It’s great to know that young black girls are seeing themselves on TV as leading ladies, and I’m part of that. It’s just such an honor. Candice Patton Read Quote
I get comments all the time on Twitter, and fan mail about how amazing it is to see me play Iris West: a strong woman. It’s not really about her being black; she just happens to be black. Candice Patton Read Quote
I think people love the character of Iris West. I think a lot of fans are also excited that Iris West is now African-American. They want to see her be strong and intelligent and a love interest – and so people come out in full force to defend that and honor that. And I think that’s cool. Candice Patton Read Quote
Iris is the Lois Lane of ‘The Flash.’ It’s a really special role. Knowing they were willing to offer it to an African American – Iris is traditionally white – I knew how important this would be for so many people. Candice Patton Read Quote
The world in which we live is diverse, and I think television and film should reflect that. Candice Patton Read Quote
It’s so important for young girls of color – young girls of any color – to see diverse women as the heroes of their own story. Candice Patton Read Quote
Heroes’ was great, but I was like the sorority sister, the friend. So often, we as black women, we are cast as the best friend; we are rarely the leading lady. So for me, being on ‘The Flash,’ it’s been so important for me to be the leading lady, to be the woman that is desired by the superhero, to be the hero herself. Candice Patton Read Quote
It’s not enough to be diverse in your casting. You have to service those characters; you have to make them fully well rounded because people are watching. Candice Patton Read Quote
I remember being interested in theater when I was in school, but I wasn’t always engaged in making it a career. I was a cheerleader in Texas, but I tore my ACL, so I was out for the rest of the season. That’s when I started putting more of my passion into theater. Candice Patton Read Quote
