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Lana Parrilla

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Lana Parrilla
Parrilla in 2023
Born
Lana Parrilla

(1977-07-15) July 15, 1977 (age 47)
New York City, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actress
  • director
  • executive producer
Years active1999–present
Spouse(s)Alfred Di Blasio
(m. 2014; div. ?)
FatherSam Parrilla
RelativesCandice Azzara (aunt)
Signature

Lana Parrilla (born July 15, 1977[1]) is an American actress. She was a regular cast member in the fifth season of the ABC sitcom Spin City (2000–2001) and in the fourth season of 24 (2005), and starred in Boomtown (2002–2003), Windfall (2006), Swingtown (2008), and as Dr. Eva Zambrano in the short-lived medical drama Miami Medical (2010), and as The Evil Queen / Regina Mills in the ABC fantasy drama series Once Upon a Time (2011–2018). Among her awards and nominations is a 2012 ALMA Award win for Outstanding TV Actress - Drama. In 2021, she played the role of Rita Castillo in the second season of Why Women Kill.

Early life

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Parrilla was born in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on July 15, 1977.[1] Her mother, Dolores Dee Azzara, is of Sicilian ancestry (Villabate) and her father, Sam Parrilla, is a Puerto Rico-born baseball player who played one season with the Philadelphia Phillies.[2] She is also the niece of Candice Azzara, an American Broadway and TV actress.[3]

She grew up in Boerum Hill and graduated from Fort Hamilton High School in Bay Ridge.[4]

Lana studied acting at the Beverly Hills Playhouse in Los Angeles.[5]

Career

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1999–2010

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In her early career, Parrilla appeared in several movies, including Very Mean Men (2000), Spiders (2000), and Frozen Stars (2003). She made her television debut in 1999, on the UPN sitcom Grown Ups. In 2000, she joined the cast of the ABC comedy series Spin City, playing Angie Ordonez for one season. She left the show in 2001. After that she joined Donnie Wahlberg and Neal McDonough in the short lived crime drama Boomtown, for which she received the Imagen Award for Best Supporting Actress,[6] for her portrayal of Teresa, a paramedic. Initially a success, Boomtown began to struggle, and Parrilla's character became a police academy rookie, to tie her more closely to the rest of the show. "Boomtown" was canceled just two episodes into its second season.

Parrilla in March 2012

Parrilla guest-starred in a number of television dramas, including JAG, Six Feet Under, Covert Affairs, Medium, The Defenders and Chase. She had a recurring role in 2004 as Officer Janet Grafton in NYPD Blue. In 2005, Parrilla took a recurring guest role on the fourth season of the Fox series 24 as Sarah Gavin, a Counter Terrorist Unit agent; she was made a regular cast member in the seventh episode, and her character was written out after the twelfth episode.

In 2006, Parrilla starred in the NBC summer series Windfall alongside former Boomtown castmate Jason Gedrick. In 2007, she guest starred as Greta during the third season of ABC's Lost in the episodes "Greatest Hits" and "Through the Looking Glass" In 2008, she had a leading role in the Lifetime film The Double Life of Eleanor Kendall, in which she played Nellie, a divorcee whose identity has been stolen.[7] Also in 2008, she starred in the CBS summer series Swingtown as Trina Decker, a woman who is part of a swinging couple. In 2010, Parrilla had a female lead role in the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced Miami Medical on CBS, which had a short run towards the end of the 2009–10 television season before it was canceled in July 2010.[8] Windfall, Swingtown and Miami Medical were all canceled after 13 episodes.

2011–present

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Parrilla in 2012

In February 2011, she was cast as Mayor Regina Mills/The Evil Queen, in the ABC adventure fantasy drama Once Upon a Time, created by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz.[9] The series debuted in October 2011.[6] The pilot episode was watched by 12.93 million viewers and achieved an adult 18–49 rating/share of 4.0/10 during the first season, receiving generally favorable reviews from critics.[10] Parrilla's performance also received positive reviews from critics. In 2012 and 2013, she was regarded as a promising contender for an Emmy Award in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series category,[11][12][13][14][15][16] though she did not receive a nomination. She won the TV Guide Award for Favorite Villain and the ALMA Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series in 2012.[17][18] Parrilla also received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress on Television from the 38th Saturn Awards.[19]

On April 30, 2021, Parrilla released a song with Leonardo Abbate, who goes by the stage name Glovibes, called "It's Over Now". It is a remix and rearrangement of Deborah Cox's 1998 song of the same name. [citation needed]

In 2022, Parilla was cast opposite Jennifer Lopez in the Netflix sci-fi thriller film Atlas.[20] Later that year, she was cast for the second season of Netflix legal drama series, The Lincoln Lawyer.[21]

Personal life

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Parrilla became engaged to Alfredo Di Blasio on April 28, 2013, while traveling in Israel.[22] They were married on July 5, 2014, in British Columbia.[23][24] In April 2019, Parrilla announced on her Instagram account that she was "no longer married" and starting a "new life path".[25]

In 2020, Parrilla launched an online clothing company called Keep It Regal, where she sells apparel inspired by her role in Once Upon a Time.[26]

Filmography

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Key
Denotes films that have not yet been released

Film

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Parrilla at San Diego Comic-Con in 2017
Year Title Role Notes
2000 Spiders Marci Eyre
Very Mean Men Teresa
2001 Semper Fi Female Series Commander
2003 Frozen Stars Lisa Vasquez
2005 One Last Ride Antoinette
2008 Mistaken / The Double Life of Eleanor Kendall Eleanor Kendall/Nellie
2020 The Tax Collector Favi
2022 Split at the Root Documentary film; also executive producer
Scrap Stacy
2024 Atlas Val Shepherd
TBA Bad Day at the Office Post-production

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1999 Grown Ups Waitress Episodes: "Truth Be Told", "J Says"
2000 Rude Awakening Nurse Lorna Episode: "Telltale Heart pt.1"
2000–2001 Spin City Angie Ordonez Series regular, 21 episodes
2002 JAG Lt. Stephanie Donato Episode: "Head to Toe"
The Shield Sedona Tellez Episode: "Circles"
2002–2003 Boomtown Teresa Ortiz Imagen Award for Best Supporting Actress
2004 NYPD Blue Officer Janet Grafton Recurring role, 3 episodes
Six Feet Under Maile Episodes: "Terror Starts at Home", "The Dare"
2005 24 Sarah Gavin Recurring guest role / Series regular, 12 episodes
2006 Windfall Nina Schaefer Series regular, 13 episodes
Lost Greta Episodes: "Greatest Hits", "Through the Looking Glass"
2008 Swingtown Trina Decker Series regular, 13 episodes
2010 Miami Medical Dr. Eva Zambrano Series regular, 13 episodes
Covert Affairs Julia Suarez Episode: "South Bound Suarez"
Medium Lydia Halstrom Episode: "The Match Game"
The Defenders Betty Johnson Episode: "Las Vegas vs. Johnson"
2011 Chase Isabella Cordova Episode: "Narco: Part 1"
2011–2018 Once Upon a Time Regina Mills / Evil Queen / Roni Main role; 156 episodes
Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
ALMA Award for Outstanding TV Actress - Drama
TV Guide Award for Favorite Villain
Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Villain
Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Villain
Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television
Nominated – TV Guide Award for Favorite Villain
Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
2021 Why Women Kill Rita Castillo Main role (season 2)
Gracie Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Comedy or Musical[27]
2023 The Lincoln Lawyer Lisa Trammell Recurring role (season 2)
2024 Lesbophilia Miss Madam Short film

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Nominated work Result
2003 Imagen Award for Best Supporting Actress Boomtown Won
2008 ALMA Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Television Series Swingtown Nominated
2012 TV Guide Award for Favorite Villain Once Upon a Time Won
Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television Once Upon a Time Nominated
Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Villain Once Upon a Time Nominated
ALMA Award for Outstanding TV Actress - Drama Once Upon a Time Won
2013 NHMC Impact Award Once Upon a Time Won
Teen Choice Awards for Choice TV Villain Once Upon a Time Nominated
Imagen Foundation Award for Best Actress/Television Once Upon a Time Nominated
2016 Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress: Sci-Fi/Fantasy Once Upon a Time Won
2017 Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress: Sci-Fi/Fantasy Once Upon a Time Nominated
2018 Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress: Sci-Fi/Fantasy[28] Once Upon a Time Nominated

References

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  1. ^ a b "Lana Parrilla Biography". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015.
  2. ^ "Sam Parrilla Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference.
  3. ^ DiStasio, Christine (April 6, 2014). "You Don't Know Jack About This Evil Queen". Bustle.
  4. ^ Ramos, Anna Ruth (March 12, 2016). "Making magic: The evil queen from Kings County". Brooklyn Paper. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  5. ^ "Lana Parrilla". TVGuide.com.
  6. ^ a b "Bio: Evil Queen Played by Lana Parrilla". ABC. Archived from the original on October 26, 2011.
  7. ^ "The Double Life of Eleanor Kendall". mylifetime.com. Archived from the original on January 30, 2012.
  8. ^ "Miami Medical canceled, no season two | canceled + renewed TV shows". TV Series Finale. May 21, 2010. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  9. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 28, 2011). "Several Actors Board Broadcast Pilots". Deadline. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  10. ^ "Once Upon a Time - Season 1 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  11. ^ Hendrickson, Paula (June 21, 2012). "Lana Parrilla in 'Once Upon a Time': Road to the Emmys 2012: The Supporting Actor & Actress". Chicago Tribune. Variety. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  12. ^ "Emmy Latino Snubs For Lana Parrilla, Jimmy Smits, and More". HuffPost. July 19, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  13. ^ Cuenco, Marc (December 1, 2013). "14 Emmy-Worthy GIFs of 'Once Upon a Time' Star Lana Parilla". Tv.aol.com. Archived from the original on February 17, 2015. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  14. ^ "[PHOTOS] Emmy Nominations 2012 – Awards Show's Supporting Actress in Drama Contenders". TVLine. June 6, 2012. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  15. ^ Snetiker, Marc (July 18, 2012). "2012 Emmy Awards Nominees: Our Predictions!". Hollywood.com. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  16. ^ "Lana Parrilla, Once Upon a Time from Emmy Contenders: Supporting Actress, Drama". E! Online UK. July 2, 2012. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  17. ^ "TV Guide Magazine Fan Favorites Awards Winners Revealed!". TVGuide.com. April 10, 2012. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  18. ^ "ALMA Awards 2012: Winners And Show Highlights (Video, Photos)". HuffPost. September 21, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  19. ^ Goldberg, Matt (February 29, 2012). "Saturn Award Nominations 2012 | Collider | Page 148931". Collider. Retrieved June 7, 2015.
  20. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 27, 2022). "Lana Parrilla Signs With APA & Boards Jennifer Lopez's Netflix Sci-Fi Pic 'Atlas'". Deadline Hollywood.
  21. ^ Cordero, Rosy (October 26, 2022). "'The Lincoln Lawyer' Adds Lana Parrilla To Season 2". Deadline Hollywood.
  22. ^ Saad, Nardine (May 7, 2013). "Once Upon a Time's Lana Parrilla engaged to Fred Di Blasio". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 10, 2016.
  23. ^ Nudd, Tim (August 1, 2014). "Once Upon a Time's Lana Parrilla Gets Married in Real-Life Fairy Tale". People. Archived from the original on March 17, 2018.
  24. ^ Parrilla, Lana [@LanaParrilla] (August 1, 2014). "Well, @fred_diblasio I think this says it all... Signed, #MrsDiBlasio" (Tweet). Archived from the original on March 19, 2016 – via Twitter.
  25. ^ "Currently on my new life path ... I'm no longer married". Instagram. April 13, 2019. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  26. ^ "Keep It Regal * Lana Parrilla Official Boutique". keepitregal. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  27. ^ "Gracie Awards: Elle Fanning, Melanie Lynskey, Melissa McCarthy, 'Maid' & 'Pose' Among Honorees; Host Set". Deadline Hollywood. May 4, 2022.
  28. ^ @TeenChoiceFOX (June 14, 2018). "Once Upon A Time, @LanaParrilla was nominated for #ChoiceSciFiTVActress. Will there be a happy ending? RETWEET. #TeenChoice" (Tweet). Archived from the original on May 17, 2021 – via Twitter.
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