Lana Parrilla: Bruiser in The Rainmaker & The Evil Queen's Legacy

Portraying Bruiser in The Rainmaker

• 🚀 Lana Parrilla discusses her role as Joselyn "Bruiser" in The Rainmaker, a character originally written as a man in John Grisham's novel and portrayed by Mickey Rourke in the film.
• 💡 She believes Bruiser is more powerful as a woman, especially since she grew up in a man's world, making her a "ballsy, brassy broad" with more to prove.
• 🎯 The role felt like a natural fit, with dialogue that came easily, and she relates to Bruiser's "street side" and ability to "take a punch and throw one."
• 🎬 Her audition for the role was unique, involving reading the script mid-flight to Puerto Rico during a hurricane, and she had to perform off-book.

Filming in Ireland and Making a Home

• ✈️ Filming in Ireland for six months presented logistical challenges and a lack of familiar comforts like specific coconut water or fresh salads.
• ✨ Despite the challenges, the cast and crew formed a close bond, leading to shared experiences and dance parties with actors like John Slattery.
• 🏠 To make temporary living spaces feel like home, Lana prioritizes her dog's comfort with a dog bed, followed by her own essentials like candles, incense, sage, and bamboo sheets.
• 📺 The Rainmaker is described as a legal drama, thriller, and romance with fast pacing and heartfelt characters, airing weekly on Peacock.

Reflecting on Once Upon a Time

• 👑 Lana has mixed feelings about a potential Once Upon a Time reboot due to the show's long run, but remains open to it because the character holds a "huge piece of her heart."
• 💖 She highlights the great writing of the series, noting how its moral lessons and character journeys, particularly Regina's transformation from a vengeful queen to a hero, changed lives for fans and even healed relationships in her own life.
• 📺 Her recommended scenes for a Once Upon a Time newbie include the pilot wedding scene and a Season 6 moment where Regina embraces her "dark side" as the Evil Queen, symbolizing self-acceptance and forgiveness.
• ⏳ She acknowledges the grueling 9-month filming schedule for 22-23 episodes per season, contrasting it with the shorter 8-10 episode seasons of modern television, which offer a better work-life balance.

Character Insights and Personal Connections

• 🍽️ When asked which character she'd want as a neighbor, Lana chose Lisa Trammel from The Lincoln Lawyer, humorously admitting it's for her cooking skills.
• 🎭 She expressed a strong desire to revisit her role as Trina Decker in Swingtown, feeling the show ended prematurely and had many more stories to tell.
• 🎶 For her character Bruiser, Lana created a playlist including "I Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty and "Night Moves" by Bob Seger, reflecting a '70s rock vibe.
• 🐾 She shared a poignant story about finding a photo of her late dog, Lola, in Bruiser's office, interpreting it as a sign of Lola's spiritual presence and a comfort after Lola's passing freed her to take the role.

Life Lessons and Gratitude

• 🧘‍♀️ Lana plans to tell her future self to "carve out time to actually vacation" and prioritize rest, acknowledging her tendency to "go go go" and the importance of saying no.
• 📱 She also advises her future self to put down the phone and be present, a lesson she learned from her dog, Lola.
• 🙏 In a moment of personal reflection, Lana publicly expressed her deep love and gratitude for her mother, who has become her best friend and always supported her interests.
• ❤️ She emphasized the importance of appreciating loved ones and those who have always been supportive, a sentiment she had never publicly shared before.