The “Where Do I Know You From?” Files, Part 2: Stephen Amell

Before Arrow premieres, I thought it would be fun to get to know the cast and their past roles, so stay tuned for weekly posts. Today’s entry in the “Where Do I Know You From?” files is Stephen Amell.

With a slew of guest appearances on high profile shows under his belt, Stephen Amell is ready to take the lead. Including a sadistic werewolf, a male prostitute, a juvenile nut, and a lovable paramedic, Amell has conquered a diversity of characters. Here is a (spoiler-filled) overview of some notable roles you may have seen him in before we get to know him as Oliver Queen on Arrow.

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES (the CW, 2011)
Season 2, Episodes 13, 14
Character: Brady

Brady, a werewolf and Jules’ new boyfriend, helps her with the plan to avenge Mason’s murder and recruit Tyler into their circle. To lure Tyler in, Brady kidnaps Caroline and locks her in a cage, shooting her with wooden bullets and with liquid vervain. Another werewolf suggests that Mason and Katherine sought the Moonstone in preparation for the vampires to break The Sun and The Moon Curse. Brady insists that they must break it first, and realizing they will need the doppelganger, he follows Elena and Stephan to the lake house. While there, Elena non-fatally stabs Brady, starting a game of cat-and-mouse that culminates in Stephan ripping out Brady’s heart.

Brady comes off as a highly confident man more than capable of leading the pack if Jules was not already in charge. He is tough, sufficient in hand-to-hand combat, and willing to do whatever is necessary to protect his fellow werewolves. So far detached from his emotions, Brady says, “We can’t let them do that, even if we have to kill every vampire in town.” And he means it, practically preparing for a slaughter right then. Whether Brady is in human form or wolf mode, crossing him should be done with caution.

Stephen Amell is wonderfully terrifying in this role. He excels at downplaying his personality to create a bestial character that seems authentic and plausible given the circumstances. Portraying scary, with a sight hint of brooding, and yet not being seen as unjustified or worth hating, is impressive. Given this role, I have no trouble picturing the dark and gritty side to Arrow that everyone is clamoring about.

HUNG (HBO, 2011)
Season 3, Episodes 1-10
Character: Jason

Jason is a waiter that Lenore recruits as one of her new male prostitutes and personal conquests. After Lenore finds out that his fiancee, Sandee, is not pregnant like Jason told her, she persuades Sandee to focus on Jason’s money. Jason and Tanya have also been engaging in a relationship and she convinces him to act out one of Lydia’s fantasies, a fake burglary, which ends poorly for him. Sandee, knowing that Jason’s lack of regard for gender in his work makes him an ideal asset, convinces Tanya to enlist him. With the help of Sandee’s coaching, Jason starts reeling in more clients than Ray, who retaliates by breaking Jason’s nose and thus causing him difficulty with clients. Jason breaks up with Sandee after he physically apologizes to Lenore.

Jason is an interesting character because he is this bright-eyed youth that Ray labels as an indisputable villain. Although the audience should dislike Jason for taking work away from a character that they have built up an attachment to, it is difficult to fault him. Jason is just trying to make a better living than waiting tables; an eager guy loving his new job. There is a part of you that feels bad for Jason because he seems to lose control over his work, being frequently manipulated by the several women in his life.

NEW GIRL (FOX, 2011-2012)
Season 1, Episodes 9, 13
Character: Kyle

While Cece opens Schmidt’s Christmas present, her boyfriend Kyle interrupts with a passionate kiss for her. They attend Schmidt’s office party, where Kyle tells Cece to take off the mustache Jess gave her. Cece bitterly removes it, but the next time she sees Kyle at the party, she reinstates the mustache, prompting him to walk away. On Valentine’s Day, Kyle arrives at the bar high on shrooms. She cuts their night out short, and both arrive at the house of Jess’ attempted one night stand. Kyle, still high and now shirtless, pounces out the door after a glow stick that Jess threw to make him leave. Although Cece expects to spend the night with Kyle, she ends up with Schmidt.

Kyle can be summed up as an insecure goofball, incapable of being good enough for Cece. He focuses more on holding the appearance of a relationship than he does with caring about her as a person; Kyle constantly ambushes Cece with kisses and physically places himself between her and Schmidt even when nothing is happening between the two friends. As Schmidt sweetly explains the components of the perfume he specially created and named for Cece, Kyle stares at him with this slight smirk that makes you kind of hate him.

Compared to the other roles I have seen Stephen Amell in, this is by far the most amusing (though not my favorite). Kyle is not the type of character I expected, which is why he is spectacular. To see him acting like a teenage boy and compare that to his role on The Vampire Diaries is a testament to his talent. Brady and Kyle are polar opposites: one a composed man, the other, an overdramatic kid, both just as convincing and engaging.

PRIVATE PRACTICE (ABC, 2012)
Season 5, Episodes 11-17
Character: Scott Becker

Scott, a young paramedic, is first seen wheeling a screaming man into the hospital. Being impressed by Violet’s ability to comfort the patient, Scott asks her out, but she answers with kind rejection. Violet becomes upset when she learns that Pete, her husband whom she is separated from, was with another woman, so she then accepts Scott’s offer. Violet wishes to keep their relationship as “friends with benefits”, while he desires something more. After reporting to a domestic disturbance, Scott comes into the ER badly beaten, but survives. He breaks off his relationship with Violet, stating that he does not wish to come between her family.

Let’s just say that Addison refers to him as “Hot Scott” for good reason, but he is much more than a pretty face. Scott embodies the idealistic charming, sweet, caring man any girl would be lucky to call her boyfriend. He brings Violet coffee, he respects what she wants, he looks out for what he feels to be her best interest. When Scott semi-jokingly tells Violet, “I’m not cute, I’m tough. I’m a tough guy,” you are not at all concerned with whether that statement is false because it is just so endearing.

Stephen Amell: perfection. There are not a lot of actors who can genuinely pull off such a radiant character. He oozes charm without hints of creepiness or ulterior motives, and displays a pure heart without ever appearing weak. This is, again, a different type of character than the above, and I praise diversity in an actor’s work, especially when it is this well done.

Other Filmography:
Beautiful People (ABC Family, 2005), Season 1, Episodes 2-4, 7, 8; NCIS: LA (CBS, 2010), Season 2, Episode 8; CSI (CBS, 2011), Season 12, Episode 1; 90210 (the CW, 2011), Season 4, Episodes 4, 5; Justice for Natalee Holloway (Lifetime movie, 2011)

See Stephen Amell next in Arrow – Wednesday, October 10 on The CW!

If you missed last week’s file on Katie Cassidy, check it out here.