A Day to Remember -
Claire Stansfield and Danielle Cormack at the Dortmund Comics Fair.

When it comes to meeting the stars of their favorite TV series, German Xena fans so far have not been very fortunate. Major conventions usually take place on the other side of the planet and - since the German fandom is rather small - the chances of luring actors or actresses from the show into the country have been fairly slim - until now, that is.

For this year brought major improvements: With three conventions held in the UK, the chances of meeting actors or actresses from Xena: Warrior Princess increased considerably. And things got even better when Claire Stansfield announced that she would appear at the International Comics Fair in Dortmund (North Rhine-Westphalia).
It is quite telling that only a few incurable optimists within the German Xenite community really believed that the actress would actually show up. When Claire informed her fans two days before the event on her website that Danielle Cormack would come to Dortmund as well, the ensuing enthusiasm among the fans was still mixed with considerable disbelief.

However, those fans who turned up in Dortmund on October 22 were not disappointed! At 11.00 AM Danielle Cormack, (despite suffering from jetlag, having arrived only a day before from New Zealand) and Claire Stansfield were on stage, ready to sign autographs and to answer the fans' questions. Since the number of fans who made it to the event was relatively small, those who turned up had ample opportunity for conversations with the two actresses who patiently answered questions and posed for photographs throughout the afternoon, apparently enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of the event. They even agreed to an interview with the German Xena Fanclub DXF - and amidst a popping of flashbulbs and an ever-growing circle of Xena fans, we sat down, gave them our presents and started the interview.

Claire Stansfield answered the questions in fluent German - not surprising really, as she told the fans that her mother was born in Cologne and that she had often stayed in the Rhine area in her youth, while visiting her many relatives there. Her plans included a visit to Cologne the next day and she had promised Danielle Cormack to show her around, before heading to Amsterdam and to Scheveningen, where she was scheduled to appear at the Utopia Convention on the following weekend.

Danielle Cormack had come to Germany in order to promote her new film "The Price of Milk" (directed by Harry Sinclair) at the International Hofer Film Days. According to Cormack, the film - which also features Karl Urban (Cupid and Caesar in X:WP) - is the love story of Rob and Lucinda and takes place on a farm "among 117 cows and an agoraphobic dog". (The agoraphobic dog, it should be added, prefers "running around under a cardbord box.") When asked about her future plans, Cormack replied that she would return to Auckland where she probably would appear on stage in January 2001 and otherwise would spend time with her son.

Both actresses, of course, had to answer questions about upcoming appearances on Xena. Cormack had heard rumours that she might play Ephiny's granddaughter in a yet to be filmed episode. So far, however, she hasn't been approached by the producers to sign the contract. Claire Stansfield, on the other hand, had just finished filming a 6th season episode, which takes place in the present time: She plays a character named "Alexis Los Alamos" (she just loved the name) who drives around in a cool Pontiac Firebird. Stansfield said, that she would also return to New Zealand at the beginning of the next year in order to film further episodes.

It should be mentioned that both of them found it hilarious (bordering on the absurd) that people sometimes confuse them with their roles. Claire smiled gleefully as she told us of people who were actually scared of her when riding in the same elevator as she was. Danielle mentioned that there are people who admire her for giving birth to a centaur...

Asked about the cancellation of the show both actresses expressed their regret but said that they would, of course, move on, working on new and different projects. Claire Stansfield's future plans include continuing to direct a series of digital short films (which can be seen on her website). She has also just finished a half-hour series for MTV called "The Sausage Factory" where she plays a librarian whose character she described as "very much like Mrs Robinson."

As Claire does not really have a close friendship with Reneé O'Connor, she did not attend Reneé's wedding, but she said that Lucy, with whom she is very good friends, actually called her from the festivities. Since Claire and Reneé both share the same interest in directing, they often talk about film-making on the set, though, and Claire revealed that Reneé has actually bought the same digital camera that Stansfield herself uses for editing her material on the PC.

Claire and Danielle had a lot of fun with each other, made a lot of good-natured jokes, both of them seemingly very good friends and pretty comfortable with each other.

To sum up - both actresses were extremely generous and kind towards the fans. It was great fun to meet them in person and to meet them in such a relaxed atmosphere. It was a good day for German Xena fans, one that will be remembered for quite some time!!!

[The article covering this event can be found in the next newsletter of the German Xena Fanclub.]