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. Despite her loyalty to Samuel, Lydia goes behind his back to try and communicate with her daughter, Amanda.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Webisode:Slow Burn, 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.

Hysterical Blindness

Lydia moves out of the way while Edgar pushes a large blue container through the carnival. She then eats breakfast with the rest of her carnival family.

Later, Lydia visits Samuel at a field near the carnival and asks him who the newest addition to the family will be. She explains that she has an interest because he used her body to search for the person. Samuel doesn't tell Lydia who the person is and she realizes that he has no idea. She tells him that it isn't fair to make promises that he may not be able to keep but Samuel insists that it will be kept. Later, he and Lydia have another session but the ink he injects into her does not create any image. After learning from Rebecca that Claire is nearly theirs, Lydia warns Samuel that while Claire may be on the path to them, she will not be the addition to the family that he promised. She then goes on to say that he needn't worry because the dust has settled.

Webisode:Slow Burn, Part 3

Amanda looks at a photo of Lydia and says that they look alike. Lydia tells her that they're the same and that she has a gift as well. Amanda asks if she can come see her but Lydia hastily tells her to stay, saying that where she lives is far too dangerous and that she does not want Amanda involved. She then has Edgar help her with her problem. She gives him money and tells him to get to Amanda before she does anything horrible. Edgar leaves and encounters Samuel waiting for him. Lydia attempts to help Edgar out of trouble but Samuel tells her that he needs to be punished as he places his arm over her. Lydia remains silent as they wonder what to do.

Graphic Novel:Amanda's Journey, Part 1

After Lydia tells her not to leave home, Amanda accidentally burns down the house. Later, she talks with Peter Petrelli about her family and decides that even though Lydia told her to stay at home, she will go and find her.

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.

In chapter 3 of Slow Burn, Lydia, Edgar and Samuel argue over the fact that Edgar has been "grifting" and hiding money.

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.