One law for all famous or not

You have to wonder whether actress Lucy Lawless now feels less like a warrior princess, and more like a worrier princess.

Certainly it appears the full consequences of the Xena star's actions in spending 77 hours up a tower on a ship in New Plymouth are only now beginning to fully dawn on her.

Lawless was among seven Greenpeace protesters charged after a four-day demonstration aboard a Shell-chartered ship in Port Taranaki last month. The group now faces burglary charges, which carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The trial's set for March 20.

Last week Lawless went public, claiming she had never actively broken the law before, and that the several hours she spent in a police cell after she was arrested were among "the worst of my life".

It's hardly surprising. However, the contrast would have been utterly remarkable for someone coming from a background of success and presumed affluence, such as Lawless.

Lawless deserves all the praise and acclaim that has come her way for her on-screen success.

She's clearly a smart and successful woman, and would have been aware of the potential damage to her career from climbing the ship tower.

But it's hard to escape the feeling that just maybe, she's now getting a much-needed dose of reality.

Any free society includes the right to protest, and Lawless should be admired for having the courage of her convictions - but there are laws, and limits.

Perhaps the impending court process will serve as a timely reminder to Lawless, along with her fellow protesters, that there are consequences to every action, and that in life, if you break the law, more often that not, you end up getting punished for it - regardless of who you are, or how many movies you've starred in.

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