In Parks and Recreation, which actress portrays Diane Lewis?

Lucy Lawless portrays Diane Lewis in Parks and Recreation.

Diane is introduced in the fifth-season episode “How a Bill Becomes a Law,” where she meets Ron Swanson after asking the city to repair a pothole near her home. Lawless plays Diane as a practical, patient single mother who is notably different from Ron’s former partners, many of whom share the name Tammy.

Diane is a middle-school vice principal and has two daughters, Ivy and Zoe. Her relationship with Ron develops gradually, including his awkward attempts to connect with her children. She eventually becomes Ron’s wife after revealing that she is pregnant. Their son, John Swanson, is born during the sixth season.

Lawless was already widely known for playing Xena in Xena: Warrior Princess, but Diane is a substantially different role: a grounded parent and school administrator caught up in Ron’s eccentric world. A common mix-up is confusing Lawless with Alison Becker, who plays journalist Shauna Malwae-Tweep, or Darlene Hunt, who plays Marcia Langman.