ARROW: Susanna Thompson Talks About Moira’s Complexities

As everyone in Oliver’s life adjusts to his return, his family dynamic changes a bit in tonight’s brand new episode of ARROW — Oliver’s mother, Moira, finally opens up to her daughter, Thea, after some prompting from her son.

“I think there’s a lot that goes on when one experiences death,” Susanna Thompson (Moira) told reporters on set recently. “And in Moira’s case…if there is a possibility of someone having damaged two of her family members, there’s more possibilities of that happening. And I think in whatever way we uncover Moira’s participation in any of this [conspiracy of what happened to Oliver] — I have no idea where they’re going to go with it — I don’t think she can have people close to her at this point. I think she’s grieving, and I also think she needed to protect people. And part of that protecting is keeping distance. But you will sort of feel this family connection as we continue and that will be revealed.”

And while so far, Moira has been (outwardly calm) about the secrets she’s keeping, Thompson teased it will be impacting her character soon.

“Emotionally,” she said. “Because it’s effecting those that love her, it’s effecting her nervous system, her emotional system. So we’ll see.”

In the meantime, Thompson said there hasn’t been anything that Moira has had to do that has crossed any lines for her as an actress.

“I don’t know yet [what that line would be],” she said. “They haven’t crossed that line with me, so I don’t know that I know that line yet. I’m constantly trying to make sure the audience will understand her heart. And they’ve been very smart and as we’ve gone on from the pilot, of keeping her multi-dimensional and not just twisting a mustache in a corner. I haven’t reached that line yet, so I don’t know yet.”

But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t delight a little in being able to toe the line of being a likeable character versus a character you love to hate.

“I like both,” she said. “I like both! And I thought in the pilot it was wonderful to have that heartfelt reunion and face the loss you thought you had. But also buy you that moment of, oh my god, she’s at the helm of some of this.”

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The newly picked up ARROW airs Wednesdays at 8 PM on The CW.

Related:

ARROW: Stephen Amell on Oliver Meeting China White, Love Triangles, and What He Knows About What Went Down on the Island
ARROW: Watch the New York Comic Con Trailer Now!
Andrew Kreisberg, Marc Guggenheim, and Greg Berlanti Talk ARROW

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* Travel and accommodations provided by Warner Bros.