The Evil Queen’s Next Chapter: Lana Parrilla’s Biggest New TV Show And Her Complete Career Timeline

Lana Parrilla, the actress who captivated millions as the complex and iconic Evil Queen/Regina Mills, continues to redefine her career with a string of high-profile roles, proving she is far more than just a fairytale villain. As of December 2025, her fans are eagerly anticipating her next major television project, a role that will see her step into the gritty world of a John Grisham adaptation, marking her return to a major network series following her celebrated run on streaming platforms. This article dives into her complete filmography, focusing heavily on her most recent and upcoming work, while celebrating the enduring legacy of her most famous characters.

The latest and most exciting news is her casting in the upcoming USA Network series, The Rainmaker, scheduled for 2025. This role is a significant move, showcasing her versatility beyond fantasy and drama. From her early work on hit sitcoms to her current status as a television powerhouse, Parrilla's career is a masterclass in dramatic range and screen presence, solidifying her as one of the most compelling performers working today.

Lana Parrilla: A Quick Biography and Career Profile

Lana Parrilla’s journey to stardom is a fascinating mix of New York grit and Hollywood glamour. Her compelling screen presence is rooted in a diverse background and a dedication to the craft that started early in her life.

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• Full Name: Lana Maria Parrilla.
• Date of Birth: July 15, 1977.
• Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
• Family Background: Her father, Sam Parrilla, was a professional baseball player (outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies) from Puerto Rico. Her mother, Dolores Azzara, is an American painter of Sicilian descent.
• Education: After high school, she moved to Los Angeles to study acting.
• Notable Award: Winner of the 2012 ALMA Award for Outstanding TV Actress—Drama for her work on Once Upon a Time.
• Career Start: Her early career included roles in films like Spiders and Frozen Stars, followed by recurring roles on major network television.

The Current and Upcoming Era: Lana Parrilla’s Newest TV Shows (2023-2025)

Following the massive success of her seven-season run on ABC, Lana Parrilla has strategically chosen roles that challenge her previous image, proving her capacity to dominate the legal drama, dark comedy, and thriller genres. Her recent projects are a testament to her desire to explore complex, morally ambiguous characters.

The Rainmaker (2025): Stepping into the Grisham Universe

The most anticipated project on her slate is the USA Network series The Rainmaker, based on the John Grisham novel. This marks a major return to network television for Parrilla. She is cast as Jocelyn "Bruiser" Stone, a charismatic and sharp-witted character who is expected to play a crucial role in the legal thriller's narrative. This move signals a shift towards prestige drama, allowing her to showcase a different kind of powerful, commanding presence than the one fans know from Storybrooke.

The Lincoln Lawyer Season 2 (2023): The Mysterious Chef

In 2023, Parrilla took on the pivotal recurring role of Lisa Trammell in the second season of Netflix’s critically acclaimed series, The Lincoln Lawyer. Lisa Trammell is a passionate, successful chef who becomes a client of Mickey Haller (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) after being accused of murder. Parrilla’s performance was lauded for its nuance, portraying a woman who is both sympathetic and potentially dangerous. The role allowed her to dive deep into a character driven by intense emotional stakes within a high-stakes legal framework.

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Why Women Kill (2021): The Glamorous Socialite

Parrilla joined the second season of the Paramount+ dark comedy anthology series, Why Women Kill, as Rita Castillo. Set in 1949, Rita is a glamorous, wealthy, and manipulative socialite trapped in a toxic marriage. The series, created by Marc Cherry (of Desperate Housewives fame), provided Parrilla with a satirical, over-the-top, yet deeply dramatic role that was a sharp contrast to her previous work, proving her comedic timing and ability to embrace high-camp drama.

The Reign of The Evil Queen: Lana Parrilla’s Defining Role

No discussion of Lana Parrilla's career is complete without a deep dive into the role that cemented her as a global television icon: Regina Mills, a.k.a. The Evil Queen, in ABC's Once Upon a Time (2011–2018).

The Complexity of Regina Mills

Parrilla’s portrayal of the Evil Queen was a masterclass in character evolution. She didn't just play a villain; she played a broken woman seeking redemption. Over seven seasons, fans watched Regina transform from the ruthless, curse-casting monarch to the beloved Mayor of Storybrooke and, eventually, the heroic Good Queen. This duality—the ability to be both terrifying and deeply vulnerable—is what made the character so enduring and beloved by the fandom, often referred to as "Oncers."

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• Dual Roles: Parrilla brilliantly juggled multiple versions of the character, including the Evil Queen, Regina Mills (the mayor), Roni, and the Wish Realm Evil Queen.
• Wardrobe Impact: Her signature sleek pantsuits and dramatic fairytale gowns became a major talking point, with the actress expressing her happiness to step out of the restrictive pantsuits as the character evolved.
• Topical Authority: The character’s journey of self-forgiveness and growth has had a lasting impact on fans, with Parrilla often reflecting on how the role helped her own personal growth.

A Look Back: Essential Lana Parrilla TV Roles and Filmography

Before she was casting curses, Lana Parrilla was a familiar face on some of the most critically acclaimed and popular television series of the 2000s. Her early career is a roadmap of recurring and guest-starring roles that built her reputation as a reliable and dynamic dramatic actress.

Early TV Drama and Network Roles

Parrilla’s ability to inject intensity into her characters was evident early on:

• Spin City (2000–2001): She had a recurring role as Angie Ordoñez, a love interest for Charlie Crawford (Charlie Sheen), showcasing her early comedic chops in a political satire setting.
• 24 (2005): Parrilla starred as Sarah Gavin, a counter-terrorism agent, in the fourth season of the hit action-thriller. This high-stakes role proved her capability in intense, fast-paced drama.
• Six Feet Under (2002): She appeared in a recurring capacity as Maura, adding a layer of drama to the critically acclaimed HBO series.
• Lost (2007): She played the role of Greta in the third season, an island inhabitant who added to the show’s complex mythology.
• Swingtown (2008): Parrilla was a main cast member in this CBS drama, playing the role of Trina Decker, a woman navigating the social changes of the 1970s.
• Miami Medical (2010): She was a main cast member as Dr. Eva Zambrano, a trauma surgeon, in this short-lived medical drama.

Lana Parrilla's filmography, while often overshadowed by her prominent television career, includes several key movie appearances, such as the 2000 horror film Spiders and the independent drama Frozen Stars. Her focus has consistently been on the long-form storytelling and character development that television provides, allowing her to build a career of deeply explored, memorable roles.

The Enduring Appeal and Future of Lana Parrilla

The transition from a seven-year-long, globally recognized character like the Evil Queen to new, challenging roles is a testament to Lana Parrilla's resilience and talent. Her choices—from the high-octane legal drama of The Lincoln Lawyer to the satirical dark comedy of Why Women Kill and the upcoming prestige drama of The Rainmaker—demonstrate a commitment to diversity and avoiding being typecast. Fans can also look forward to seeing her at various fan conventions in 2025, such as C2E2 and Rhode Island Comic Con, where she continues to celebrate the legacy of her most impactful character while looking ahead to the future. Lana Parrilla is not just an actress; she is a commanding force in television, and her next chapter promises to be her most exciting yet.