Video Interview: Paul Blackthorne Speaks At Wondercon 2013

When we spoke with Paul Blackthorne, the actor playing Laurel’s father, Detective Quentin Lance, at this year’s Wondercon convention in Anaheim, California, it came soon after the “Salvation” episode aired in which we got to see a different side of the detective — a man who actually knows how to shave and smile. We talked to him about that and other subjects at an interview roundtable, the video for which you can find at the bottom of this article.

“It’s actually quite sad, because he spent five years completely in pieces, really; and three years since he last heard of his wife,” Blackthorne explained to us about the very different Quentin that we saw. “And just for that moment, for them just to sort of almost return to those old days, they just slipped back after that initial shock, slipped back quite effortlessly… he reminded himself of being a human being after all, and he has experienced love, and a relationship, and it’s been a long time. So when he was able to… yeah, he was happy, you know? And then she ran off again!”

Although the elder Dinah Lance has skipped town for a flashier location, Quentin’s relationship with Laurel, his daughter, is still a very important part of the show. Their father-daughter moments are well prepared for, with the actors coming up with backstory to inform their performances. “We talk about it. We talk about our relationship and our history, as a family. I think it’s important to do that. That’s my approach to acting, and Katie [Cassidy, who plays Laurel] as well. I just think it helps,” he said. “The more you talk about the history of relationships, especially family ones which are so intense in every way, as everybody knows, that’s when a relationship mentality creates a physicality,” he explained.

How might Quentin react if his ex-wife or his daughter decided to become a vigilante like the Hood? “Oh, he’d be fine,” he laughed. “Go ahead! Make my day! Well, that’s a question. I think he’d just give up. ‘Oh, sod it. Go on. One more’s not going to make a difference to my misery!’ Maybe he’ll just join in himself,” he joked.

All in all, we might get to see Mr. Blackthorne’s Quentin smiling again, eventually. “I think there’s a point where — obviously, he’s weighed down very much by the tragedy of his life in this first season. The grief, particularly, of [losing] your own child is not something you ever are going to get over, fully. I’m just wondering if there’s a way… because it’s like letting go of the hope. When Dinah Lance came back with the idea of hope, that was the toughest thing all over again, because it’s like ‘well, maybe there is hope.’ I think when we finally resolve that it is over, it will help somehow to turn a corner, and to maybe see life in a different way with a different attitude,” he said.

You can see the full interview, where he talks about many subjects, including whether or not he is in the upcoming flashback episode and whether or not we can look forward to scenes with John Barrowman as Malcolm Merlyn, below. Enjoy!