Interview with Christie Laing (SPOILERY if you haven't seen the S3 finale)

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The final moments of season 3 of Once Upon a Time surveyed the couples in Storybrooke in their blissful states, but one reunion waited to shake up Regina’s new found happiness. Entering the diner, Marian reunites with her long lost love, Robin, and her son Roland! But what does her return mean for season 4?

In an exclusive interview, Hypable spoke with Christie Laing about her character’s return, who she is looking forward to working with, and her future in Storybrooke!

First we’d like to welcome you back to Once Upon a Time!

Yay! I know a lot of people were sad to see the Queen’s heart get broken a little bit.

When you were first cast, this is going back a couple of years, [Laing first appeared in "Lacey" in season 2] did you ever think your character would come back in such a major way?

No, I didn’t. Obviously, Maid Marian herself is such an interesting character and when I first got the role, the dynamic with Robin Hood and Maid Marian I hoped that would be something we touched on, but I never expected the twist that they had in store here.

Yeah, especially with such a long gap of time, you almost forget about it, and then you see Robin moving on and adjusting, you know that the ringer is coming.

After a season of watching Regina’s transformation, you’re entering on Regina’s bad side. How did you feel about coming in at odds with a character you know as only a villain?

Well, actually Lara was one of the first people I filmed with, and she is so great. We discussed what the dynamic might be between us. Her character, especially, has grown so much, and the Evil Queen has grown so much in the last year, I’d be really interested to see if there’s a… if she is going to go all the way to being angry and heart broken again or if there’s going to be a more sit down type scenario, or even a discussion about it.

I don’t feel like it is going to be, “off with her head!”

Looking ahead to season 4, have the show runners given you any clues as to what is in store for your character or are you in the same boat as the audience going in with a blank slate?

Yeah, I’m with everyone, have no idea. Which is kind of fun in a way.

Once you get the scripts you are really excited to go through it. The whole process of working with the show is all tight lipped and top secret. So it is kind of exciting, I get to be a little bit of a fan as well and be there with the audience watching the show not knowing what is going to happen.

Especially with the [season 3] finale episodes, there was so much of it that I didn’t even know about!

I am playing catch up a little bit as well.

Does not knowing plots too far in advance give you the chance to have a more genuine reaction to play with?

100%.

[The actors] have a lot more to play with I guess because your reaction is so fresh, you read the script and you keep those reactions to yourself and then you get to perform it with everyone.

What do you think the biggest adjustment for Maid Marian is going to be in Storybrooke? Especially since she knows nothing about the modern world?

I am really looking forward to actually seeing what Marian’s Storybrooke outfit will be!

I also feel like Marian is a strong character, she is seen fighting along side with Robin, helping out, there are so many dynamics to her. Now she has the love of her life back and for her everything is great, she has her family.

But I don’t think it is going to be that easy of an adjustment for her. She is going to meet all of these new people and find out where she fits in the mix. She is the new girl in town.

Is there anyone in the Storybrooke world, you are looking forward to working with? Characters or actors?

Yea! I really like working with Emma (Jennifer Moorison). I loved our scenes together.

Also, Robert Carlyle. I loved meeting him. I was asleep, or knocked over the head, so I’d love to work more with him.

I had a chance to meet Sarah [Bolger] who plays Aurora and she was one of my favorite characters to meet. They have so many great people I have least three or four that I’d love to share a scene with.

If you were not playing Marian, what fairy tale character would you like to bring to Storybrooke?

I was watching Twitter along with fans while the show was airing, and I saw a bunch of Jasmine comments come up and that is one that I think would be really cool. Also, she’s someone that I don’t think they’ve touched on yet. Jasmine and the carpet and Jafar and Aladdin. I think that is a neat world.

Thanks for speaking with us today and we look forward to seeing your character around Storybrooke this fall!

Thank you, I am really enjoying my time at Once and the fans and everyone have been great so far.

Thanks for having me on today to speak a little bit more about Marian and I’ll be waiting along with everyone to find out what’s going to happen! src