Honestly, if you watched TV in the 2010s, you probably remember the moment Regina Mills first walked onto the screen. It wasn't just the outfits, though those floor-length velvet gowns and sky-high collars were basically their own characters. It was the vibe. Lana Parrilla didn't just play a villain; she took a two-dimensional Disney archetype and made her the most relatable person in a room full of fairy-tale legends.
Most people think of the Evil Queen as just, well, evil. But Lana Parrilla in Once Upon a Time did something way more interesting. She made us root for the person trying to ruin everyone’s lives.
The Audition That Changed Everything
You might think Lana was a shoo-in for the role, but it almost didn't happen that way. She actually walked into a casting office to read for a completely different show—a medical drama where she’d play a trauma surgeon. After she finished a massive monologue, the casting director stopped her. They told her, "I want you to read for this show called Once Upon a Time. It’s for the Evil Queen."
Lana was skeptical. Fairy tales? It could easily have been cheesy. The creators, Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, gave her one specific piece of advice: don't play her as an icon. Play her as a human.
That was the secret sauce. Instead of cackling over a cauldron (though she did a bit of that later), she focused on the heartbreak of a woman who lost her first love and blamed the entire world for it. She famously kept journals for the different versions of Regina—young innocent Regina, the cold-blooded Queen, and the Storybrooke Mayor—so she could track exactly where her head was at during those dizzying flashback episodes.
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Why We Forgave the Unforgivable
Regina did some truly horrific stuff. She murdered entire villages. She ripped hearts out of chests like she was picking apples. She literally cursed an entire dimension because she was mad at her stepdaughter. Yet, by Season 3, half the audience was more worried about Regina’s happiness than Snow White’s.
How?
It’s about the vulnerability. Lana has this way of letting her lip quiver just enough to let you see the cracks in the armor. When Regina adopted Henry, the show shifted. It wasn't about revenge anymore; it was about a mother’s fear of being unloved.
The Evolution of Regina Mills
- The Antagonist (Season 1): The Mayor of Storybrooke who ruled through fear and gaslighting.
- The Struggling Mother (Season 2): Trying to go "magic-free" to keep her son’s respect.
- The Anti-Hero (Season 3-4): Teaming up with the "heroes" to fight bigger threats like Peter Pan and her own sister, Zelena.
- The Redeemed Leader (Season 7): Ending the series not as a queen by birth, but as the "Good Queen" by choice.
The chemistry on set was a huge part of why this worked. While there were always rumors about her and Jennifer Morrison (Emma Swan) not getting along perfectly behind the scenes—mostly fueled by "Swan Queen" shippers and the fact that they were very different personalities—the professional respect was clearly there. Lana was the extrovert, the one laughing and cracking jokes between takes, while Jennifer was often more reserved. That friction translated into one of the best "enemies-to-frenemies" dynamics in TV history.
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The "Evil Regals" and the Culture of Regina
You can't talk about Lana Parrilla without talking about her fans. She calls them the Evil Regals. It’s not just a standard fan club; it’s a massive, global community that she actually interacts with.
She’s been known to use the "Evil Regal" hand sign when driving away from sets or panels. She’s also a big activist, serving as an ambassador for Face Forward LA and FINCA Canada. For a lot of fans, Regina Mills was a symbol of the idea that your past doesn't have to define your future. If the literal Evil Queen can find redemption and a "happy ending" that consists of self-love and community rather than just a Prince Charming, then maybe there’s hope for everyone else too.
What Most People Get Wrong About Her Career
People often ask why Lana wasn't in every single blockbuster after Once Upon a Time ended in 2018. The truth is a mix of personal choice and industry timing.
The show was a grind. Filming in Vancouver for seven years is exhausting. When the show wrapped, she was dealing with a divorce from Fred Di Blasio and a huge life transition. She took some time for herself before jumping back in with Why Women Kill (where she played the fabulous Rita Castillo) and The Lincoln Lawyer. She even directed an episode of Once Upon a Time (Season 7, Episode 17), proving she’s got more than just acting chops.
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She's also been vocal about the "age" problem in Hollywood. Being a woman in her 40s in the industry is a different game than being in your 20s. But she’s stayed busy, recently appearing in the J-Lo sci-fi movie Atlas and the series The Rainmaker.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators
If you’re looking to revisit the magic or learn from Lana's performance, here’s how to actually dive deeper:
- Watch the "Character Study" Episodes: If you want to see her best range, re-watch The Stable Boy (Season 1) and Page 23 (Season 6). The contrast between young, hopeful Regina and the personification of her own evil is a masterclass in acting.
- Follow the "Keep It Regal" Brand: Lana launched an online company that isn't just merch—it’s built around the empowerment themes of her character.
- Check Out Her Directorial Debut: Watching Season 7, Episode 17 ("Chosen") through the lens of a director gives you a lot of respect for how she sees the camera and the story.
- Support Her Non-Profits: Look into FINCA Canada if you want to see the side of Lana that her fans admire most—the activist who uses her platform for women's empowerment.
Regina Mills wasn't just a role; she was a cultural moment. Lana Parrilla took a woman defined by her hate and turned her into a woman defined by her growth. That’s why, even years after the final "Once upon a time," we’re still talking about her.