Magic is back in Storybrooke, but it's not all sunshine and happiness for the "Once Upon a Time" characters, especially Regina, the Evil Queen. In fact, for her, it's a very lonely time, Lana Parrilla told The Huffington Post.
The residents of Storybrooke have their memories back and they're not too happy. "Everyone remembers what happened and knows who she is. She's backed up in a corner," Parrilla said.
In Season 2, "Once Upon A Time" is stepping up its game in all departments, including sets and visual affects, she said.
"I just think everyone is going to be blown away in the second season because we're introducing new characters," Parrilla said. "Everything is bigger, more grand ... Everything is much more elaborate and the storytelling, I think, is more compelling.
"It's going to be a fantastic second season and I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I enjoy filming it," she said.
Read on to find out where Regina stands in Storybrooke, why she thinks the Evil Queen has become a gay icon and more "Once Upon a Time" scoop.
How wicked is Regina going to be this season?
Well, we're only on the sixth episode so there's a lot more that I don't know. [Laughs.] I don't know what's going to happen, but as of now, you see some wickedness. There's some wickedness, but there's also some real honesty. She's having to get pretty honest with herself and others around her. There's really no other way to go, right? Everyone remembers what happened and knows who she is. She's backed up in a corner.
Does she have any allies?
No. [Laughs.] She's a very lonely woman.
So, is Captain Hook a foe?
I don't know yet. We'll see. I haven't worked with him yet. I pitched it, I said, "Can he be her love interest!?'" at Comic-Con when we saw that he was joining our cast this season. I was like, "[Gasps] Captain Hook is the perfect match for the Evil Queen!"
I can definitely see that.
But I don't think that's happening. I think Regina has a lonely road ahead of her for a while.
I got a lot of questions from "Once Upon A Time" fans asking about a Regina/Emma pairing to raise Henry.
Oh that's nice ... I don't think that's going to happen as of yet. Emma and Regina work together when it comes to Henry, but something happens that kind of pulls them apart again.
We spoke back in May about wanting to explore the Regina/Henry/Emma dynamic. Have you gotten to do that? You said you were six episodes in.
Very little, very little. Like I said, something quite dramatic happens that then pulls them apart again.
What can you tell me about the new characters? Mulan? Sleeping Beauty?
They've been working with other characters, not the Evil Queen. Regina/Evil Queen -- she's pretty much been alone. There's some scenes with David and there are some scenes with Henry, some scenes we go into flashbacks, so ... There's been a lot of flashbacks for my character this season, where we left off when Regina was young. Mulan and Aurora -- the actresses I've only met a couple of times, I've yet to work with them. I have not worked with any of the new cast. There's one character that will be revealed.
The press hasn't heard about him?
No -- his fairytale identity will be revealed ... that person I've been linked to, which is really interesting. Mystery, mystery man.
I remember in May, almost everybody said they wanted Jack and the Beanstalk and now you have Jorge Garcia playing the Giant. Is it safe to say Jack and the Beanstalk has come to Storybrooke?
Yes, yes it is. And there's nothing better than Jorge Garcia playing the Giant. I've known Jorge since i was 19 years old. We're really good friends and I'm elated that he's on our show. I can't even tell you. I want scenes with him! I think it's going to be really humorous when the Evil Queen's in platform boots climbing the beanstalk to meet the giant. [Laughs.] It's hard enough walking in the costume.
Do you have any other fairytale characters you want to see come on?
I'd like to see Robin Hood ... I'd like to see just different kinds of characters, like more villains. We had Maleficent. I would like to see a mermaid. I don't know if I want her to necessarily be good. I feel like Regina needs some people on her side. [Laughs.] We need to cast some evil regals.
I spoke with Kristin Bauer earlier this summer and she hinted that she'd love to come back.
She's like, "I'm ready!" She's wonderful. I had fun working with her.
Oh yeah, she's great on "True Blood." The other day I saw her on a "Seinfeld" rerun. It was so funny.
Oh my god, I didn't even know she was on "Seinfeld"!
She was "Man Hands" on "Seinfeld."
Are you serious?
Yeah!
Oh my god.
If you had magic in real life, what would be your go to spell?
Flying. No, teleporting. If i could cast a teleporting spell, I'd do that. I'd love to teleport. Are you talking about a curse or a spell on others?
Oh no, any kind of magic.
If I could teleport, that would make things -- my back would be in better condition. [Laughs.] I wouldn't have to be sitting on planes for so many hours. It would be fun to teleport. Driving in Vancouver ... it just drives you crazy. If I could teleport from here to work or from here to LA, oh my god, I'd love it.
My boyfriend is incredibly jealous that I'm speaking with you right now. I feel like your character has very quickly become a gay icon -- why do you think that is?
I think for a couple of reasons. I gave a speech at the HRC not long ago -- a gala in Cleveland -- and we were talking about how my character -- For a lot of LGBTs coming out, they always feel like they are different or misunderstood and my character definitely feels those things. She feels misunderstood, she is different, she doesn't quite fit in, she's an outcast. That's something the community feels. I can't say everyone does, but it's definitely an experience that members of the community go through. There is that and then there is just the most apparent: she's the Evil Queen. She wears these fantastic, glamorous costumes. These ornate costumes with this glam hair and makeup. She's fierce and she looks kind of drag. I mean, that's what I love about her because I'm one to love drag queens. I think that's part of it, for sure. I have become a huge gay icon and I love it. I became one on "Swingtown" as well. This one has kind of put me in a different place than I was on "Swingtown." I'm on a different plateau with this character, I think.
Totally. And she's a strong woman, she's got a lot of power and that seems to always click. [Laughs.]
She is a strong woman and she does have a lot of power, that's an attractive quality in anyone, right?
Definitely. Random question now: Did any particular fairytale scare you while you were growing up?
No. No real fairytale scared me, but Freddy Krueger did. [Laughs.] "Nightmare on Elm Street" scared the living hell out of me, but no fairytale. Maybe "Hansel and Gretel" a little bit when they were walking through the forest and they met the witch. But I liked being scared, I really enjoy being scared. I love horror, I love scary movies, I love thrillers. If things creep you out and spook you? I love it.
What do you watch when you have time?
I do watch "Revenge," "American Horror Story" and "Game of Thrones." I am behind on all of them. [Laughs.] But I do watch them. Those are my go-to shows.
"Once Upon a Time" Season 2 premieres Sunday, September 30 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
