Lana Parrilla: Introduction
Full name: Lana Parrilla
Date of birth: July 15, 1977
Nationality: American
One‑line summary: A well-known actress best known as Regina Mills / the Evil Queen in Once Upon a Time.
Early Life and Background
Lana Parrilla was brought up in Brooklyn, New York. She is the daughter of a Sicilian banker and artworker Dolores Dee Azzara. Her father Sam Parrilla was a Puerto Rican baseball player who touched the base at once on Phillies.
Lana Parrilla was separated with her parents at the age of three. Lana Parrilla was growing up living with her mother till she was 10 when she moved to live with her father till he died when she was 16. Her father does not share any blood with her, because her aunt Candice Azzara is also an actress, and this gave Lana inspiration in her creative career. 
Her family lived in Boerum Hill Brooklyn, and Lana Parrilla has gone to Fort Hamilton High School in Bay Ridge. Lana Parrilla left high school and moved to Los Angeles where she attended Beverly Hills Playhouse to study acting; she learned scene work, voice, moving, etc.
Career and Major Achievements
First steps
Lana began her career in 1999, acting in small roles on shows like Grown Ups and in films such as Very Mean Men and Spiders.
In 2000, she joined the ABC comedy Spin City as Angie Ordonez for one season.
Rising roles
From 2002 to 2003, she starred in Boomtown as Teresa Ortiz, a paramedic—and then rookie cop. This role won her the Imagen Award for Best Supporting Actress.
She made guest appearances on JAG, Six Feet Under, NYPD Blue, Medium, The Defenders, Lost, 24, and more.
Breakthrough with Once Upon a Time
In 2011, Lana got her most famous role: Regina Mills / the Evil Queen in ABC’s fantasy series Once Upon a Time. The show was a full hit. Her performance won her:
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ALMA Award: Outstanding TV Actress – Drama (2012)
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TV Guide Award: Favorite Villain (2012)
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Additional nominations: Saturn Award, Teen Choice Awards, etc.
The show ran 2011–2018 and became her career-defining role.
Recent work
In 2021, she starred in season 2 of Why Women Kill as Rita Castillo. In 2022 and 2024, she appeared in Netflix’s Atlas and the TV series The Lincoln Lawyer.
In 2025, Lana Parrilla joined The Rainmaker, a legal show on USA Network.
Challenges and Struggles
Lana Parrilla has faced real hardship. In her late teens, she dropped out of college and experienced homelessness. She lived in her car and stayed with friends while pursuing acting.
These tough days left a lasting mark. She says the fear of going back pushes her to keep working hard, to create new ways to earn, and to stay safe both emotionally and financially.
Impact and Legacy
Her role in Once Upon a Time left a big mark on fantasy TV. Many young viewers saw Regina not just as a villain, but also as a deeply human character. Lana’s performance showed growth, strength, pain—and hope. It inspired countless fans.
Personal Life
Lana Parrilla got engaged to Alfredo Di Blasio in 2013 and married him in 2014 in Canada. They ended their marriage in 2019.
In 2020, she started an online clothes store called Keep It Regal, inspired by her Once Upon a Time persona.
She loves singing, music, and helping others. She once built a sports & arts program for refugee children affected by tsunamis.
Conclusion
Lana Parrilla came from a simple start. She faced real struggle—losing her father young, dropping college, and even homelessness. Yet she learned acting, held on to her dreams, and built a career that few do.
Lana Parrilla’s story shows that with hard work, courage, and belief, we can overcome. Her roles, especially Regina the Evil Queen, remind us people can change—they can find light even in darkness. Today, her legacy lives through her acting, her fans, and her creative spirit. 
What we learn from her life
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Never give up, even when life is very hard. Lana’s tough past fuels her steady success.
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Keep learning and growing — she turned training into a lifelong learning path.
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Use art for good — she gives back to children and communities.
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Believe in change — her characters show that people can grow.
Quotes
“I had to drop out of college … I was living out of my car for a couple months.”
— Lana Parrilla about her struggle
Timeline of Key Events
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1977: Born in Brooklyn, New York
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1999: TV debut (Grown Ups)
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2000: Joined Spin City
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2002–03: Starred in Boomtown; won Imagen Award
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2005: Role in 24
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2011–18: Became Regina / Evil Queen in Once Upon a Time; won ALMA & TV Guide Awards
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2013–14: Engaged and married Alfredo Di Blasio
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2020: Launched Keep It Regal clothing line
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2021: Starred in Why Women Kill
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2022–24: Roles in Atlas, The Lincoln Lawyer
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2025: Acting in The Rainmaker
Fun Facts
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Her aunt Candice Azzara is a Broadway and TV actress.
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Lived early life in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn.
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She trained without college, building her own four‑year acting program at Beverly Hills Playhouse.
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She once taught vocal methods herself!
Conclusion
Lana Parrilla’s life is a beautiful example of hope, hard work, and never giving up. She was not born into fame. Lana Parrilla came from a simple family, faced deep pain when she lost her father young, and even lived without a home at one point. But she kept moving forward with faith in herself.
Lana Parrilla tried her level best to become an actress and even when she had nothing to show she did not give up on her dreams. Once Upon a Time made her world learn how much she could act, not necessarily as a villain, a woman that learns, develops, and falls in love once again. Lana Parrilla’s position as such starred her and captured the emotions of millions.
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