Willa O'Neill (Lila)

Willa was another convention newcomer, a tiny woman in jeans and a cropped T-shirt who kicked off her shoes halfway through her appearance so that she could better bounce around the stage to answer everyone's questions. What a ball of energy!

Since Willa was in the very first episode of Xena and has appeared sporadically ever since, someone asked her how the set has changed since those beginning days. Willa said the main difference is that everyone knows each other better now, and has consolidated into a real sense of family.

Before shooting that first show, the whole gang went out to a dinner: the stars, the producers, everyone involved. When thinking back to that, Willa says she never would have imagined "this stage and all you people" back in those quiet beginnings.

Willa reports that while Lila had a problem with Xena at first, she didn't have one anymore. She's decided that Xena is OK. When she was asked what Lila thinks is going on between Xena and Gabrielle, Willa said that "Luckily for Lila, she probably doesn't know too much," offering a Lila reaction of "You're whaaa-I don't wanna know."

Willa suggested that Lila could do better for herself if she just ran away from Poteidaia, joined up with Xena and Gabrielle, and "took care of the babies." She reports that Lila would certainly cook better than Gabrielle.

When asked how the Kiwi attitude has been changed by Hercules and Xena, Willa reported that Kiwi television didn't even bother to buy Hercules until it was so popular that it was too expensive for them to show. They snatched Xena right away. That pointed out one of her favorite things about visiting the US, that the shows are on "all the time" here. She said that Kiwis are now more aware of the talent they have and that the country has the resources to put together great productions.

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