Lana Parrilla

Lana Parrilla (born July 15, 1977) is an American actress, best known for her role as The Evil Queen/Regina Mills in the ABC fantasy drama series Once Upon a Time (2011–2018). She has also appeared in various TV shows, including Spin City (2000–2001), 24 (2005), Boomtown (2002–2003), Windfall (2006), Swingtown (2008), and Miami Medical (2010). In addition to her television work, Parrilla played the role of Rita Castillo in the second season of Why Women Kill in 2021. She was born in Brooklyn, New York City to a Sicilian mother and a Puerto Rican father, who was a former baseball player. Parrilla's diverse background and talent have earned her recognition, including an ALMA Award for Outstanding TV Actress - Drama in 2012.