For Katie Cassidy, Arrow was more than just a launchpad for her acting career. The opportunity arose when she was facing personal struggles, it came as a light during dark times, in a period when she needed it the most. It was a challenging crossroad, where she could either enter a new phase, or sulk in the misery of her emotional struggles.
But she needed a new direction that could take her mind off of things, which kept her in a downward spiral. She took on the role of Laurel Lance, fully committed herself to the character, and used this role to anchor herself in real-time.
A Life-Saving Opportunity: How Arrow Gave Katie Cassidy a Fresh Start
Katie Cassidy truly appreciated the opportunity of working with acclaimed creators like Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, and director David Nutter. She resonated with the pilot episode on a deeper level, and put everything else aside to pursue the role. In an interview with HGL, she spoke about the same.
I called my manager/agents and I was like, I’m not going to read any more pilots… this is what I want to do.
In the end, her commitment paid off and she landed the role of Laurel Lance which brought a newfound feeling of stability to her life, something that she desperately needed amidst a bad breakup.
However, it wasn’t all glitz and glam because her work started to take an emotional toll on her, “it was a lot, to be honest with you,” she shared while describing how her experience was challenging.
I was crying by myself, I just got in this zone, and it really took a toll on me in general… I wanted to do the best I could do for this character.
Clearly, the actress wasn’t in the right headspace during the time of filming. But, there are lows in everyone’s lives and the tides were just about to change for her. To Cassidy’s credit, she continued on for as long as she could, till she felt better, which is quite difficult when your mental health is in shambles.
Rising to New Heights: Katie Cassidy’s Success Beyond Arrow
Katie Cassidy’s hard work on Arrow paid off and it opened many doors for her, both on-screen and off-screen. Even though her character was killed off on the show, she looked at the bigger picture.
I was obviously really disappointed but… knew killing off a main character would create a bigger story to tell.
But her journey as an actress was far from over, in fact, Cassidy was just getting started! Shortly after Arrow, she played Black Siren on The Flash. Her character was only supposed to be present for one episode, but fan support led to her role being extended in the Arrow series, where she became a regular after season 5.
Now, beyond acting, Cassidy has been exploring new horizons by diving into writing and directing. She wants to tell the world about her story, and the creative path that she has embarked on, might just help her craft the narrative she desires.
