"I would say the first time we meet the Evil Queen at the wedding," Parrilla says. "That was my first day as her. It was my first day in full costume, hair, and makeup. I remember being very nervous and had my music playing on my iPod and I was really focused. I just wanted to do great and I wanted to do great for Regina. I wanted her to be the character that they've created and so much more. I remember when those doors flung open, even though they weren't really there, just looking up and making that entrance was something that was very powerful for me as this character. I learned that that's what she does; she knows how to make an entrance. That's how she intimidates people. It was the fun; the joy in it and also the real truth of this pain and anger and resentment that she's been carrying all these years.

"That was very informative for me moving forward with Regina and playing the Evil Queen, how she holds on to the past and she lets the past dictate her future and the choices that she makes, but she was in a very particular place in that time in her life and she didn't have love. She wasn't happy. Even though her father had been giving her that message and trying to show her a better way, she didn't respect him. She never trusted him and she was blinded by her hatred and resentment for Snow. It's only when we jump forward into Storybrooke when she adopts Henry, she learns from him that she can be happy. He brings that happiness into her life, but ultimately it's the love that does."