Lana Parrilla Shares Vulnerable Story of Overcoming Homelessness in Pursuit of Acting Dreams
Discover how Lana Parrilla bravely navigated through homelessness during her teenage years in pursuit of her acting aspirations. Her inspiring journey sheds light on the challenges she faced and the strength that propelled her forward in the entertainment industry.
Once Upon a Time s Lana Parrilla Opens Up About Being Homeless Early in Her Career
Lana Parrilla. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Lana Parrilla has been working in Hollywood for many years, but she still carries the memory of the short period in her career when she experienced homelessness.
"I remember a time, very early on in my career, when I was living on my own at just 19 years old. It was a really tough time," shared Parrilla, now 46, during an episode of the "I've Never Said This Before" podcast with Tommy DiDario on May 28. "My family and I were in different places, and I found myself on my own during that period."
The actress from Once Upon a Time admitted that she struggled to juggle her career aspirations and college education at the same time.
She shared, "I eventually had to leave college, which was really tough for me. I had to find ways to earn more money to support myself." This difficult period led to her experiencing homelessness.
The actress got her start as a waitress on the show Grown Ups in 1999. She shared that she went through a tough time, living out of her car for a few months and crashing on friends' floors in small apartments. (Her breakthrough role came in 2000 as Angie Ordonez on Spin City.)
Once Upon a Time s Lana Parrilla Opens Up About Being Homeless Early in Her Career
Lana Parrilla, best known for her role as the Evil Queen in Once Upon a Time, still vividly remembers a particular moment from her past. She shared, “Decades later, that time continues to stand out in my mind.” She admitted, “It terrifies me still to this day. That, like, that could ever be a reality for us as artists.”
Parrilla has turned her past struggles into motivation for her current and future achievements. She shared that there is always a voice in the back of her head pushing her to work harder. This fear of losing momentum has driven her to be more creative, explore new ways to earn money, and take on various projects to showcase her talents.
Living out of your car at 19 years old is a different experience, but at 46, it becomes a lot scarier, as Parrilla confessed. Her story of homelessness resonates with many actors. Pedro Pascal also shared that he was on the brink of homelessness before securing a guest starring role on Buffy the Vampire Slayer in 1999.
Pascal, 48, shared with Entertainment Tonight that his early career spanned 15 years. During this time, he faced challenges like affording healthcare, rent, and surgeries with less than $7 in his bank account. Fortunately, a residual check from Buffy the Vampire Slayer came just in time, allowing him to continue pursuing his dreams in Hollywood without giving up.
In the WB series, Pascal played Eddie, a freshman at UC Sunnydale who transforms into a vampire in the season 4 premiere. This role not only helped him join the Screen Actors Guild union but also propelled him to fame, landing him roles in popular shows like The Mandalorian and The Last of Us.
