5 Things We Learned About Arrow’s John Barrowman at Heroes and Villians Fan Fest

When John Barrowman graced the Heroes and Villains Fan Fest stage in San Jose wearing a sparkly Wonder Man get-up, heels, and a cape, we knew this would be a unique panel. And it was.

The Arrow and Doctor Who actor regaled the audience with behind the scenes tales from his illustrious career.

Here are some things we learned about the versatile performer:

1. The Entertainer

Barrowman was asked which medium of the industry he preferred most. He was unable to pick one, saying they are all forms of entertainment, and he loves being an entertainer. He started out on live television on a children’s program, Live and Kicking, followed by a game show for kids called The Movie Game.

“I love everything that I do. That’s why I do it. I just enjoy every part of the entertainment industry. That’s what I call myself: an entertainer. I don’t label actor, singer, dancer, model, blah blah blah blah blah. I’m just an entertainer. That’s it. And that’s what I hope you like me doing,” he stated.

He also expressed his affinity for performing in front of a live audience, and how that extends to appearing at conventions.

“I’m really lucky that I enjoy my job, and that’s what’s great about going to all these different things. You guys are part and parcel to making my success happen, and that’s why I like to share it all so much with you. People say that I do it more than a lot of other people, and that’s because you just make my life awesome,” Barrowman told the crowd.

2. Captain Jack’s Defining Moment

On an episode of Doctor Who, Captain Jack Harkness kisses both Rose Tyler and The Doctor. “I kiss them both equally the same way,” Barrowman said of the character’s defining moment.

An interviewer had asked him what he thought of the shock that befell the audience from seeing those kisses, and Barrowman attested that there was no shock. “The thing that was great about it was that people were totally accepting of it. It was made to be normal. That was what I wanted to do: kissing one gender and another—it’s normal.”

He said it was “about bloody time” that an openly gay actor portrayed a hero to young people.

3. The Prankster

Barrowman is known for being a prankster on set. In fact, his shenanigans were brought up by many of his castmates on other panels. When asked if he had ever been pranked, Barrowman answered definitively, “No, never.” People may have made him laugh, but Barrowman claimed, “Anyone that’s ever set me up, I’ve always busted them. I find out. No one is as good at it as me.”

His skills are apparently hereditary, coming from his father. “What my dad used to do to us when we were kids was just fall out of the closet like a dead body, and have his hand covered in ketchup, you know. Seriously. It was great growing up. It was like living on the set of The Walking Dead,” he laughed.

Barrowman told a story about his dad attempting to prank his niece and nephew.  It backfired, though, and he was stuck in a cupboard for four hours. “He couldn’t walk for, like, two hours [after] because his legs were cramped,” he recalled, concluding, “My family are all idiots.”

4. The Flash “Duet”

On The Flash Season 3 Episode 17, “Duet,” Barrowman got to show off his singing chops. “It was awesome to sing with everybody, but we didn’t sing together. We recorded it at different times,” he explained. “I was just thrilled to sing on the same track as Jesse [L. Martin] and Victor [Garber]. I had been a fan of theirs and their Broadway work.”

A highlight for Barrowman was when Garber told him, “It’s just glorious hearing you sing.” Barrowman responded, “It’s just glorious hearing you say that to me!”

5. Malcolm’s Advice

Barrowman recalled a behind the scenes moment that he loved from Arrow.

Malcolm was addressing Team Arrow. He was giving them a speech, “telling them what to do, how to do it in order to get what they want.” Barrowman mused, “They were always coming to him for advice even though they never wanted him in the circle.” He added, “Malcolm was cool with that, like, he knew. He loved all of them in a way, he helped them, but he would’ve killed them all at any moment. And vice versa.”

At the end of the speech was a line that Barrowman loved. “Malcolm gives them instructions, like, ‘You gotta do this, you gotta do that. You gotta make believe that you’re gonna do this, but then again, none of you are very good actors.'” Barrowman bent over laughing, remembering the looks on their faces.

He asked the other actors if they were okay with the line, and Barrowman said they responded, “Yeah, but you said it with such truth!” And then he laughed some more.

Find out more about Heroes and Villains fans fest here, and be sure to check out all of our coverage of HVFF.

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