Caity Lotz
Caity Lotz – Life, Career & Notable Works
Explore the life and career of Caity Lotz — the American actress, dancer, singer, and director best known for her role as Sara Lance / White Canary in the Arrowverse.
Introduction
Caity Lotz (born December 30, 1986) is an American actress, dancer, singer, and director. Sara Lance / The Canary / White Canary in The CW's Arrowverse franchise, including Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, and Supergirl.
Beyond her acting work, she has roots in dance, music videos, stunt work, martial arts, and has even directed episodes of television.
Early Life & Background
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Full name / birth: Caitlin Marie Lotz, born December 30, 1986, in San Diego, California.
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Training & education: She studied acting under the Sanford Meisner technique for about two years.
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From an early age, she combined performing arts (dance, music) with athletic disciplines (martial arts, parkour) which would later serve her well in action roles.
Career & Major Roles
Dance, Music Videos & Early Performing Work
Before acting, Lotz was a dancer. She toured with artists like Avril Lavigne and Lady Gaga, and appeared in music videos (e.g. Gaga’s “Paparazzi”, “LoveGame”) and other artists’ videos.
She also appeared in commercials (for T-Mobile, Reebok, Jack in the Box) and worked as a dance/stunt double (for instance in Step Up 3D) early in her career.
In 2005, she joined the girl group Soccx, releasing singles in Germany (“From Dusk Till Dawn (Get the Party Started)”, “Scream Out Loud”) and an album in 2007.
Transition into Acting
Her first on-screen acting credit was a small role in Bring It On: All or Nothing (2006).
She had a recurring role on Mad Men as Stephanie Horton (Anna Draper’s niece).
She then starred as Officer Kirsten Landry in Death Valley (2011).
She appeared in the horror / supernatural thriller The Pact (2012).
She took on action / genre television when she was cast in Arrow (starting season 2) as Sara Lance / The Canary, a character believed dead who returns later, and went on to reprise this in Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Supergirl, and Batwoman.
Notably, she directed at least one episode of Legends of Tomorrow (Season 5: “Mortal Khanbat”).
In film, she played the lead in The Machine (science fiction) and appeared in 400 Days as Dr. Emily McTier.
In 2024, she starred as Kaitlin Armstrong in Yoga Teacher Killer: The Kaitlin Armstrong Story, a Lifetime TV film.
Martial Arts, Stunts & Physical Training
Lotz is trained in multiple martial arts (Taekwondo, Wushu, Muay Thai, Krav Maga, among others) and practices disciplines like parkour and tricking.
She often performs many of her own stunts in her action roles.
Personal Life
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Marriage & family: In 2022, she became engaged to actor Kyle Schmid. They married in 2023 in Colombia.
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In April 2024, Lotz announced she was pregnant with their first child, which was later born.
Lotz is also a cofounder of SheThority, a women’s empowering initiative created with fellow female actors from the Arrowverse.
Legacy & Influence
Caity Lotz has become one of the more visible female action stars in current television, especially in the superhero / genre space. Her combining of acting, physical skill, and stunt work allows her to bring credibility to action/forceful roles.
Her transition from dance & music to acting demonstrates adaptability and multiplicity in creative talents.
By stepping into directing, she also expands her presence behind the camera, signaling her evolution beyond just acting.
Her work in SheThority reflects her interest in supporting women in the industry and building community among performers.
Notable Quotes & Perspectives
Here is a quote that reveals her philosophy about her body and performance (from a feature):
“Now I’ve learned to be kind to myself, whereas before I thought I was tough getting bruises all over … I’m going to be gentle and kind to my body, and love it, and thank it for doing all these nice things for me.”
She has also spoken in interviews about doing her own stunts, physical discipline, and gender expectations in action roles. (These are commonly discussed in her press / interviews. )
Lessons & Takeaways
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Diversify your skills – Lotz’s background in dance, martial arts, stunt work, singing, and acting gives her versatility.
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Be physically prepared – in action roles, strength, agility, and combat training elevate the performance.
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Take ownership – she has moved into directing, not just acting, showing ambition beyond one role.
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Self-care matters – as her quote suggests, caring for one’s body is part of sustaining a career in performance.
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Build community – through initiatives like SheThority, she creates supportive networks and leverages her influence for others.