When Jennifer Morrison signed on for Once Upon a Time, she had no idea the ABC fantasy drama would become a transformative chapter in her life—both personally and professionally. In a recent interview, the actress opened up about how the show not only changed her career trajectory but also inspired her to step behind the camera.
Morrison, who played Emma Swan on the series, recalled being immediately captivated by the pilot script. "I was really moved by the pilot," she said. "I thought it was such a slam-dunk idea. The familiarity of all these fairy-tale characters mixed with this concept of them all knowing each other, and somehow having their lives overlap, felt so universally exciting." She credited showrunners Eddie Kitsis and Adam Horowitz for infusing the story with "a tremendous amount of psychology and metaphor," which made the world feel rich and layered.
Growing up in a Disney-loving family, Morrison felt a deep connection to the material. Her parents, both schoolteachers, would save up for road trips from Chicago to Orlando to visit Disney World. "I think that there was also a lot of that Disney mythology that lived in my bones," she explained. "Without realizing it, I'd spent my whole life doing research to be that person."
Emma Swan, a cynical bounty hunter, was the perfect audience surrogate—a skeptic thrown into a world of magic and wonder. Morrison saw herself in that journey, and the show became a mirror for her own growth. "Once Upon a Time sort of was my Enchanted Forest," she said, referencing a line from Frozen 2 about enchanted forests being places of transformation.
The experience wasn't without its challenges. Morrison admitted that the grueling schedule and time away from family took a toll. "I went in with a lot of excitement and a lot of passion, but I didn't expect some of the challenges," she said. "Being away from my family, being away from my home for so long, the sheer hours worked—it really challenged me. It forced me to wake up to needing to know myself better."
That self-discovery eventually led her to directing. Morrison has since directed episodes of Euphoria, Yellowjackets, and other acclaimed series. Her friendship with Sam Levinson helped her land a directing gig on Euphoria, and she's also teased a wild final ride for Yellowjackets Season 4. Her journey from actress to director is a testament to the transformative power of storytelling.
Reflecting on her time in Storybrooke, Morrison sees it as a pivotal moment. "I think it forced me to wake up to needing to know myself better," she said. "It was my own hero's journey."
