An actress who starred in the hit 90s series Xena: Warrior Princess looks unrecognisable more than 20 years after the show wrapped up.
A spin-off of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, the fantasy series aired between 1995 and 2001.
It followed Lucy Lawless as Xena, an infamous warrior looking to be redeemed for her past sins against the innocent by using her formidable fighting skills to aid those who are defenceless.
Meanwhile her companion Gabrielle (played by Renee O’Connor) grew from a simple farm girl into an Amazon warrior and Xena’s comrade-in-arms during the six-season run.
The show was an instant success, overtaking its predecessor in ratings and in popularity, while it became the top-rated syndicated drama series on American television in its second season.
However, it was eventually cancelled in 2000, with the final airing a year later.
Now, 23 years after that final episode, fans of the show might do a double take when seeing Renee without her trademark blonde hair and range of hairstyles, as well as her character’s trademark weapons – the Amazon fighting staff and sais.
Instead, she now rocks her natural red hair in photos she’s posted on social media over the past few years.
Renee, now 53, was chosen to play the role of Gabrielle after appearing in the TV movie Hercules and the Lost Kingdom, starring Kevin Sorbo.
The American actress had earlier made her screen debut at 17, starring in the Teen Angel segment of the Disney Channel’s The Mickey Mouse Club and the subsequent Teen Angel TV series.
(Picture: Leon Bennett/ Getty Images)
She went on to star in the Disney film The Adventures of Huck Finn and TV-movies including Follow the River and Danielle Steele’s Changes.
Her last screen credit was in an episode of the murder-mystery crime drama My Life is Murder, which saw her reunited with her former co-star Lucy, who plays a former police officer who then helps authorities solve complex homicides.
A few years ago, Lucy finally confirmed the close relationship between Xena and Gabrielle was intended to be romantic.
‘That’s where the characters settled. At first, even [Renee and I] didn’t see that coming, but the producers and writers knew what they were doing,’ she told Stellar magazine.
She then pointed out: ‘It doesn’t even matter. Who cares anymore? Gay is part of normal. I know in other parts of the world this is still a new concept but, for god’s sake, we just want total equality.’
In 2017, Renee spoke about the friendship she’d maintained with her former co-star.
‘I feel really connected to her. She’s like a sister. She’s an amazing human being and she’s incredibly talented so she’s always pushing herself to do more as a person,’ she told Fox.
‘I always felt that way about her. It hasn’t changed. It’s only magnified through the years.’
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Xena: Warrior Princess is streaming on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.
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