Beverley Elliott : “Once Upon A Time has changed lives”

Beverley Elliott : "Once Upon A Time has changed lives"

Photo: Roster Con

The actors of Once Upon A Time were in Paris in June for The Happy Ending convention of People Convention. On this occasion, we were able to chat a few moments with the wonderful Beverley Elliott who plays Granny in the show.

You did many conventions, is there a moment or a fan that stood out ?

The ones that stay in my heart are when the girls come up during the conventions and tell you their story. Stories that are not always pretty but hard. How Once Upon A Time has changed their lives and turn it around and usually it just makes me cry and I end up having a big hug with the person. It’s so inspired that they found something where they feel like their belong and it’s giving them hope and friendship and something to look forward to. I could cry right now. That breaks my heart. We had no idea that’s what the show was going to do, that it was going to collect that kind of persons. I’ve had a girl showing me that they use to cut herself but they don’t anymore, anorexia, bulling, but they’re here and they embraced and that’s like “waow” to me. I’ll join any convention that’s support that.

Are there differences between the countries during conventions in term of organization, atmosphere, fan behavior ?

I’m sure that behind the scenes, conventions people would say it’s so different. For me, as a cast member, in Barcelona, there was a lot of passion and crying. I bet that on the sunday, when leaving, I probably conforted 20 girls that were just crying (she makes crying noises) out of their minds because it was just overwhelming. So that was different. Toronto was a bit more reserved but I don’t think that they enjoyed it any less. I think it’s just the different culture of people. Plus, they usually gives us wine in Europe so that’s changing everything. In Barcelona we had pints of sangria… thank you ! It would never happens in Canada or in the United States. It’s more organized, which is also fine.

Many guest have told us that thanks to conventions, they were able to meet or be closer with other actors from the same show. Is it your case ?

Absolutely, because we have time to be social together. Sometimes we can go out to diner, you can do a tour “Hop-on Hop-off” like I did with Rebecca (Mader) in New York. I went out to diner with Giancarlo (Esposito) in London, I’ve gone to theater with people. It’s like we’re on a working holiday and often, when we come to a destination we’ll book a couple of days on either side, especially in amazing cities like Paris. I’ve been here for 4 days and it’s been so wonderful. And then, when we see each other at a convention again, you’re starting from a place of closer friendship.
And some people I’ve never even had a scene with. Giles (Mattey) is here and I’ve never worked with him. Kristin (Bauer) didn’t even know who Jamie Murray was because they’re not in the same storyline. But you meet here and then you form friendships.

To talk a little about Once Upon A Time. Many important scenes are happening in Granny’s diner, what’s your favorite one ?

It’s so hard to pick a favorite. Because I just say one line here and there, I always like it when I’m barking at somebody to brought some food in : “here’s the chili for the dwarves, no beans, why don’t they want not beans… I don’t know.” I like when that’s writen for me. I also like it when everybody is there. I know it’s hard for the crew because we’re all talking and visiting but it’s fun because you get to see everyone. One time I spilled a beer on Robert Carlyle and I didn’t mean to, that was kind of funny.

Here at Roster Con, we would have like to see the Granny / Ruby story being more developed. If you could have had the opportunity to see this duo longer on screen, what would you have liked to see happening ?

It would be nice if Ruby and Dorothy came back and maybe settle in Storybrooke and they started a family. I would be a great grandmother I guess. I think granny could also have a little romance happening. And I’ve got this crossbow I never get to use, so, if next time something happens it would be nice if they wrote my character to take avantage of the fact that I am a warrior. I think that people like to see older women that have strenght.

The warrior side, is it something you asked for your character ?

No, I didn’t ask that at all. In the pilot, Ruby and I are there and I say : “you sleep your way down the eastern seaboard” and right away from the pilot the things that I’m saying to Ruby are king of shoking and that was written right there. I think they cast me because I understood the humour and then they continued to write it because it works. That’s my guess.

With your muscial background, how did you welcome the idea how a musical episode ?

I thought it was amazing because fans have been asking for it for a very long time. So, when I heard they were doing a musical, I wrote to Adam and Eddy : “do you know that I can sing ? I’ve been singing for 30 years and I can sing evrything from Janis Joplin to Carole King.” They were like “oh we didn’t know, but good to know !” And then I didn’t know if they wrote me in. Did you hear how they made me sing (she imitated an opera voice), I don’t sing like that at all. They were like : “yeah, yeah yeah, we love it !” I was happy to be a part of it.

During the musical episode, if granny had been able to have a solo song, which one could have been?

My song would be something welcoming because everything happens in Granny’s diner. So something like “Welcome, enjoy yourself but don’t piss me off, pay your bill…” with humour in it.

We know that you are an accomplished singer, if you could choose 3 characters / actors from Once Upon A Time to set up a band, which ones would you choose and why?

Colin (O’Donoghue), he is a really good singer. Robert (Carlyle), he never sings publicly but he is amazing and… Michael (Raymond-James) with his guitar.

Published on 6 July 2017
Last update : 6 July 2017

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