Xena
Heroine of a New Zealand television series (played by Lucy Lawless), Xena: Warrior Princess, a spin-off of an earlier action/adventure series, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.
Xena started her series life on Hercules as a villainess, a murderous conqueror intent on killing and destruction, exacting terrible revenge for the murder of her brother, Lyceus, by the army of another warlord, Cortese. In a series of interactions, including one in which she is severely beaten and cast out by the army she commanded for preventing a child from being murdered, Xena is convinced by the good Hercules to renounce her evil ways and fight the good fight for truth, justice, and the Ancient Greek way. Xena's ferocity was thus revealed as a tragic reaction to her own abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder, as evidenced by her instinctive protection of the child even though this act of mercy resulted in terrible consequences for herself.
The show Xena: Warrior Princess picked up Xena's life as she began her quests to make amends and wander about doing good. She immediately encounters Gabrielle who becomes her sidekick and companion.