Lana Parrilla
An actress who transformed a fairy tale villain into a complex, beloved icon of redemption and power.
Born 1977 (age 49)·American actress·Birthday: July 15·Generation X
Biography
Lana Parrilla built a steady career playing sharp, compelling women on network television before landing the role that would define her. After early work on shows like 'Spin City' and a tense stint on '24', she consistently stood out in short-lived series like 'Swingtown' and 'Miami Medical'. Then came 'Once Upon a Time'. As the Evil Queen, Regina Mills, Parrilla did the extraordinary: she made villainy relatable, layering a storybook archetype with profound pain, wit, and a desperate capacity for love. Over seven seasons, she guided the character through a nuanced redemption arc without ever softening her regal steel, earning a devoted fanbase and critical praise. Post-Storybrooke, she has continued to choose complex roles, like the enigmatic Rita Castillo in 'Why Women Kill', proving her strength lies in exploring the intricate, often dark machinery of the human heart.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Lana was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Lana Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Lana's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed the central, evolving role of The Evil Queen / Regina Mills for the entire seven-season run of ABC's 'Once Upon a Time'.
- Won an ALMA Award in 2012 for Outstanding TV Actress—Drama for her work on 'Once Upon a Time'.
- Starred as a series regular in the provocative 2008 CBS drama 'Swingtown', set in the 1970s.
- Played a key recurring role as terrorist operative Sarah Gavin in the fourth season of the hit drama '24'.
Did You Know?
She is of Puerto Rican and Italian descent.
Before acting, she trained as a dancer and was accepted into the prestigious Joffrey Ballet School.
She is a dedicated advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and has been honored by organizations like GLAAD.
Her first major TV role was on the final season of 'Spin City', following Michael J. Fox's departure.
“I think the most interesting characters are the ones that live in the gray.”
