Lydia

Lydia
Portrayed by	Dawn Olivieri
First appearance	Orientation
In-story stats
Known ability	Empathy
Gender
Residence	Sullivan Bros. Carnival
Occupations	Carnival worker, former target girl in Edgar's knife show
Significant other	Edgar
Child	Amanda
Sibling	Carol Strazzulla

Lydia, the "painted lady", is an evolved human with the ability to feel empathy through her tattoos. She works for Samuel Sullivan at a carnival.

Character History

Orientation

Lydia attends Joseph Sullivan's funeral. She later goes to Samuel, and he places a needle into her back, which injects ink and creates a tattoo of Danko. Using her power, Lydia gives information about him to Samuel.

They do this again later, this time with the tattoo forming into Hiro, and she tells Samuel that Hiro had been there, at the carnival, fourteen years ago.

Jump, Push, Fall

As Samuel and Edgar talk about gathering others like them, Samuel injects the ink into Lydia's back, and the tattoos form into Sylar, Peter, and Claire.

Graphic Novel:Stolen Fate

Fourteen years ago, Lydia shares a drink with Edgar at the Sullivan Bros. Carnival. She thanks Edgar for making her smile again and the two friends decide to play tricks on the mean fortune teller. They find her telling a young Hiro Nakamura of his destiny before Edgar steals the crystal ball. Lydia and Edgar go on the Ferris wheel and both look into the ball, seeing what they most desire. Later, Samuel is angry at Lydia for going along with Edgar and he, the fortune teller and Edgar leave her alone to ponder on what she saw in the ball.

Ink

At the carnival, Lydia listens to Samuel tell her of how he has found someone to fill his brother's attention. He talks about discovering his ability to manipulate the earth and how he was raised. Lydia helps him with his tie and tells Samuel that he doesn't have to leave but he insists he must. Samuel prepares to leave and Lydia wonders if he will return home, but Samuel assures her he will never return to that life.

Graphic Novel:Running in Circles

Before Edgar leaves to retrieve the compass for Samuel, Lydia asks him to do her a secret favor. She hands him a piece of paper and tells him that no one can know about what he is doing. Edgar also remembers the time when Lydia served as his assistant in his knife throwing act.

Webisode:Slow Burn

Part 1

Lydia watches one of the tattoos on her right arm as Edgar enters her trailer, handing her a Sprint phone. He tells her how dangerous it is having a phone in the carnival, but Lydia reveals that she has a daughter. She tells him that she had her when she was a teenager and wasn't able to care for her because she was too young, scared, and different. Edgar assures her that everything will be okay, but Lydia is worried, showing the tattoo of her daughter surrounded by fire. Lydia tells Edgar that she can feel something is wrong.

Part 2

Lydia speaks with her daughter, Amanda, on the phone. She learns from Amanda that she also has an ability and that ability has ruined her life. Lydia tries to explain why she left Amanda with Carol, that Carol practically raised Lydia. She reassures Amanda that she's not "a freak" and that nothing is wrong with her. Lydia tells her that she is her daughter.

Acceptance

Lydia speaks with Edgar to discover why he is upset. She guesses it is about all the new arrivals to the carnival and Edgar expresses his concerns about Samuel. Samuel then emerges and takes Lydia to his trailer. He tells her that she can tell him anything and as he paints a tattoo on her back, it forms into Noah Bennet. Lydia claims that he may have changed his mind about hunting evolved humans.

Hysterical Blindness

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Heroes Evolutions

Slow Burn

In chapter 1 of Slow Burn, Gail Bowman writes about her friendship with Lydia in her journal. She later visits Lydia in her trailer and the two friends discuss their carnival life, the feeling of being a mother and a mysterious request Samuel made of Gail. Lydia becomes concerned and checks to see if anyone is listening in on their conversation. She tells Gail that ever since Joseph died, Samuel has been bringing in more and more people like them into the carnival. She theorizes that he is trying to fill the void that Joseph left. Lydia then comforts Gail because Gail thinks that Chris isn't fitting in. She tells her that when Chris realizes that everyone is family, he will see things differently. Gail thanks her friend and leaves.

In chapter 2 of Slow Burn, Jennie Bowman notices that Lydia has been crying, and asks her what's wrong. Lydia explains that she was talking to someone she loves, but the person doesn't want to talk to her, and they can't be together. Jennie tries to comfort Lydia, but Lydia only has more mixed feelings as she thinks about Amanda.

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In chapter 3 of Slow Burn...

Evolved Human Abilities

Lydia has the ability to feel the thoughts, hopes, dreams, emotions and or desires of others. Her most common manifestation of this ability is through various tattoos on her body depicting different people. These tattoos allow Lydia to sense different things about the people they depict.

On at least one occasion, Lydia was able to utilize her ability through a crystal ball. During this time Lydia saw a baby and had Edgar see what he desired (Stolen Fate). Whether this means Lydia can extend what she sees to others is unknown.

Notes

• Lydia's name is most likely a reference to the circa 1940 song "Lydia the Tattooed Lady" made famous by Groucho Marx.
• According to the casting call, Lydia the "tattoo girl" is 22 to 28 years old, "a little gullible, follow others' lead, [h]as a mysterious side," and is "very sexy".

Fan Theories

Please refer to Theory:Lydia for fan-created theories and other speculation.