Xena is the main character in the television series Xena: Warrior Princess and a recurring character on the series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. Her character was played by the New Zealand actress Lucy Lawless. Xena first appears on the Hercules: The Legendary Journeys television series (in the episode "The Warrior Princess" airing in March 1995), as a seductive but treacherous warlord.Two more episodes during May sweeps chronicle her evolution from a villain to a friend and ally of Hercules. Interest in her was so strong that shortly afterwards she became the main character of the spin-off series Xena: Warrior Princess. Although her character is originally obsessed with defeating Hercules and obtaining his title as the greatest living warrior, she never defeats "Zeus' Favorite Son". In fact, Hercules is the one credited with pointing her down the path of redemption when he beats her in games combat and shows her that selfishness and greed are not the way to live.In her own series, Xena sets out to redeem her murderous past by fighting against tyranny and evil and protecting the innocent and weak. Many of her adventures prior to the televised stories are subsequently revealed in flashback episodes (although much remains obscure).