DANIELLE CORMACK

Ephiny, Queen of the Telaquire Amazons in 9 Xena episodes.

Danielle Cormack will be Deziyah in MADAM, an soon-to-be-released half-hour TV series based on Antonia Murphy’s unpublished memoir about an American woman who opened an ethical escort agency in New Zealand after the country decriminalized sex work. The series will star Rachel Griffiths, and will be directed by Kacie Anning and Madeline Sami (Tyro in “To Helicon and Back”). Rima Te Wiata (Sheriam Bayanar on The Wheel of Time) is also in the cast. MADAM will air in New Zealand on Three, and local streamer ThreeNow.

Cormack is also Vicky Michaelson in Season Two of THE SECRETS SHE KEEPS, a psychological drama that begins with a chance encounter between two very different women, a blogger (Jessica de Gouw), and one of her followers, a supermarket clerk named Agatha (Laura Carmichael). Both women have secrets. Created by Michael Robotham and Sarah L Walker, the twelve episode series can be streamed on AMC+.

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CLAUDIA BLACK

Karina, Queen of the Tetomlec Tribe in “Lifeblood” (Xena episode 5.16).

Claudia Black will be Ariel, a historian with a mysterious past, in THE ALCHEMIST AGENDA, a film directed by Marty Weiss based on his own 2013 novel about treasure hunters who discover a sunken U-boat. In the book, Charlie Rocklin sets out to recover a 17th century shipwreck but instead finds an undocumented World War II submarine with enigmatic symbols. Ariel discovers that the U-boat contains the key to a valuable and deadly formula. THE ALCHEMIST AGENDA is currently in production at Amazon Studios.

Black also stars as Karla Grey in the science fiction mystery DEUS: THE DARK SPHERE. Grey is part of a six-person expedition to investigate a mysterious black sphere that has appeared in Mars orbit. When they arrive and begin to scan the object, it begins to transmit one word, again and again. The word is “Deus” (latin for God). The film can be streamed on FreeVee.

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MADELEINE SAMI

Tyro, a warrior of the Shimax Tribe in “To Helicon and Back” (Xena episode 6.15)

Madeleine Sami is Detective Eddie Redcliffe in DEADLOCH, a feminist crime parody created by Kate McLennan and Kate McCartney, and set in the fictional town of Deadloch, Tasmania. At the start, the town is preparing for its Winter Feastival when a local man turns up dead. Sensible local cop Dulcie Collins (Kate Box) has the investigation well in hand when she gets unwanted assistance from the mainland in the person of Radcliffe, who really doesn’t want to be in Deadloch, and makes it her primary goal to violate every possible regulation in pursuit of a speedy resolution to the case. DEADLOCH was filmed in Tasmania, and can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video. It has been renewed for a second season.

Sami is also Archie in Season Two of David Jenkins‘ adventure series OUR FLAG MEANS DEATH, a series based on the true story of 18th century landowner Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby) who decides to become a pirate. The series can be streamed on MAX.

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KATE ELLIOT

Yakut, shaman of the Siberian Amazons, in 4 Xena episodes

Kate Elliott stars as New Zealand D.S.S. Jess Savage in THE GULF, a series set on Waiheke Island in New Zealand’s Hauraki Gulf. Detective Savage works to overcome gaps in her memory caused by a car crash that killed her husband, a crash that no one but Savage thinks was suspicious. Created by Paula Boock and Donna Malane, the fourteen episode series can be streamed on Acorn TV.

Elliott has an as-yet-unspecified role in the science fiction thriller ASH, the story of a woman (Eiza González) who wakes up on a distant planet and finds the crew of her space station dead. A man (Aaron Paul) arrives, ostensibly to rescue her, and their investigation into what killed the crew initiates a terrifying chain of events that makes each of them unsure if the other can be trusted. Directed by Flying Lotus, ASH went into production last March in New Zealand.

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ALISON BRUCE

Melosa, First Queen of the Telaqire Amazons, in “Hooves and Harlots” (Xena episode 1.10).

Alison Bruce is Lois Tremaine, wife of Senior Sergeant Stephen Tramaine, in twelve episodes of the crime drama ONE LANE BRIDGE. Set in the Central Otago district of New Zealand, the show focuses on an ambitious young detective named Ariki Davis (Dominic Ona-Ariki) who arrives at his new job in the town of Queenstown and is immediately thrust into a murder investigation when a farmer with more than one secret turns up dead at the bottom of One Lane Bridge. Everyone in town knew the deceased, making Ariki the only available investigator with no obvious conflict of interest. ONE LANE BRIDGE can be streamed on Acorn TV and AMC+, and is available on DVD.

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GILLIAN WHITE

Amoria, Queen of the Greek Amazons, in “Lyre, Lyre, Hearts on Fire” (Xena episode 5.10)

Gillian White (aka Gillian Illiana Waters) is attorney Vy Waters, a recurring character on the musical drama KINGDOM BUSINESS, a behind-the-scenes look at the gospel music industry. The show stars Yolanda Adams as Denita Jordan, a gospel music superstar who runs Kingdom Records and is also First Lady of First Kingdom Church. Created by John Sackhar and Kerry Lenhart, KINGDOM BUSINESS can be streamed on BET+.

White is also Akilah, estranged wife of LAPD officer Mark Ethridge, in THE ISLAND. Michael Jai White stars as Mark, who returns to his family’s island home to investigate the death of his brother Akheem. Filmed on St. Kits and Nevis, and directed by Shaun Paul Piccinino, THE ISLAND can be rented or purchased from Starz.

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DONOGH REES

Chi’ah, warrior of the Siberian Amazons, in “Them Bones, Them Bones” (Xena episode 5.5)

Donogh Rees is Hells Taioma in Haydn Butler’s dark comedy HOME KILLS, about two brothers (Cameron Jones and Josh McKenzie) who try to save their struggling butchery business (which they inherited after their father’s recent suspicious death) by offering to butcher humans as well. Director Butler told Darren’s World how he got the story idea while driving through the backblocks in the Bay of Plenty with his dad. “Gazing out the window I saw the words ‘Home Kills’ roughly painted to a board and nailed to a fence in some paddock. It was two words that you don’t really see together anywhere, so they stuck in my brain…It was an ad for butchers.” HOME KILLS premiered at the 2023 New Zealand International Film Festival, where it was nominated for Best Film. A trailer is available on YouTube.

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VICTORIA PRATT

Cyane, Queen of the Siberian Amazons in “Adventures in the Sin Trade” (Xena eps 4.1 & 4.2)

Victoria Pratt is Carol in THE DESPERATE RIDERS, a western directed by Michael Feifer. As the tale begins, Kansas Red (Drew Waters) rescues Billy (Sam Ashby) from a card game shootout. He is then talked into rescuing Billy’s mother Carol who has been kidnapped by an outlaw named Thorn (Trace Adkins). DESPERATE RIDERS is available from most VOD outlets, and on DVD and Blu-ray.

Pratt is also a missionary who witnesses the killing of a priest by hired mercenaries in AMONG WOLVES. Kara and fellow missionary Elizabeth (Pratt and Spencer Locke) are pursued by the killers, and meet two former contract killers who decide to defend the women against their pursuers. AMONG WOLVES is available on DVD, and can be streamed on Prime Video.

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XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video.
The series is also available on DVD.

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151 XENA CAST BIRTHDAYS