ONCE UPON A TIME: Emilie de Ravin Teases ‘Skin Deep’

Belle is coming to ONCE UPON A TIME! And while we may know the traditional story of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, when she shows up on the ABC series, her experience is not quite the one we are familiar with.

To try and get some scoop on what fans can expect from this version of the tale, I got on the phone with former LOST star Emilie de Ravin (Belle) to see what she could share about her role…

Given your LOST history with ONCE UPON A TIME creators Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis (who both wrote on the former ABC series), did you approach them to guest star or did they come to you with the role of Belle?
Emilie de Ravin: I actually just started watching the show and they came to me about Belle, and it just happened. I love those guys, so I was of course immediately down to do it.

The show has had several LOST references in the past, so should viewers expect the same for your episode?
EDR: Yeah, there have been a lot [in the past], which is pretty cool. I haven’t seen the final cut of this [episode], so I don’t know. I would guess there would be.

Well, this way you’ll be surprised with all the viewers.
EDR: Yeah! It’s always funny when you’re talking about [an episode] and you haven’t seen it yet.

You’re like, “I know what I’ve shot, but I don’t know what they kept in.”
EDR: [Laughs] They’ve totally cut me out of the episode!

They have you in the promos, so that’s probably a good start.
EDR: [Laughs] Exactly!

Speaking of those promos, it’s quite apparent that this is a different version of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST than we are used to — in this world, Rumpelstiltskin is the beast. What can you tease about Belle’s journey?
EDR: He is, “the beastly character.” It’s interesting, having learned so much about Rumpelstiltskin, to then see him with Belle, being such an iconic character, and the relationship between the beastly figure and her, and the entrapment she’s offered herself to be to save her family. Which is all sort of similar to the [original] story. The interesting twist being that Rumple is the beast.

He remembers when he was not beastly, and towards the end, when Belle and him have developed much more of a caring relationship, as opposed to a “I’m going to throw you in the dungeon” relationship, that there is this struggle within him to believe her when she’s telling him that beauty is on the inside. Not in those words, but there is so much more to him than he believes, and for him, it becomes a question of, “Okay, do I choose love over power when I don’t really believe I can be loved? Do I risk it? Or do I keep the power which I know I already have?” So a lot of moments like that which are pretty intense for both of them in different ways and kind of frustrating for Belle, because there is only a certain amount one can do. You can’t force someone to believe something they don’t want to.

Who else does Belle get to interact with in this episode?
EDR: Gaston, who is maybe not as cocky as the animation [version of him], but it’s funny. And my father, Maurice. That was fun.

Will we see a version of her in Storybrooke?
EDR: That’s one that I have here that I have to say, “Please tune in to watch the episode.”

They have a list of things you’re not allowed to talk about?
EDR: Not like LOST was. That was like, “You can say that we shoot in Hawaii.” [Laughs] And I’m like, “Oh God.” This is much easier to talk about!

Can you say whether there is the potential for this character to come back?
EDR: Yes.

Have there been discussions about bringing you back?
EDR: I do come back [in an upcoming episode], and I’d love to come back as much as I can. It’s a really great show. I actually enjoy watching the show and I had a really, really great time working on it. Such a nice group of people; a really talented cast and crew. That’s not something you find all the time, so you have to relish it when you have it.
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ONCE UPON A TIME airs Sundays at 8 PM on ABC.

Related:

ONCE UPON A TIME: Lana Parrilla Teases ‘True North’
ONCE UPON A TIME: Lana Parrilla Talks Regina, Sheriff Graham, Mr. Gold and More. Plus, Preview ‘Desperate Souls’!

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