Magic always comes with a price. That was the golden rule in Storybrooke, but for the actors who spent seven seasons dodging fireballs and family curses, the price was usually just a very long commute to Vancouver. It’s been years since the final battle ended. Yet, the stars of Once Upon a Time haven't exactly faded into the background. Some hit the jackpot with massive franchises. Others went the Broadway route. A few basically disappeared into quiet, normal lives.
Honestly, the "Once" legacy is a bit of a trip when you look at it through the lens of 2026.
Jennifer Morrison and the Life After Emma Swan
Jennifer Morrison was already a veteran when she took on the role of the Savior. She had House under her belt. She was a known quantity. But playing Emma Swan is a heavy lift—you're the emotional anchor for a show that involves talking crickets and Rumpelstiltskin. After she left the show as a series regular in Season 6, she didn't just chase another network procedural. She pivoted. Hard.
She leaned into directing. If you’ve watched Euphoria or Dr. Death, you might have missed her name in the credits, but she was behind the camera. She also had a significant arc on This Is Us as Cassidy Sharp, a role that felt worlds away from the red leather jacket and Sheriff's badge. It’s interesting. Most people expected her to stay in the leading lady lane, but Morrison seems more interested in the mechanics of storytelling now. She’s active on social media, often sharing behind-the-scenes looks at her directorial projects, proving there is very much life after being a fairytale protagonist.
Lana Parrilla: Long Live the Evil Queen
You can’t talk about the stars of Once Upon a Time without mentioning the woman who carried the fandom on her back. Lana Parrilla’s Regina Mills was the breakout. Period. Whether she was ripping out hearts or trying to find her "Operation Mongoose" happy ending, Parrilla gave the show its edge.
Since the show wrapped, she hasn’t stayed idle. She joined the second season of Why Women Kill, playing Rita Castillo, a role that let her flex those delicious "villain you love to hate" muscles again. It was campy. It was dark. It was perfect for her. More recently, she moved into the world of legal dramas with The Lincoln Lawyer on Netflix. Seeing her play Lisa Trammell was a bit of a shock for fans used to her wielding purple smoke, but it showed her range. She’s also become a staple on the fan convention circuit. If you go to a Con today, the line for Regina is still usually the longest. People don't forget a performance like that.
Ginnifer Goodwin and Josh Dallas: The Real-Life Fairytale
This is the part that usually makes people smile. Snow White and Prince Charming actually stayed together.
Ginnifer Goodwin and Josh Dallas are married with kids. In a Hollywood landscape where "showmances" usually last about six months, they are the anomaly. Career-wise, they’ve taken different paths. Josh Dallas went straight into Manifest. That show had a wild ride—canceled by NBC, saved by Netflix, and turned into a global juggernaut. He became the face of Ben Stone, a character who, much like David Nolan, spent a lot of time looking worried and trying to save his family.
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Ginnifer took a bit more of a curated approach. She did Why Women Kill (the first season), and she’s done a fair amount of voice work. Most notably, she returned to the world of Judy Hopps for Zootopia projects. She’s always felt like someone who values the work-life balance more than the "grind," which is probably why she stays so well-liked in the industry. No scandals. Just talent.
The Marvel Connection: Sebastian Stan and Others
If you look back at the early seasons, the guest list was insane. Before he was the Winter Soldier, Sebastian Stan was the Mad Hatter. He was Jefferson. He was only in a handful of episodes, but the "Once" fandom still claims him.
His trajectory is the most obvious "supernova" path.
- Sebastian Stan: From Storybrooke to the MCU and an Emmy nomination for Pam & Tommy.
- Jamie Dornan: He was Sheriff Graham. He died early (RIP). Then he became Christian Grey and eventually earned critical acclaim in Belfast.
- Giancarlo Esposito: He played Sidney Glass/The Mirror. Now? He’s the premier villain of the 2020s, from The Mandalorian to The Boys.
It’s kind of wild to realize that the stars of Once Upon a Time basically comprise half of the current pop culture landscape.
Robert Carlyle and the Dark One's Shadow
Robert Carlyle was arguably the most prestigious actor on the set from day one. He brought a "Trainspotting" level of intensity to a Disney-adjacent show. After the show ended, he didn't head to Hollywood. He went back to his roots.
He returned to the world of The Full Monty for the Disney+ series, which was a massive nostalgia hit for UK audiences. He also starred in COBRA, a British political drama where he plays the Prime Minister. Carlyle is a craftsman. He doesn't do the "celebrity" thing much. He does the work. If you want to see him, you usually have to look toward high-end British television or independent film.
Colin O’Donoghue: Beyond the Hook
Captain Hook was the heartthrob. There’s no point in pretending otherwise. Colin O’Donoghue took a character that could have been a one-dimensional villain and made him the romantic lead.
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What’s he doing now? He’s been doing a lot of voice work, including the Trollhunters series by Guillermo del Toro. He also starred in The Right Stuff as Gordon Cooper. While that show didn't run for seven seasons, it showed he could shed the eyeliner and the leather and play a buttoned-up, historical figure. He’s also a musician. You’ll occasionally see him popping up in music-related projects or doing smaller, character-driven roles that allow him to stay close to his home in Ireland.
The Supporting Players Who Stole the Show
We have to talk about Emilie de Ravin (Belle) and Rebecca Mader (Zelena).
Emilie has been relatively quiet, focusing a lot on her family and taking select roles in Australia and the US. She’s one of those actors who seems to value the "off-season" immensely. Rebecca Mader, on the other hand, remains the biggest cheerleader for the show. She’s "wicked" and she knows it. She’s done guest spots on shows like Firefly Lane and continues to be a massive presence in the "Once" community.
Why We Still Care About These Actors
The show was messy. Let’s be real. By Season 7, the timeline was a disaster and the plot holes were big enough to drive a giant's beanstalk through. But the reason we still track the stars of Once Upon a Time is because of the chemistry. You can’t fake the kind of bond that cast had.
They weren't just coworkers; they were a weird, magical family for nearly a decade.
When you see them reunite at conventions or post photos together on Instagram, it doesn't feel like a PR stunt. It feels like old friends. That authenticity is why the show has such a massive "long tail" on streaming platforms. New generations are discovering Emma Swan every day.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to dive back into the world of these actors or keep up with their current projects, there are a few specific things you should do:
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1. Follow the "Director's Path"
If you liked Jennifer Morrison's vibe, stop looking for her in front of the camera and start looking behind it. Check out her episodes of Dr. Death or One of Us Is Lying. It gives you a totally different appreciation for her eye as a storyteller.
2. Watch the "Manifest" Transition
If you missed Josh Dallas as Ben Stone, it’s the perfect "bridge" show. It has that same "mystery box" energy that Once had in the early seasons. It’s available on Netflix and is a much more mature look at his acting style.
3. Check the Voice Credits
A lot of the cast, including Ginnifer Goodwin and Colin O'Donoghue, have moved into high-level voice acting. If you have kids (or just love animation), look for their names in the credits of Disney+ and Netflix animated originals. Their voices are distinct and they bring a lot of that Storybrooke theatricality to those roles.
4. The Convention Loop
If you actually want to meet them, the "Once" cast is one of the most active on the convention circuit. Events like Steel City Con or various Fan Expos frequently host "mini-reunions." Keep an eye on the official guest lists about six months in advance, as these spots sell out fast.
5. Support the Indie Projects
Actors like Robert Carlyle and Lana Parrilla often take roles in smaller, independent films between their big TV contracts. Following them on social media (specifically Instagram) is the only way to catch these limited releases before they disappear from the cultural radar.
The story didn't end when the book closed in the series finale. For these actors, that was just the prologue. Whether they're fighting supervillains in the MCU or directing the next big prestige drama, the legacy of Storybrooke follows them. And honestly? We’re just happy to see them get their real-life happy endings.
Practical Insight: If you are tracking a specific actor's career, use tools like IMDbPro or follow their verified production companies. Many of the "Once" alumni have started their own production banners to develop projects they actually care about, moving away from the "actor-for-hire" model that dominated their time on network television.