Iris Ann West-Allen (née West), is a fictional character in The CW's Arrowverse franchise, first introduced in the 2014 pilot episode of television series The Flash.

[1] In the series, Iris is initially a barista studying journalism, portrayed as a smart investigator, who falls in love with a speedster superhero, nicknamed by her The Streak, later The Flash.

When she was younger, her father told her that her mother, Francine, died in an accident, but it was turned out she had left her, due to having a drug addiction.

Patton appeared as Iris West-Allen in crossovers on the television series Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl, and Batwoman, all set within the Arrowverse.

Iris West was first introduced in the DC Comics, as a supporting character and the main love interest and later wife of Barry Allen, the alter ego of the Silver Age version of the superhero The Flash,[2] first appearing in Showcase #4 on October 4, 1956.

[13] With her casting she described the character as "passionate" and adding that the triangle between Barry, her, and Rick Cosnett's Eddie Thawne, was "very complicat[ing]".

She took inspiration from fellow actresses, Halle Berry and Zoe Saldaña, and politician Hillary Clinton,[14] with highliting the fact that Iris is not a side character in the show.

The moment when her character learnt that its version was married to Barry Allen, she knew she had to show to the viewers that Iris was developing romantic feelings for him.

[12] For season 4, she said that Iris had a responsibility to take up the role of her husband, after he vanished in the Speed Force, while also being depressed and sad that Barry's gone, as she doesn't know when or if he will return, but also angry, for him leaving her.

[21] For season 5, when asked about its themes, she responded by saying that it is about legacy and family, especially due to the presence of Jessica Parker Kennedy's character, Nora West-Allen / XS.

[23] For season 6, Patton has stated that Iris was dealing with the death of Nora, and try to heal, while she has expressed interest into building her relationship with other members of the Team Flash.

[27] The origin story of Iris West-Allen has been somewhat altered for the show, although many writers have taken upon the development of the character throughout its sixty-six years of existence in the comic books.

She begins dating her father's partner CCPD detective Eddie Thawne, while Barry is in a coma after being struck in his laboratory by lightning from the explosion of the S.T.A.R.

After Barry defeats Zoom for killing his father, he and Iris kiss and then he travels back in time to save his mother's life.

Later, private detective Ralph Dibny, who joins the Flash's team, uses his new shapeshifting power to impersonate DeVoe and help clear Barry of all charges..

Following the Thinker's defeat, the team is approached by Barry and Iris' daughter from the future, Nora West-Allen / XS.

She also struggles on keeping the Central City Citizen running, and has hired photographer Kamilla Hwang and metahuman reporter intern Allegra Garcia.

She was studying journalism, and when her boyfriend, Barry Allen, went to get his PhD, she quit her internship and became a cop to help pay for his tuition.

When Barry Allen / The Flash of Earth-1 arrived to her world, she didn't notice, as he took her husband's place to search for information on Zoom.

[29] A version of the character, residing on Earth-90 portrayed by Paula Marshall, was a computer graphic artist and the ex-girlfriend of Barry Allen.

Later, Iris and Kamila went to interview Tina McGee, at Mercury Labs, but their true goal was to retrieve a prismatic refractor.

After learning that Joe went to witness protection, due to an assassination attempt, she uses it as the reason to kick Barry out of their apartment, with the goal of weakening him.

She, Kamilia, and a mirror clone of David Singh, went to Ramsey Rosso / Bloodwork and took blood sample from him, to use it to bring Eva back from the Mirrorverse.

[41] A version of the character, residing on an unnamed Earth portrayed by Kiersey Clemons, is seen when Barry Allen saves her from a traffic accident, using his superspeed.

[1] According to website Fansided, Patton changed the way Hollywood viewed black women and led to further roles for black women in comic adaptations, such as Anna Diop as Starfire in Titans, Kiersey Clemons as Iris West in DC Extended Universe's Zack Snyder's Justice League, Zendaya's as MJ in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Spider-Man: Homecoming and the casting of Leslie Grace as Barbara Gordon / Batgirl in the DCEU film, Batgirl.

[48] Web site TV Guide described Patton's character as initially being depicted in a colorblind manner, eventually exploring her race more thoroughly in season 6.

[54] The Looper noted that the scene of season 6 "Marathon", where Iris, trapped in the Mirrorverse, was touching hands with her husband, Barry, without him seeing her, was her best in the show's run.

[55] Some fans, although, have noted the due to her being a successful journalist, her character looked like a combination of Lois Lane and Linda Park, both reporters in DC comics.

[60] According to Collider, Patton's character was treated unfairly in season 8, and was characterized by the website as a "plot point", while noting that her death in Negative, Part One did not have any gravite or impact.

[63] All awards and nominations are for Patton's performance as Iris West-Allen in The Flash: In January 2022, it was announced that a six-issue event series titled Earth-Prime would be released over the span of three months.