TV Guide Online has an article: Spartacus Draws Up a New Battle Plan With Prequel Series Gods of the Arena
Lucy mentions two of her co-stars that inspired her:
Lawless is most certainly a survivor, even though Lucretia seemingly died in the Blood finale with a sword to her pregnant abdomen. "This role is the greatest challenge and pleasure of my career, so I'm grateful I escaped my fate," says Lawless, who shot Lucretia's demise two ways — one where she's clearly dead, one where she's still twitching. Execs chose the latter, assuring she'll be back for Season 2.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves. In Gods, the popular actress engages in some sizzling Sapphic sex with costar Jaime Murray (Dexter), who plays Lucretia's girlhood pal Gaia — and that's something Lawless' fans have been dying to see since the star's days as Xena: Warrior Princess. "The lesbian stuff made me nervous as hell, and I don't think I could have done it without Jaime," Lawless admits. "She's really funny and 200-percent professional. She's my kind of woman!"
And Whitfield, who is currently undergoing treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, remains her kind of man. "Andy didn't curl up in a ball and think of himself — he's concerned about all the people making their livelihood with this show," says Lawless. "He wants us to continue and we love him for that. It's no wonder he played Spartacus so well. The guy is a true hero."