Lana Parrilla, Jared Gilmore Interview: ‘Once Upon a Time’ and the Evil Queen’s Return

Once Upon a Time stars Lana Parrilla and Jared Gilmore
Lana Parrilla and Jared Gilmore from ‘Once Upon a Time’ at Comic Con 2016 (Photos © Richard Chavez / Showbiz Junkies)

ABC’s Once Upon a Time returns for its sixth season on September 25, 2016. The upcoming season finds the Storybrooke heroes having to not only take on Mr. Hyde (Sam Witwer) but also once again square off against the Evil Queen. During the 2016 San Diego Comic Con, Lana Parrilla told us she’s looking forward to sinking her teeth into the Evil Queen character once again, although she did admit it’s quite a challenge to do scenes featuring both Regina and the Evil Queen. Teaming up with Jared Gilmore who plays her son, Henry, in the popular fantasy series, Parrilla and Gilmore discussed what the Evil Queen’s return means not only to the town but also to their characters.

Lana Parrilla and Jared Gilmore Interview:

Are we going to get some funny mix-ups from the other characters thinking that the Evil Queen is Regina?

Lana Parrilla: “I don’t think the Evil Queen wants to give up those costumes. She really likes her attire. I don’t know. She’s not very subtle with those headdresses and those crazy hairdos. I don’t think we’re going to see that just yet. Who knows? It’s episode two. I know very little.”

Are you looking forward to getting back into the Evil Queen more often?

Lana Parrilla: “I am. It’s been a lot of fun. It’s only been a few weeks, but it’s been great. It’s been challenging, but she’s different than what she used to be. What she was before, she was still part of Regina and Regina, she had a conscience – she has a conscience – and she was quite vulnerable. I just don’t know how the Evil Queen’s going to…I kind of do know some things, but it’ll be interesting to see how she is without a conscience and how far she’s willing to go to get her revenge because she still is hung up over Snow White and getting her heart. I don’t think that’s going to change. I think Regina and Storybrooke is going to be battling against her quite a bit.”

How does having her separated from Regina affect Regina’s relationships with Henry and Emma because the darkness is not there anymore?

Lana Parrilla: “I think that Regina is still really trying to be that hero still, making decisions. Like, she looks to Snow and Snow is probably her biggest confidante. She turns to Snow for advice. Part of her feels like this is karmic. You saw it in the finale in that monologue where she’s like, ‘I’ve done terrible things and this is why this is happening.’ And she still feels that way, but she’s a fighter so she’s just not going to let the Evil Queen win. She’s going to battle against her and really fight for this redemption and happiness.”

How has it been playing against yourself in scenes? Should we take it to the next level and have 10 Reginas like Orphan Black?

Lana Parrilla: “I know. I’d want to call Tatiana (Maslany) and be like, ‘So, tell me how does it work?’ It’s been really interesting. I’ve only done one scene thus far playing opposite me. What ends up happening is you have a double who’s dressed like me and then I have to think in advance, like, ‘What am I going to do on that side?’ So I have to come totally prepared for both sides so I can help my double. The other day we did a scene where I was playing normal Regina and we had a double playing the Evil Queen and they’re like, ‘What are you going to do as the Evil Queen?’ I said, ‘We’re not shooting that until tomorrow. I don’t know yet.’ Like, I have an idea but it’s different once I put the costume on. It changes me and so much is discovered in the moment. There’s choices and preparation, of course. […]There’s some idea but then you kind of throw it all away and you just discover what’s going to happen in the moment. It’s hard to do that when you’re playing one side and your double is playing the other and you have to figure out what they’re going to do when you’re trying to be one other person. So, I’m still figuring that out. I’m okay with that. I’m okay that it’s not all figured out yet. I think that it’s not all figured out for everyone, so it’s a process.”

Because of everything happening with Regina, do you think Henry will be more protective this season?

Jared Gilmore: “I think with everything happening with Regina it’s interesting because Henry now has three mothers and the situation. So it’s like how is he going to react to the Evil Queen…”

Lana Parrilla: “Well, he better be nice!”

Jared Gilmore: “And of course he’s going to do his best to protect his family because he cares about them and he wants them to be safe. He’s not just going to stand on the sidelines.”

Lana Parrilla: “He’s probably the safest in Storybrooke right now.”

The Evil Queen loves Henry but how does he feel about her in return?

Jared Gilmore: “Well, it’s hard to explain because she raised him for 10 years so he has to have some sort of feelings toward her. And even before when the Evil Queen was still in Regina, he still wanted to see the good in Regina which means he wanted to see the good in the Evil Queen. But now that that’s gone, it will be interesting to explore.”

Lana Parrilla: “I think that what’s really cool about this is everyone’s going to see how they feel. I think it’s going to be very organic in the moment. I think it will be written that way where you deal with how we’re going to react to her for the first time when we see her, and what does that mean. I think Henry is probably going to be the most torn because there are going to be people that are trying to kill the Evil Queen and Henry always sees the good in everybody. That’s what’s so beautiful about this character. So, he’s probably going to see the redeeming qualities in her as well. Who knows? Maybe he’ll try to help her.”

Jared Gilmore: “Yeah.”

Lana Parrilla: “Or, she’ll poison the whole town and kidnap you. Which could be fun, too, and fly off on a magic carpet.”

Will we see Regina still dealing with the loss of Robin?

Lana Parrilla: “Yes. I think so. I think Regina is also quite private, which I love about her. It’s really hard for her to open and she has, like I said, Snow being one of her confidantes. I think those moments where you see her mourning… Like, we don’t see that quite yet. I think there’s still time for that to be written and it will over (the season). I mean, we all deal with loss differently, especially with these characters. There’s so much going on. As soon as we start this season we have Hyde and Gold has given him Storybrooke. So, right now we need to save Storybrooke and protect our civilians. And that’s why I think a lot of these moments with the loss of Robin is more private. It’s talked about but I think her grieving happens behind closed doors.”

Watch the full Lana Parrilla and Jared Gilmore interview: