Fan Expo Dallas 2019: Lana Parrilla

From Storybrooke to Dallas, Regina Mills AKA The Evil Queen is here! Television actress Lana Parrilla was one of many guests who came to Fan Expo Dallas last weekend at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center.

Regina Queen GIF from Regina GIFs

https://tenor.com/embed.js

I am a big fan of ABC’s fairy tale drama Once Upon a Time, so I was very ecstatic to hear that Lana Parrilla was coming to Dallas. Last fall, I got to see her co-star Jennifer Morrison as well at the Dallas Fan Days convention, run by the same team behind Fan Expo Dallas.

Bio

Lanaparrilla OUAT GIF from Lanaparrilla GIFs

https://tenor.com/embed.js

Lana Parrilla won several awards for her role as Regina Mills / The Evil Queen on Once Upon a Time: she has won a TV Guide Award for favorite Villain, an ALMA Award for Outstanding TV Actress – Drama, and a Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress -Sci-Fi Fantasy. Parilla has also starred in other dramas such as Lost, 24, and Miami Medical.

Recap

Give to those in need instead

Lana Parrilla joked about how she gets so many gifts from fans that she needs a second house. And if you are a fan who would like to give, she recommends giving to a nonprofit she supports.

Want to give @LanaParrilla a gift? She says consider giving to a foundation she supports! #nonprofits #giving #FanExpoDallas #LanaParrilla
— Geek Gals #StopAsianHate (@geekgalsco) May 5, 2019

Lana believes in helping the less fortunate. She talked about how her family members, such as her father and her two grandmothers, would help people in their neighborhood. Lana herself have also helped the impoverished in other countries like Haiti.

"Both my grandmothers would feed the entire neighborhood," @LanaParrilla talks about how charitable and kind her family is. #LanaParrilla #FanExpoDallas
— Geek Gals #StopAsianHate (@geekgalsco) May 5, 2019

"Self-development is critical," @LanaParrilla says. "We're here to learn certain lessons in life… Regina was always seeking to be a better person, as am I." #LanaParrilla #OnceUponATime #OUAT #FanExpoDallas
— Geek Gals #StopAsianHate (@geekgalsco) May 5, 2019

Once Upon a Time

A fan asked Lana Parrilla what it was like working with animals on set. Her character Regina Mills/The Evil Queen worked with a few during the show’s run.

Working with animals? @LanaParrilla talks about the dog who played Pongo once took a giant poop in the middle of the street. 😂😂😂 #mustlovedogs #LanaParrilla #OUAT #OnceUponATime
— Geek Gals #StopAsianHate (@geekgalsco) May 5, 2019

Did you know your character would take a 360 turn in #OUAT? @LanaParrilla says, "I did see evolution, but I didn't know she'd be the Queen of all the Realms, aka the good queen." #LanaParrilla #OnceUponATime #FanExpoDallas
— Geek Gals #StopAsianHate (@geekgalsco) May 5, 2019

How did you portray/approach Regina/The Evil Queen? @LanaParrilla says she thought of her as not as a fantasy character, but as a woman with a lot of problems. "She is a multi-layered character." #LanaParrilla #OUAT #OnceUponATime #FanExpoDallas pic.twitter.com/IFNR0ZuPVB
— Geek Gals #StopAsianHate (@geekgalsco) May 5, 2019

Favorite season of #OUAT? @LanaParrilla says she loved S1 b/c it was new and S6 b/c she grew a lot. #OnceUponATime #FanExpoDallas
— Geek Gals #StopAsianHate (@geekgalsco) May 5, 2019

Favorite costume on #OUAT? @LanaParrilla says her favorite costume was from S3. "It wasn't the most comfortable but damn I felt sexy." #OnceUponATime pic.twitter.com/PT4GpZUFHU
— Geek Gals #StopAsianHate (@geekgalsco) May 5, 2019

Words of Wisdom

Advice about life? "Don't sweat the small things! Don't lose sight of your dreams," @LanaParrilla says #LanaParrilla #OUAT #OnceUponATime #FanExpoDallas pic.twitter.com/sPdxYgPCkS
— Geek Gals #StopAsianHate (@geekgalsco) May 5, 2019

For anyone who's shy, @LanaParrilla says it's ok! How to combat it? "Take baby steps putting yourself out there." #LanaParrilla #OUAT #OnceUponATime #FanExpoDallas
— Geek Gals #StopAsianHate (@geekgalsco) May 5, 2019

Introvert or extrovert? @LanaParrilla says she's kind of both, depending on who she's with or where she's at. "I vascillate between the two." #LanaParrilla #FanExpoDallas
— Geek Gals #StopAsianHate (@geekgalsco) May 5, 2019

Future Plans

A fan brought up how he enjoyed getting to hear Lana sing during the musical episode on Once Upon a Time and asked if she would start a singing career.

Any plans of singing in the future? All us #OUAT would buy that album! @LanaParrilla is brushing now. ☺️ #LanaParrilla #OnceUponATime #FanExpoDallas
— Geek Gals #StopAsianHate (@geekgalsco) May 5, 2019

Check out the song “Love Doesn’t Stand a Chance” that Lana sung as The Evil Queen during that musical episode!

What are you working on next? "I'm working on me!" @LanaParrilla says 👏👏 "I'm into a lot of things, so I'm re-discovering those things again. My love for acting still exists. I will act again, and hopefully produce and direct." #FanExpoDallas #OUAT
— Geek Gals #StopAsianHate (@geekgalsco) May 5, 2019

"I hope to continue to make everyone proud," @LanaParrilla says ♥️ #OnceUponATime #OUAT #FanExpoDallas pic.twitter.com/9NPN7Ofo3x
— Geek Gals #StopAsianHate (@geekgalsco) May 5, 2019

Stay tuned for more panel recaps from Fan Expo Dallas 2019!

Featured image credit: ABC Studios

Geek Gals

Fan Expo Dallas 2019: Lana Parrilla

Bio