Dania Ramirez on the Final Season of ‘Once Upon a Time’ [Exclusive Interview]

Dania Ramirez has had a lengthy career in TV, with roles on hit shows like Heroes, Entourage, and Devious Maids. But these days, she’s busy being a princess on ABC’s Once Upon a Time, now in its final season.

I recently spoke with Ramirez about playing Cinderella in the fairytale drama and on what to expect for the show’s last episodes.

Ramirez said that as a woman of color, it meant a lot to her to play such a famous character in pop culture.

“When I auditioned for the part, I didn’t even know it was for Cinderella. For me, it was a dream come true to get the chance to play such an iconic character, that I, growing up as a Latina, never thought I could play. That part of it was really magical.”

Joining the show in its seventh season, Ramirez said it hasn’t been all that difficult fitting right in with the cast.

“The cast was really welcoming. Because all of us are away from our homes, we do end up gravitating towards each other on set. There’s not too much hanging out outside of set because we’re in Vancouver, and when we have time off, everyone’s taking a flight back to LA. But we’re there for one another. We like to play around on set. It’s a positive vibe.”

Ramirez also plays Jacinda Vidrio, Cinderella’s alter-ego in the show’s real-world timeline. On the differences between the two characters, Ramirez said she likes playing the maternal side of Jacinda.

“She’s so grounded. I get to play the mother side of her. The fairytale side of it is more about her falling in love for the first time. But as Jacinda, it’s more about the love for her daughter and family that keeps her going in a world that’s kind of against her. I think she puts herself last a lot of the time, and I think that’s a humble way of looking at life.”

Alison Fernandez, who plays Jacinda’s daughter, Lucy, has made a huge impression on Ramirez.  So much so, that Ramirez doesn’t feel like they’re acting when they’re working together.

“The lines are little blurred,” Ramirez said.

“I look like her mother, and we all try to look out for her. She’s such an inquisitive young girl. She’s present and vibrant. I get to have a younger soul around me, living in Vancouver when I’m away from my own children. She brings out the inner child in me.”

While Ramirez remained mostly tight-lipped about how the story will end in a few episodes, she did reveal that they’re currently in the middle of filming the series finale.

“There’s going to be a lot of old characters that people fell in love with coming back, and there will be confrontations,” Ramirez teased.

Former cast members Jennifer Morrison, Josh Dallas, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Emilie de Ravin are all returning for the finale, and Ramirez gushed about getting the chance to work with one particular co-star.

“I got to play with Jennifer Morrison — love her! She was so much fun. She was so lovely. She’s so inspiring and so into her character and cares about Emma Swan. It’s going to be great for the fans because they’ll be getting what they’ve been wanting all season.”

Ramirez also noted that there are mixed feelings on set now that it’s time to close the chapter on these characters.

“For those people that have been here for years, it’s sad, but at the same time, everybody’s really excited about the journeys they’re about to take. The show has been going on for such a long time, so it’s bittersweet. We know that we were part of something really special. For us, it’s about continuing to build good memories to the end.”

Once the show wraps up, Ramirez wants to sink her teeth into comedy roles or intense political dramas. But in the meantime, she’s also busy taking on roles behind the camera.

As a producer, she’s interested in creating more opportunities for Latinos, especially women.

“I’m interested in creating stories that are not just about Latino communities, but interesting stories about people who happen to be Latino. The more we normalize that, the better.”

She’s also working on a project as a writer.

“I’m writing a proposal for my immigrant story. That’s going to be a book that hopefully, eventually will turn into something more and open doors for more roles.”

Before going, Ramirez shared what to expect from Jacinda in the coming weeks of Once Upon a Time. 

“Jacinda is still really in this place of struggling to believe that she is who her daughter believes that she is. In the flashbacks, we’re going to see more of her falling in love with Henry.”

Ramirez tried not to give too much away when it comes to the fate of her character, but she did say that she got the ending that she hoped for. Dare we say a happily ever after is in the cards?

Be sure to catch Ramirez on the final season of Once Upon a Time, airing Fridays on ABC at 8/7c.

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