shortland Street and Lord of the Rings star Craig Parker.

Lawless, who has a blossoming singing career, admitted that taking part in another historical fantasy made a revival of her Xena role less likely.

"I can't now, this has torn it," she said. "But I would go back I love that role."

-Sunday News