Adrienne Wilkinson
The Chakram Newsletter: Issue 18
The first scene I ever shot on Xena was a kissing scene with Kevin Smith in the episode “Livia.” It was the opening of the episode where I'm fighting with my soldiers against the followers of Eli and after the battle, Ares informs Livia she’s been named the emperor’s successor. I turn around and there’s Ares and we start making out.
I had never done any kissing on TV. It was my first day of work. I had to do fighting which I’d never done before. And I had to do this makeout scene with this guy I was convinced was scary. To say I was nervous would be a complete understatement.
Kevin was extraordinary. I worked almost exclusively with him on that episode and he was fabulous. He was so professional and he made me feel so comfortable. He constantly talked about his kids. Lots of stories about playing rugby, what the kids were into and about his wife, Sue, being pregnant. He had just had a child and my stunt double, Alex, had also had a baby. We were all full of baby talk.
He was also the funniest person I've ever worked with. Always joking and so self-deprecating. He’s got this great manly image, but he was excruciatingly funny.
The last time I was there - in the episode “Path Of Vengeance” - Tsianina Joelson was going to work with him for the first time. I told her he was great and she was going to love it. After they’d worked together in the morning, she came to me and said, ‘My God, he rocks! He’s incredible!”
That day at lunch, I was sitting with Kevin. He said to me he’d gotten himself into a bit of a bind. I asked why. He said, “Last week this woman came up and asked me to run a marathon for charity. I jumped at the idea. I thought it would be great. Then I realized I haven’t run in twenty years! Yesterday I went out running. After two miles, I was puking on the side of the road. A marathon is 26 miles! I’m not sure what to do. I don’t think that’s the image they’re looking for.” It was so funny. I found out the next day he called the charity and asked if there was anything else he could do for them. I think he ended up doing rock climbing. It was so cute. He never took himself seriously. Wasn’t even remotely embarrassed telling this story.
The first time I actually met Kevin was during the read-through for “Livia.” He was late because he’d been shooting another episode. Having read the script, I knew who was missing and who he was when he walked into the room. I knew we had a fight scene together and all I remember thinking was, “Oh my God, he’s going to kill me! He’s huge!” I thought, “This is absurd. I can’t kick this guy’s butt!” He said, “Hi, I’m Kevin.” And I said, “Hi, I’m really scared of you.” He started laughing and said, “Don’t worry. Every girl on this show kicks my ass routinely.”
I had to do so much stuff in that first episode that was completely unfamiliar to me and also physically challenging. But Kevin was such a gentleman and made it so comfortable with his humor.
We also did “Coming Home” together and I think that was my favorite episode of his. I thought he was brilliant in it. Insane, funny - and it never felt like he was faking it. You could believe he was surrounded by those Furies. It goes back to his great sense of humor. He was flashing back and forth between thinking he was a god and then remembering he’d lost his powers.
Unexpectedly, it was decided that Ares would ride a horse and Kevin went right with it. The first time he went up to the horse, the horse wanted no part of him. It was hilarious. But Kevin was an experienced rider and took control.
The last time I saw Kevin was at a convention in October in Phoenix. In the cabaret we did a duet of “I've Got You, Babe.” It’s my favorite thing I’ve ever done at a convention. We never got to rehearse. We did the convention and signed autographs. They ran really late and it was almost time for the cabaret to start. We each ran through our solo songs and then I asked him if we should try doing “I’ve Got You, Babe.” Kevin said, “Sure!” We had to read the lyrics because there was no time to memorize them, but it was great. So much fun. No pressure. Just go out and have a good time. It was truly my favorite moment.