Renee O'Connor as Renee

Reneé O'Connor stars as fast-talking young Gabrielle, Xena's plucky traveling companion and devoted best friend, in the syndicated hit series "Xena:Warrior Princess." Described by Reneé as "a romantic storyteller with a passion for adventure," Gabrielle often saves the warrior princess from her darker impulses and is the perfect foil for Xena's wit.

O'Connor first came to the attention of executive producers Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi when an audition won her the role of the young Deianeira in their two-hour "Action Pack" adventure "Hercules and the Lost Kingdom." They were so impressed by her performance opposite "Hercules" star Kevin Sorbo, they signed her for a starring role in "Darkman II: The Return of Durant," a feature released on home video in July 1995.

Prior to "Darkman II," she co-starred with Ellen Burstyn and Cheryl Lee in the ABC-TV movie "Follow the River," portraying a young woman captured by Shawnee Indians. Set in the year 1755, the drama was based on a true story. In her next role, she starred opposite James Garner as a self-obsessed actress who hires Rockford as her bodyguard in "The Rockford Files: A Blessing in Disguise," the second of Garner's two recent "Rockford" reunion movies for CBS-TV which was broadcast in May 1995.

Born in Houston, Texas and raised in the suburb of Katy, Texas, O'Connor began studying acting at the age of twelve at Houston's Alley Theatre, and later attended Houston's High School of the Performing and Visual Arts. She made her professional acting debut in 1989 starring in the "Teen Angel" serial, which was featured on the Disney Channel's "Mickey Mouse Club," and went on to star in "Match Point," another serial for the popular children's show. That same year, O'Connor moved to Los Angeles and soon landed a featured role in the episode of "Tales from the Crypt" that marked Arnold Schwarzenegger's directing debut.

O'Connor went on to portray Cheryl Ladd's daughter in Danielle Steel's "Changes," and starred as one of a group of students whose lives are suddenly endangered in the NBC movie "The Flood." Her most recent theatrical film role was that of Julia Wilkes in Disney's "The Adventures of Huck Finn," starring Elijah Wood. She also guest-starred as the daughter of a murdered couple in an episode of the acclaimed television series "NYPD Blue."

Reneé enjoys horseback riding, rock climbing and kickboxing. She jogs and lifts weights to keep in shape for her work on the show, which has become increasingly more physical as her character has gradually learned to defend herself under Xena's tutelage.

She has been married to Kiwi Steve Muir since October 2000 and they are expecting their first child in September 2001.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Reneé

Photo: Catherine M. Wilson

Eye Color	Green; with a hint of blue
Real Hair Color	Blond
Height	5 foot - 3.5 inches
Shoe Size	8 N
Birthdate	February 15, 1971
Marital Status	Single (but serious about one special Kiwi guy)
Place of Residence	Auckland, New Zealand
Hometown	Katy, Texas
Siblings	One brother, Chris
Dependents	a cat named Kia Ora (means Hello and Welcome in Maori)
Middle Name	don’t ask, she’s keeping that one to herself.
Book Interests	Non-fiction, classic literature, American and Irish playwrights, history, and novels from other countries.
Favorite Color	Teal
Favorite Music	Okay…you asked, and we got answers: Gloria Gershwin, Sinead O'Connor, Tina Turner, Rent, Elton John, Rod Stewart, The Police, Dinah Washington, Jewel, Celine Dion, Elvis Costello does Gershwin, musicals, older stuff. Mostly picks CDs for individual songs. Not a big country/western fan.
Favorite Xena Eps	A Day in the Life; Return of Callisto; Been There Done That
Favorite Meal at Threadgill’s	Chicken Fried Steak with gravy and all the fixin’s
Fave Feathered Friends	ROC has a big weakness for Ducks….the quacking kind.
M&Ms Preference	Peanut
Nickname(s)	Ren, Stumpy, Vertically Challenged
Hobbies	Rollerblading, reading books, travel, movies, rock climbing, kickboxing, water skiing, loves to sail, and has an attraction to extreme sports in general
Last Vacation	Milford Track, New Zealand (January 1998)
Fascinated by	Archeology, Egypt, history, other cultures, (and X:WP fandom)
Movie Interests	Primarily enjoys character-driven stories and dialogue movies, although also likes basic action and sci-fi flicks, with Tim Burton being one of her favorite filmmakers
Age started acting	the wee age of 8; she turned professional at age 18.
Previous Jobs	Aerobics instructor, waitress
Future Career Goals	Directing; and doing some acting outside of X:WP

The Not So Frequently Asked Questions

Does Reneé do all of her own stunts?	Yes; most of the time.
Are Reneé and Lucy friends:	Yes, they are good friends both on and off the set.
Has Reneé ever done any nude or semi nude photo shoots?	No, and don’t hold your breath for any either.
Is it possible to visit the set of Xena Warrior Princess?	No, X:WP is a closed set which means they don’t normally allow visitors.
Has Reneé ever been hurt physically on the set of X:WP?	Alas, ROC finally got nailed. Nothing serious, ROC sprained her ankle on a 3rd season episode but is all better now.
If I send Reneé one of my story ideas for Xena, can she help me get it published, or suggest it for a episode story-line?	Nope, the actors do not have any influence in that department. Moreover, X:WP does not generally accept unsolicited script/story ideas.
What is Reneé O’Connor really like in person?	Not an easily answered question, as everyone is a bit too complex to be drawn in a few adjectives and 2 dimensional character traits. However based on our limited observations, we can offer these few comments: She is very much what she appears to be, and someone who you’d be proud to call a friend. A very sensitive, and sensible down to earth person who is often reserved, but keenly aware of all that is going on around her. She is exceedingly nice, fun-loving, friendly, with high morals, a strong work ethic, and a good sense of humor - all things a proper southern gal should be. :-) Despite her easy-going, girl next door persona, there is a lot more going on beneath the surface. She is somewhat driven in her career, her pursuit of knowledge, and her desire to continually challenge herself - both physically and mentally. She trusts her instincts and has confidence in her abilities. A rather private person, who honestly seems to enjoy talking about almost anything other than herself, or what she’s thinking. When she does, she is sincere and straightforward - releasing the information carefully and thoughtfully. She places a very high value on her family and friends, and looks forward to the time she gets to spend with them. Even as a close friend, she has some of the same awe inspired respect and admiration for Lucy Lawless that many of us have. If she’s in the mood, Reneé can be a total ham as long she is with people she knows and is comfortable around, but has a tendency to be shy and somewhat withdrawn in a crowd of total strangers. She totally loves her work, and although does not consider herself a celebrity or a star, she is extremely thankful for the opportunities she’s been given.

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*bio and FAQ obtained from the Official Renee O'Connor website