Entertainment

As a whole, Xena had the strongest female cast of any action series, or film, ever. Xena, throughout its run, consistently staged a universe dominated by strong female characters always portrayed ably by athletic women. The writing may have ebbed at times, but the cast never did that I could tell.

This goes for not only Lucy Lawless and Renée O'Connor but also the supporting cast (indeed, especially even): Tsianina Joelson, Hudson Leick, Victoria Pratt, Gina Torres, among others. Impressive women—some (e.g. Pratt and Joelson) had been accomplished athletes—who made their characters convincingly formidable; in other words, textbook casting for strong female characters.

Xena Con 2010 was held this past February in Los Angeles. The Amazon Varia (er, I mean Tsianina Joelson) showed up. We are lucky enough to have some video:

Hollywood abounds with talented athletic women nowadays. So many, in fact, that there isn't excuse for our not finding an action heroine on television every night; a superheroine in movie theaters every month.

Allison Caetano, a former nationally ranked gymnast turned to acting and stunt work, for instance. What follows is Allison's action reel. If ever it does anywhere the time-honored warning certainly applies here—don't try any of this at home!

That advanced hula hooping might be a revelation of otherworldly athleticism was not something I had considered before discovering Marawa the Amazing. Now, I'm thoroughly convinced of it. Methinks that soon you will be too: