Arrow: Stephen Amell Talks Emily Bett Rickards & Olicity

A growing and very vocal group of “Arrow” fans have made it known they’re rooting for a romance between Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) and his quirky IT genius, Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards) – affectionately dubbed “Olicity” as a couple.

While the chemistry between the characters is palpable on the CW drama, a hookup between the easy-on-the-eyes pair would stray from the show’s DC Comics roots.

Access Hollywood caught up with Stephen to get his take on whether Oliver/The Vigilante will ever cross the friend/co-worker line with his hot hacker assistant.

“In terms of women in his life at present, [Felicity] knows him better than anybody,” Stephen told Access, when asked if he thinks Oliver and Felicity will hook up. “[But] that’s not saying much.”

Stephen credited the fans’ adoration of Felicity to the talents of Emily and said he has no idea where their on-screen relationship is headed.

“I’m very touched that the Internet and the fan base has such a fascination with Felicity and Oliver, and I really think that it speaks to Emily Bett Rickards,” he said. “When she first played [Felicity] in episode 3, I remember meeting her and then coming around a corner [in the scene] and when she did her whole [nervous schtick] I literally cracked a smile – which may have been the first time my character has cracked a smile.

“So, I give all the credit to her,” he continued, adding, “The writers will do what the writers will do.”

As for Oliver’s newly-reignited flame with longtime love Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy), Stephen said it can’t last for long, as she’s still in the dark regarding his secret identity.

“They’re not operating on a truthful level,” he said. “We’re never really going to know what Oliver’s relationship with Laurel could be until everything is on the table. And when everything is going to go on the table, and if that actually happens, I have no idea.”

WATCH IT NOW: Stephen Amell — Where Will Oliver & Laurel Pick Up?

The 32-year-old star also said it’s likely the death of Oliver’s best friend/Laurel’s ex-boyfriend Tommy Merlyn (Colin Donnell), as seen in the Season 1 finale, will drive a wedge between the reunited couple.

“I think that it’s gonna be difficult for Oliver and Laurel to just pick up and go on like nothing has happened,” he explained. “With all that’s happened with Tommy and the aftermath of that – I think it’s going to be extremely difficult for them to just [return to] where they were.”

— Erin O’Sullivan

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