Cora

Cora is a character on Once Upon a Time. She débuts in the eighteenth episode of Season One. Cora is played by guest star Barbara Hershey.

History
Cora is the mother of Regina, and the wife of Henry. Regina is out riding her horse one day while her father cheers her on. Cora approaches and is displeased by this, stating that it's not lady like to ride without a saddle. Daniel, the stable boy approaches and offers Regina a saddle, but he is turned away. Regina tries to walk away but Cora uses her magic to stop her.

Cora later hears the news that Regina saved the king's daughter, Snow White, and that the king is on his way to meet with her. Regina is surprised and confused when the king proposes to her, and Cora accepts for her. Cora is later seen talking with a young Snow White about her relationship with her daughter. She tells Snow that she just wants what's best for her daughter, and that she will do anything to make her happy and doesn't want to lose her. Snow is touched by these words, and having the pretense in believing Cora truly means well, begs in Regina's favor that if she truly wants to make her daughter happy, she should not make her marry the king since she is in love with someone else. Cora is surprised, but urges Snow to share the secret—that Regina is in love with Daniel.

Cora manages to catch Regina and Daniel before they run off together. After a small struggle, Cora seems to understand the love Regina has for him. Cora and Regina appear to have reconciled, and they hug. Cora then hugs Daniel afterwards and speaks a few words of her own wisdom concerning how a parent always wants what is best for their child. Seconds after these words, she rips out his heart, and crushes it, killing him. Regina is confused as to why her mother has done this and Cora tells her that this is Regina's happy ending and to have true power you can't have love. She explains that love is an illusion, and it feels real now, but that the only thing she needs in the end is power. Because with power, one can get whatever one wishes without having to rely on anyone for help. She got that from Rumplestiltskin.

Regina is later being fitted in a wedding dress when her and Snow White talk. Snow admits to telling Cora about her and Daniel because she was afraid Regina would lose her mother like she lost hers. Regina turns away and appears to struggle to contain her grief and rage. As she faces Snow, Regina says she's not angry at her. Cora comes down to speak with Regina alone (after Snow White leaves) and says that she is learning well. Before Regina walks off, Cora says she is proud of her. However, Regina turns back to ask her mother if she knew the king was passing through the land, and that the whole scenario of saving Snow from a horse that had gone amuck was all part of her plan. Cora shrugs and assumes the stance of knowing nothing about this. Regina seems to accept the answer, but is heard seething as she trails away from Cora, "I should have let her die on that horse"; implying Regina blames Snow White for ruining her happiness with Daniel and not her mother. ("The Stable Boy")

As her wedding looms nearer, Regina attempts to escape the impending marriage by riding off on her horse. One of Cora's spells stops her, and Cora makes it known that she enacted a barrier spell to keep her daughter from leaving before the wedding. Regina insists she does not wish to marry King Leopold and all she really wants is freedom. Cora says power is freedom, and tries to comfort her with the knowledge she will be there to guide Regina down the right path.

Regina consults with her father, Henry, about how unhappy she is about her future. She is adamant in not wanting to become just like her mother. Regina asks how her mother turned out this way, and Henry vaguely recalls there was a man that gave Cora magic through a book of spells.

During the night, Regina sneaks into her mother's bed chamber and steals the book of spells from under her mothers pillow. She tries to recite a name on one page, “Rumple… Rumple-Shtiltskin? I summon thee.” Rumplestiltskin appears and speaks with Regina about their families history with one another, and how he knew her when she was an infant. Regina wants his help, but is reluctant in doing anything to hurt another person. He gives her a mirror—a looking glass—which acts as a portal between worlds. Rumpelstiltskin tells her all she has to do is give her mother a little push into the mirror and she'll never have to see her again.

On the day of the wedding, in Leopold's castle, Regina is getting ready in her wedding dress. Cora comes in and sees the mirror covered by a cloth. She takes the cloth off and immediately recognizes it as a looking glass. While Cora excitedly talks about Regina's future role as Queen, but Regina once again voices her desire to be nothing like her mother. She lunges to push her mother into the mirror, but Cora is too fast and uses magic to restrain her daughter in place. Cora reminds her she can't get rid of her that easily, but is unaware of Rumplestiltskin appearing in the mirror from behind urging Regina to do what must be done. Gathering strength in anger, Regina breaks free of the binds and uses magic for the first time, causing Cora to fly back towards the looking glass. Cora manages to hang on for a brief moment with a look of surprise on her face before slipping through the looking glass which shatters into pieces seconds later. ("We Are Both")

After Emma Swan breaks the Dark Curse in Storybrooke, she and Mary Margaret Blanchard are sucked into Fairytale Land through the Mad Hatter's hat. They are taken prisoner by Mulan and Princess Aurora, who believe they brought the Wraith that took Prince Phillip's soul. The two are escorted to the survivors safe haven. After a failed escape attempt, the women are imprisoned in "the pit". From the shadows, Cora notices the newcomers and asks if they need help. Emma questions who she is, and Cora replies, stepping forward from the darkness, "A friend." ("We Are Both")

While Mary Margaret and Emma rely on the help of Lancelot and Mulan, their search for a way home brings them back to the castle where the magic wardrobe still lies. Lancelot appears to have followed them there in concern for their safety, but Mary Margaret senses something wrong. She realizes this is not Lancelot. Cora reveals herself as the imposter and exclaims that Lancelot is dead and admits to having killed him a long time ago, knowing that the survivors of the Dark Curse in Fairytale Land would never listen to her and she could use his appearance as a disguise.

Cora intends to use the wardrobe so she can be reunited with Regina and her grandson, Henry Mills, though she likely has much darker intentions for the two of them and others that she may meet. She uses her magic to gain the upper hand against Mary Margaret and Emma, but is stopped when Mulan intervenes. Cora is forced to retreat in a magical cloud of purple smoke. After the others leave the castle, she materializes back into the room to collect ashes from the wardrobe in a bottle. ("Lady of the Lake")

Cora makes a brief appearance standing on the shoreline in Fairytale Land near the small island where the survivors of the Dark Curse make their home. She approaches Captain Hook and shows him the ashes from the wardrobe in her possession. When asked by Hook if it can take them to another world, she states it can't, but it's a start. ("The Crocodile")

Trivia

 * The meaning of "Cora" in Greek is "The Maiden Of Hearts" which is fitting because, chronologically, she is the first person to rip a person's heart out, killing them. Cora was also the original name of Persephone, Goddess of the Spring, Queen of the Underworld and Bride of Hades.
 * She is the daughter of a miller, and, according to Edward Kitsis, she is the miller's daughter from the fairytale, "Rumplestiltskin". This connection is to be explored in Season Two.