Katie Cassidy’s name has been in the acting game a long time. When discussing her rise as an actress at a spotlight panel during Calgary Expo, she was quick to mention, "for those of you who don’t know, my family is in the business."
That is to say, her father is David Cassidy – yes, of Partridge Family fame, among many other things. While that may inspire an apple didn’t fall far from the tree remark, her story is more impressive than that. Katie didn’t grow up with her biological father. Her draw to entertainment was a natural move made all her own.
"It was really important for me to do it on my own merit," she told me during a phone interview earlier in April. Our interview had missed final confirmation. Katie hadn’t been expecting my call, but she still answered my questions with quite a bit of aplomb.
"I didn’t grow up with my biological father, I grew up with my mom and stepdad, and we were in Los Angeles, but I’d never been to Hollywood; I wasn’t in that scene," she said. "I was in theatre since elementary school, and then I was in acting class, and then when it was time for me to go to college I decided not to go, and went to acting school instead."
A decision that has worked out well for her. Her acting resume is littered with regular spots on several television shows, as well as a few movies. At current she is one of the main stars on the CW’s Arrow as Laurel Lance who, in the comic books, becomes DC superhero Black Canary.
Among the comic and pop culture community she is especially known for her role as the first incarnation of the manipulative demon Ruby on CW’s Supernatural. At the Calgary Expo, more than one fan let her know that she was their favourite Ruby.
Katie Cassidy is a woman who leaves an impression. The pride she feels portraying her role on Arrow was evident at the Expo, which was only right, being that she was surrounded by plenty of other fans who wanted to hear her take on the character.
"Laurel’s had a rough life," Cassidy said. "She’s always in these love triangles, and all these people are dying all the time, it’s just like poor girl. Got a lot going on. Needs some therapy. Send Laurel to Hawaii."
Not only is Laurel dealing with the usual slew of crime and villainy, she also faces the return of her presumed-dead younger sister, Sara Lance, who operates as a vigilante known as The Canary (a precursor to, many fans hope, Laurel becoming The Black Canary herself).
Laurel Lance’s storyline in the current season – peppered with addiction and depression – is about to come to a head, and it’s promising to be a good one, if Katie’s excitement is anything to go by. When a fan at the Expo asked her what her favourite episode was to film, she paused for a second and then said, quite apologetically, knowing that it would make fans even more eager "... the season finale."
The said finale is due to air on May 14th, and the ride leading up to it is proving more than exciting. Regardless of what it may entail, when it comes to what’s in it for her character, Cassidy is game for anything.
"I’m looking forward to anything that they have coming up for her, honestly," Cassidy said. "She has hit rock bottom and now she’s sort of coming out on the other side, and I think you’ll just get to see her grow stronger as time goes by."
Hopefully that strength will allow Laurel to fight side by side on the streets with Stephen Amell’s Oliver Queen who, along with being the titular superhero of the show, is also her love interest and, in the comics, her future husband. Whether the television show decides to go that route, however, only time will tell.
Being able to act as and represent a character that she loves so much seems to be part of Cassidy’s gratefulness for being where she is. Her place in the acting world is solid and, despite her background, it is her own tenacity she can thank. Recalling the early days of auditioning, she said it was a challenge to prove herself.
"Coming from a family who does [act], it’s interesting; people think that having the last name Cassidy gives me an upper hand, but it doesn’t. It almost puts me under a microscope. I had to prove myself. When you go into a room and you’re the daughter of..., people are like, let’s see if she knows what’s she’s doing.
"I think a lot of people were pleasantly surprised that I actually, you know, studied it and have a passion for it and worked really hard for everything I have. It wasn’t given to me; it was almost harder because I come from that family. But it’s all really good, because I appreciate everything I have that much more."
