THE FLASH Casts Malese Jow as Linda Park

Barry Allen's love life is about to get a bit more complicated.

The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that the new CW series The Flash has cast Malese Jow as DC Comics character Linda Park.  The role will be recurring, with Linda's first appearance in the series' twelfth episode.

According to the article, Linda will be "a quick-witted reporter for the Central City Picture News.  She befriends Iris (Candice Patton) while at work and helps her navigate the fast-paced world of journalism.  When she meets Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) at a local bar, the two hit it off and become quick friends."

The 23-year-old actress is best known as Anna on the CW series The Vampire Diaries and as Julia Yeung on the series Star-Crossed.  She's also appeared as Alice Cantwell in the 2010 film The Social Network and various episodes of Castle, CSI: Miami, Desperate Housewives and Leverage.

Created by William Messner-Loebs and Greg LaRocque in 1989's The Flash (vol.2) #28, Linda Park first appeared as a Keystone City television reporter who regularly dealt with Wally West, the third Flash, whom she didn't like.  After Wally helped free her from possesion by the spirit of an 800-year-old Irish bard, the two became close and started dating.

Their love grew, and even with many obstacles such as Linda being abducted and having her memory replaced by Abra Kadabra, Wally and Linda eventually married.  Linda soon became pregnant with twins, but miscarried after being attacked by Zoom, only to have her pregnancy restored when a later battle between The Flash and Zoom time-traveled back to the moment and prevented the injury that caused the miscarriage.  Linda gave birth to Jai and Iris West, who began to age rapidly due to their father's speed powers, until Linda used advance alien science she had learned to stabilize the twins' powers.  Linda has yet to be reintroduced into the current New 52 continuity.

Jow will be the third actress to portray Linda Park in live action, after brief cameo appearances in the 1990-91 series The Flash (played by Mariko Tse) and in the Arrow episode "Three Ghosts" (played by Olivia Cheng).  Linda also appeared on the animated series Justice League Unlimited, in the episode "Flash and Substance" (voiced by Kim Mai Guest).