Emilie de Ravin on ‘Once Upon a Time’ and Sticking Around Storybrooke

Emilie de Ravin Once Upon a Time
Emilie de Ravin (Photo © Richard Chavez / Showbiz Junkies)

Emilie de Ravin (‘Belle’) appears to be stuck in Storybrooke in the third season of ABC’s Once Upon a Time, the fantasy series populated with fairy tale characters including Captain Hook, Rumplestiltskin, Prince Charming, Snow White, Red Riding Hood, Jiminy Cricket, the Seven Dwarfs, and an Evil Queen. And at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con, de Ravin did a great job of not disclosing too much about the upcoming season while still providing a little insight into what viewers can expect from the addictive series when it returns on September 29, 2013.

Emilie de Ravin Once Upon a Time Interview

What can you tell us about the next season? What are you allowed to say?

Emilie de Ravin: “Well, we only have one script. There’s not much I can say that I can actually say anyway. Neverland. One word, Neverland, is the focus of the first episode, as you probably gathered, so that’s not helpful.”

Your character isn’t even in Neverland. You’re stuck in Storybrooke. How does that affect her?

Emilie de Ravin: “We haven’t shot her in Storybrooke yet, but yes, she goes to Storybrooke. A very difficult decision for her because she could be selfish and regardless of what he says, jump on the boat. Struggle, ‘No, I’m coming!’ He’s doing the right thing for me, as well, and I need to respect that he needs to go and he needs to do this on his own. He’s basically going on a suicide mission and doesn’t want me to be around. I’m the only one who’s been given the cloaking spell, so it would be very selfish of me to go. I’m the only one that can help hopefully protect Storybrooke.

As sad as that is, it was devastating. I was actually really sad that day. [Laughing] Not hard to cry…I couldn’t help it. You do take after take sometimes, but with Bobby, when I have to cry, I end up bawling too much. They’re like, ‘Em. Maybe stop crying.’ No, it’s cool, I love their relationship, I love working with him and I think we’re together, together and separately, but together really well written for. It’s not a generic, boring couple. There’s always something he’s done.

It’s back-and-forth, it’s very passionate, so it’s always all or nothing. Torn apart or thrown back together, changing each other for good and bad, it’s really interesting.”

Now that you and Rumple have been torn apart, who do you share scenes with now that he’s no longer there?

Emilie de Ravin: “Well, we may share some scenes.”

You do?

Emilie de Ravin: “Soon. Well, everyone who’s left in Storybrooke, I would imagine, if I had the script. Granny’s there, Ruby’s in-and-out, I believe. The dwarves. Whoever else happens to be there.”

Is your major arc protecting Storybrooke, would you say?

Emilie de Ravin: “It’s a big part of it. That’s the question: can she? Does this cloaking spell actually do what it’s supposed to do? Does it last? Can it be intercepted by someone else? Is Neverland going to go on for a long time or do they come back quickly? Does everyone not come back, but some people do? And then, can they find Storybrooke because I say to him, ‘But how will you find me? You’re not coming back, are you?'”

Do you believe in that happily ever after?

Emilie de Ravin: Sometimes. With us, I do. It has to. It has to. It’s going to be a rocky road, but yeah. I think yeah.”

You’ve played brunettes and blondes. Which is the real color and which do you prefer?

Emilie de Ravin: “My blond hair is my natural hair so I prefer that because I don’t have to do anything to it. I think that everyone’s natural color probably suits them best, even though we all play, well not me, but generally everyone plays around. You know what I mean? I like this, though. It’s fun.”