TV Article 'Once Upon a Time' scoop: Rose McGowan returning as Cora By James Hibberd James Hibberd James Hibberd is the former editor at large at Entertainment Weekly. He left EW in 2021. EW's editorial guidelines Published on January 25, 2014 04:00PM EST Photo: Jeff Vespa/Getty Images Once Upon a Time is resurrecting Cora — kind of! Actress Rose McGowan has signed on to reprise her role as the youthful version of the villainous Queen of Hearts. McGowan (Charmed, Death Proof) previously played Cora in the pivotal episode “The Miller’s Daughter” last March, which was an origin story for the character (normally played by Barbara Hershey) and also showed her death. The character hasn’t been on the show since. McGowan will return to Once Upon in the 18th episode this season. Here’s a clip of McGowan’s previous appearance on the show that includes a smooch with Rumple.