Birth Name
Heidi Hudson Leick


Height
5' 7¾" (1.72 m)


Mini Biography
Heidi Hudson Leick, upon graduating high school, got a modeling gig in Japan; this was perfect because she loves traveling and modeling. When she returned to New York, her dream was to be an international model and then go into acting. One day, she quit modeling while in France, and pursued a TV career. After several episodes of "Melrose Place" (1992) and several TV movies, Hudson's big break in television came auditioning for her signature role of "Callisto" on "Xena: Warrior Princess" (1995). The casting people told her the part was that of a warrior queen, which she thought was great. Her audition consisted of doing a kick and throwing a chakram; having intimidated the crew, she got the part. Hudson attends Xena conventions as a guest of honor. She said her celebrity status surprises even her: when she had a birthday, several hundred fans sent her email messages. Her presence touches so many other people. She loves traveling, going on yoga retreats and climbing mountains. Hudson said at a convention, "I really want to thank all the people who have been supportive of me. It is so appreciated."

Mini Biography
Heidi Hudson Leick was born in Ohio where she lived for a short period of time before moving to Rochester, New York. It was here where she developed her passion for acting. This led her to the Neighborhood Playhouse Acting School in New York City, which boasts of such alumni as Gregory Peck, Grace Kelly, and Diane Keaton.

Hudson started her career as a model. This enabled her to experience another one of her passions, travel. Despite the many international adventures modeling allowed, Hudson decided to concentrate on an acting career. Her big break came in 1995 when she obtained a starring role in an Aaron Spelling production. Hudson really left an impression with this legendary TV producer, and he went on to use her in many of his projects including "Melrose Place" (1992).

Hudson is best known for her captivating role on "Xena: Warrior Princess" (1995). Here, her incomparable portal of a warrior queen with nothing but revenge on her mind has left a mark on all that have had the pleasure of watching her. Hudson describes this experience as being very therapeutic and relished the opportunity to play such an enraged character. However, don't worry, she has also been known to play an angel on a few occasions. Hudson has also appeared on two of the highest rated TV shows, "Law & Order" (1990) and, most recently, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (2000).

When Hudson is not acting or hiking through Nepal, she concentrates on her yoga practice. She has helped to launch Healing Heart Yoga Center Inc. It is here where Hudson touches the lives of all that have the privilege of her yoga teachings.

IMDb Mini Biography By: marina tamar


Trade Mark
The Callisto scream!



Trivia
Once read for the role of Seven of Nine on "Star Trek: Voyager (1995)".

Ranked #15 on Wizard magazine's 'Sexiest Women on TV' list (March 200 .

Studied Kung Fu for her role as 'Callisto' on "Xena: Warrior Princess" (1995).

She runs 'Healing Hearts Yoga, Inc.' in Los Angeles, California.



Personal Quotes
I love doing Callisto. It's therapy. I mean, wouldn't you love it, if you got to scream and yell and you got to fight people and you got a sword and no one yelled at you? ... No, I didn't study ... It's just from the inside.



Where Are They Now
(2004) Currently lives in Los Angeles and is a practicing yoga instructor. She runs Healing Hearts Yoga, Inc. and they hold retreats a few times a year. In May 2004, they are going to Scotland.

AN INTERVIEW WITH HUDSON LEICK

Exercise and Yoga

GILLIAN G. GAAR:
[01] One thing I don't understand about LA [Los Angeles]. People won't walk anywhere, but they exercise a lot. Why is that?
HUDSON LEICK:
[02] I think people exercise in LA for aesthetic reasons. Walking would be a little too nurturing! I'm doing yoga every day. My yoga teacher's always saying, "Everyone in LA takes all these exercise classes, not to get healthy, but to look pretty and to look good." I think that's very true.

GAAR:
[03] But that's not why you're taking yoga.

LEICK:
[04] Well, I'm vain. I have vanity. I want to have a nice body, but no, that's not the reason that I'm taking yoga. That's a benefit of yoga. Have you ever taken yoga?

GAAR:
[05] I did take a class once.

LEICK:
[06] Did you like it?

GAAR:
[07] Yes. I found it's not just a physical thing. There's also a mental, spiritual side to it.

LEICK:
[08] Oh my God, it's so full! I have to say right now it's my favorite thing to do. I dread it. When I go, I get my body there, and I'm like, I don't want to do this! This hurts! I don't want to do this. Emotions come up, stuff comes up. 'Cause it brings up a lot of things, for me. To be, in not physical pain where it's excruciating, but where you're stretching it, it's not comfortable all the time, and to have something emotional come up at the same time is really uncomfortable.

GAAR:
[09] That sometimes happens to me during massages.

LEICK:
[10] Yes! Me too! It's a similar thing. That's because our bodies, we store stuff in our physical bodies as well.

Acting

GAAR:
[11] Well, we should get on with the interview...what is it you like about acting?
LEICK:
[12] I like to connect with other human beings on that level. It's amazing.

GAAR:
[13] Though you could say the connecting is an act; you're not connecting as your "real" self.

LEICK:
[14] But it's a part of you. Callisto's a part of me. All the characters you play have to be a part of you. I mean, you don't turn off yourself and then channel another being in. It's still you.

GAAR:
[15] You've mostly done TV, not films?

LEICK:
[16] Yes. I haven't worked a lot on films and I don't really know what they'd be like. The idea of them is really great. I love the idea of doing independent, really interesting films. Recently I had an audition with Jon Voight for a Showtime movie. It was the best audition I have ever had. It was phenomenal. It was so -- this is going to sound odd, but when it's really that good, and I've only had it with Brian James and Jon Voight, it's spiritual. Something happens, where the other person is so absolutely available for you to play with that you get lost in it, it's so incredible. I didn't get the part, and I don't care, because the experience was that incredible! The man is, and Brian James, they're brilliant! They're really brilliant. To work with someone like that, even for moments, is like art in a moment. Incredible.

GAAR:
[17] Tell me about your audition for Callisto.

LEICK:
[18] I just went in and did it. I had never seen Xena, but I knew that it was in New Zealand, and I really wanted to go to New Zealand. I'd seen Hercules and I'd seen how the women were portrayed. I didn't watch the show very thoroughly, I just saw what it looked like. I went in and played Callisto like that, like a mad woman, very stark.

GAAR:
[19] Were you in THE GREATER GOOD (#22) at all?

LEICK:
[20] I think they put my hand in, like a double that looks my hand, wearing my black outfit. But I don't even know if they did that, I never saw that one. [Editor's note: Robert Field in his interview this issue confirms that a double was used for the GREATER GOOD (#22) shoot.]

Training for Callisto and Hijacked: Flight 285

GAAR:
[21] Did you have any training for the role?
LEICK:
[22] Yeah, I had three days of kung fu.

GAAR:
[23] Had you ever done any fight scenes before?

LEICK:
[24]

Lunchtime:
Cliona: Nicola. Did you ever hear the saying you are what you like? You’re a girl so does that
Mean like girls?
Nicola: Hey! You like boys so does that mean you are a boy?
Cliona: Hahaha!
Áine: Ok; let’s just settle this. You are what you eat.
Nicola: Really?!! Ok; Cliona, how long have you been eating sour grapes and ugly fruit?
*We all laugh in unison.*

Cliona’s house:
Cliona and Áine: Hi Nicola!
Nicola: Hey girls!
*Then I trip over the pool table.*
Nicola: Oh @@!!@!
Áine: Nicola; seven year old beside you!
Nicola: (?>@£$ %%%%@@?!!?)Ok! I’m going to shut up now.

At Lunchtime:
Nicola: Hey Cliona!
Cliona: It said bee and there’s a picture of a bee on it!
Áine: *Looks at me and laughs*

At Cliona’s house:
Nicola: Ok Ok! Girls paint my face!
Áine: Cliona has fake blood so why don’t we put it on you.
Nicola: Ok!
*They put fake blood all over my wrist*
Cliona: That actually looks real!
Nicola: I know it looks real!
Josh: What’s on your wrist Nicola?
Nicola: I was feeling depressed so I slit my wrist.
Áine: *Kicks me* Seven year old...
Nicola: Oh yeah. I mean I fell up the stairs and cut it. I’m not emo.
Josh: What’s emo?
Nicola: It’s people that hurt themselves purposely.
Áine: *Throws dirty look*
Nicola: I mean they’re gothic people.

At Cliona’s house:
Nicola: Áine; since I fall up the stairs so much you should take a picture.
Áine: Yeah!
*She runs up the stairs and I wait at the bottom.*
Nicola: Ok! Keep the camera ready I’m running up!
*I begin to run up*
Áine: Ok I’m taking it...
Nicola: Oh crap!
Áine: Don’t tell me you actually fell.
Nicola: Yeah...
Áine: You mog!

Outside the staffroom:
Cliona: I was talking to a friend who said something about watching porn.
Nicola: You watch porn!?
*Then I look up and see the staffroom*
Nicola: Oh crap!
Áine: What?
Nicola: We’re outside the staffroom and I asked her about watching porn!
Cliona: Nicola you mog!
Nicola: I don’t think they heard...

Lunchtime:
Nicola: Do ye want to go out into the mall?
Cliona: Whatever like...
Áine: Yeah sure!
*Cliona and I bump into each other*
Cliona: Wow lads! Nicola’s so hot!
*We all laugh*
Nicola: I’m sorry I like boys!
Cliona: So do I! But your arm is roasting!
Nicola: I know! I think I’ve a temperature.

Lunchtime:
Cliona: Nicola you’re a slut.
Nicola: How can I be a slut!?! I don’t know any fella’s!
Cliona: I know that! You slapper!
*Mrs. Curtain throws me a dirty look and walks off*
Nicola: Thanks a lot! Mrs. Curtain heard you and threw me a dirty look!
*We both laugh*
Cliona: *I mumble under my breath*
Cliona: What was that?
Nicola: Nothing...

Morning:
Cliona: Nicola; we are playing a game for the day. You can’t talk unless it rhymes with the thing I just
Say.
Nicola: Okay!
Cliona: Fuck you!
Nicola: You too!
Cliona: Fine! I’m not playing anymore!
Nicola: Hurray!

In between classes:
Nicola: Wow! I thought I was dead in Spanish. I didn’t do any of the homework!
Sarah: Wow you’re lucky.
Nicola: Well, I never actually do any of my homework in Spanish!
Sarah: Shush!
*I turned around and saw Mr. Harrington right behind me.
Nicola: Oh crap! Um... Thanks for the warning!
*We both laugh*

At Áine’s house before going to the cinema:
Nicola: Twilight!
Áine: Twilight!
Nicola: Twilight!
Áine: Twilight!
Nicola: Twilight!
Áine: Twilight!
Nicola: Twilight!
*etc...*

Texting:
Nicola: Emmett!
Áine: Edward!
Nicola: Emmett!
Áine: Edward!
Nicola: Emmett!
Áine: Edward!
Nicola: Emmett!
Áine: Edward!
Nicola: Emmett!
Áine: Edward!
Nicola: Emmett!
Áine: Edward!
Nicola: Emmett!
Áine: Edward!
Nicola! Emmett!
Áine: Cullens!
Nicola: Yay!
Áine: Cullens!
Nicola: Cullens!
Áine: Okay; this is pointless.
Nicola: But fun. Okay. What now...?

Morning:
Nicola: Áine and I were texting last night and we decided to gi