charlotte Ross On Her Warm Arrow Welcome ('I've Never Seen Anything Like It') 

In case you haven’t been anywhere near the Internet for the past 10 weeks:

‘s Donna Smoak, in the episode of the CW hit airing this Wednesday at 8/7c.

alumna was welcomed the first time around with open arms — shedding as she did some needed light on Felicity’s past — is to put it lightly. In her TVLine Q&A, Ross reacts to the fans’ outpouring of affection, teases the role Donna will play in helping her little girl sort through some big problems, and weighed in on our ideas to keep Mama Smoak in Starling City.

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idea what you were getting into when you first got cast on this show?

Oh my gosh — are you kidding? I’ve been in this business for a while and I’ve never seen anything like it. And because I’ve “been around the block” in the business, I don’t take it for granted. I’m just so overwhelmed with gratitude. What’s so amazing is that people were welcoming with such love

I started airing! I said to Emily [Bett Rickards], “They don’t even know if I’m a killer or something.” [

] I could be this terrible mom. It’s really the perfect storm, because the show is so well-written and Emily is just so overwhelmingly talented and beautiful. I think people really want to know more about her, her background, her family, so they were eager to see her mom. The icing on the cake, of course, is the character they wrote for me.

TVLINE | What do you like most about the role of Donna?

It’s just so juicy and layered and based in truth, but

….. There’s such a dichotomy between [Felicity’s] linear, M.I.T. thought process and my Vegas cocktail waitress character. [

Oh, I feel so blessed. You know how beautiful she is on the outside, but I can’t stress enough how beautiful she is on the inside. She’s such a giving actress, she’s fun to work with, she’s a true professional…. We just have a blast. We have a natural chemistry, and you sometimes never know if that’s going to happen on set. The rest of the cast is so fun, too — and at this point in my career, that’s really all you can ask for. So I’m a

girl right now. The fans, though…. I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ve been on some shows where they do tweeting and the fans are very vocal — like

TVLINE | I see it on Twitter and it’s as if you’re getting a big, warm cyber-hug.

I mean, how lucky am I? They’re so sweet and supporting and they say such wonderful things.

TVLINE | I sometimes want to shout to them, “Hey, I knew her back in the

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TVLINE | The chemistry you and Emily share certainly comes across on screen.

She sent me a text before I even showed up on set for my first episode, saying, “Welcome aboard. If you want to rehearse, here’s my telephone number. If you want to get together and talk about the characters…” She was wonderful from the get-go. And I told her that I love improv, so whatever she was up for, let’s try different things and not be afraid to think outside the box. She’s so open and receptive as an actress. And again, they’ve written such a fun character for me to play that we’re giggling half the time!

TVLINE | So, what is Donna up to this time around?

Well, we know that Donna lives in Vegas. We know that when she travels on Southwest she’s wearing an imitation Herve Leger, which I think says

] Obviously what’s going to bring her to town is her daughter, and anything her daughter might be going through that maybe I can help her with.

TVLINE | Well, I broke the first photos of Donna visiting Felicity and Ray in the hospital.

I loved all those pictures! Don’t you like my dress? Can we talk about my dress…?

TVLINE | It’s…  a good one. Yeah. I like it.

When I tried that dress on I just started laughing. Is there a better dress that hits the nail on the head in terms of who this character is? With the glitter on the front…. It’s

. So yeah, I’m in the hospital to see Ray…. I think the fans are really, really interested to know if I’m telling my daughter who to choose, so they’re going to have to tune in to see that.

TVLINE | I was curious about her take on Ray. I think Emily told us that, No. 1, Donna is like, “Yea, you have a boyfriend!”

Well as you recall, in my first episode I really just wanted her to get into a relationship. And then of course, I was hoping it would be somebody who was good looking and had money — things that are important to Donna! So obviously when I come back, you can guess how happy I am that she has a lot going on in that department. [

TVLINE | Does Felicity talk to her mother at all about the Oliver situation and the complications there?

Donna, being as “subtle” as she is, definitely wedges her way in a bit to get to the bottom of where her daughter stands emotionally. And Donna has some strong opinions on what she should do about it.

TVLINE | I spoke to Paul Blackthorne a few weeks ago, and I know you two don’t get to play in this episode. But are you also on board for some “SmoakinLance”?

the quotes that he said to you. What’s your opinion on that?

TVLINE | Well, Paul expressed at PaleyFest that Lance needs to “get laid.” And he told me it would be a fun dichotomy between the two of them.

He said a quote to you, something like, “I wouldn’t know what to do with her…”

TVLINE | “He’d be sitting there across from her at dinner thinking, ‘What is this in front of me?’ and at the same time, ‘Why am I

Exactly! What’s so amazing about the fans, again, is Paul and I haven’t even had a scene together.

Right! We had so much fun with that, and I think we’re excited at the opportunity and the prospect of it, because, as you know, he has stated that Lance, No. 1, “hasn’t gotten laid.” And No.2, I think he’s got a lot of serious stuff to deal with on the work front, so he could

a lot of fun, someone to maybe shake him up a bit. And I just have a natural feeling that those two characters would have a really fun-to-watch, interesting chemistry that you wouldn’t normally put together. Can I tell you there’s a plan for it next season? No, I can’t. But I can tell you that everybody’s aware of how the fans are speaking up, and what the fans think and feel means a lot.

TVLINE | It’d be easy enough to keep Donna around — with her cocktail waitress experience, she probably could help manage Thea’s club.

Listen to you…. That’s not a bad idea. I heard that at PaleyFest the guys [Blackthorne and John Barrowman] were fighting over me — I mean, how funny is that? That’s flattering, to say the least. I’m not sure what happened there, but I got a lot of calls, emails and tweets.

playing a cop. Lance could always use some help at the SCPD.

And you saw when I was a hostage that Donna’s tough, too. So, you never know!

, or for any other show? Email insideline@tvline.com and your question may be answered via Matt’s Inside Line.

She seems really cute. I love Donna! I’m excited to hear more about Felicity’s dad, too, hopefully next season.

I love Charlotte Ross and I can’t wait to see her in Wednesday’s episode. Also, yes please to SmoaknLance :)

This season of Arrow has been a struggle but Charlotte Ross as Mama Smoak has been a real bright spot. LOVE the dress they have her in, so perfect for the character.

This was such a cute and fun interview. I’m so glad she is back!!!

She better make sure Felicity her feelings for and break up with Ray

She’s awesome – and, Matt, I had a crush on Eve. too!

Omgg yes please more mama smoak. And yes lance does need to get laid lol. Smoaknlance wouldn’t be too bad.

Charlotte is the best, and I was SO disappointed when her guest appearance on Nashville eended up not becoming an arc. It made her not returning to Days even more disappointing. I would totally support her joining the cast of Arrow, even though it never occurred to me to give Lance a love interest. That said, he has taken a step back in his growth/likability, so anything to give him a new song to sing would be worth it.

makes two of us. was hoping she would land as a recurring on nashville. but glad to hear she is back on the small tube.

OMG!!! Charlotte Ross is so wonderful, i’m so happy to have Donna back. I can’t wait to hear about Felicity’s feelings and to see her following her heart #Olicity<3. Hopefully Charlotte will be made a regular for season 4, so we can have her living in Starling City when Felicity's dad storyline is being told, and perhaps dating a certain police Captain ;) #SmoaknLance

*sigh* I <3 her! I also go back to the Eve Donovan days. She was stunning then and even more so now.

Great idea, Matt, to have Donna help manage the club. Benefit, she would be driving Felicity crazy AND get to finally meet Quentin.

Good interview, thanks. It’s great to finally be light-hearted and optimistic about the show.

I adore Donna Smoak and I’m thrilled she’s returning to Arrow to mix things up again with Felicity. I love hearing that Ross and Rickards enjoy working together and they absolutely have great chemistry on the screen. Really hoping that Donna picks up on what’s going on with her daughter and digs deep for what’s really going on between Felicity and Oliver. Knock some since into her, Mama Smoak! Get this Olicity train back on track. LOL. I am all aboard for Quentin & Donna, too. I think Paul Blackthorne and Charlotte Ross would have the best, sparkling chemistry. They’d just be fun to watch. Quentin could help ground a flighty Donna while Donna would bring some fun and zip to an otherwise dour Quentin. Who wouldn’t love that? And if Felicity’s dad turns out to be a villain & returns, then you have Donna (literally) stuck between the cops & the robbers. There’s just too much awesomeness here to ignore the potential fun. Oh, and we haven’t even touched on what could be Donna/Oliver scenes. Can you imagine Donna giving Oliver the “don’t you mess things up with my daughter or you’ll answer to me, buddy!” speeches? Come on!

I am 100% on board with Momma Smoak hanging around and seducing the pants of Papa Lance.

I’ve loved Charlotte Ross since Days and when she played Quinn’s mom on Glee. Wonderful actress.

I’m looking forward to having Ray off the show. Less Ray, more Roy. Roy has had great character development and superbly acted. Ray is just annoying.

OMG I FREAKING LOVE CHARLOTTE AS MAMA SMOAK AND I AM SO HAPPY SHE IS BACK! XOXO Please keep her around on a more permeant stay on the show. I want her to marry Lance so Felicity and Laurel can be be step sisters now that would be fun.

I love everything about this! Donna needs to be back on a recurring basis next season.

Thank you so much for this interview! What a fun one to read :) I am beyond thrilled that they are bringing her back, I really enjoy their dynamic. I hope we get some additional info on Felicity — we get so little these days. I also hope they bring her back for S4 as well for some much needed focus on Felicity. We keep getting promises from the EPs, but all we keep getting are more masks and focus on other noncore characters.

But I digress LOL. The interview was wonderful and I am looking forward to their scenes, and hopefully soon we’ll get some smoakinLance

Charlotte is a delight. So glad Donna is back. Arrow needs some fun now. Excellent interview. Thanx for sharing.

Glad you brought up NYPD Blue – one of my all time favorite shows, and I loved Charlotte in it!

loved, loved, loved her in blue. she and dennis franz had the cutest thing going on.

She was perfectly cast. And one more thing that Emily and Donna have in common is they both give great interviews! Two very entertaining ladies! I vote for SmoaknLance too!

I’m excited for tonight! The return of Mama Smoak! And yes, I’d love some SmoaknLance!

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