Eva

"As long as you hold the spirit of goodness in your heart, I shall never leave you."

- Eva to Snow White Queen Eva, previously known as Princess Eva, is a character on ABC's Once Upon a Time. She débuts in the fifteenth episode of the second season. She is portrayed by guest stars Rena Sofer and Eva Allan, and does not have a Storybrooke counterpart.

Eva is based on the character "The Queen" from the fairytale, "Snow White".

Before the Curse
Eva, a princess of a northern kingdom, visits the kingdom of King Xavier, and she happens to notice a young woman named Cora in peasant garb delivering flour. For her own amusement, Eva sticks out her foot and trips Cora, causing her to spill the flour. Cora insults the princess, who is asked by King Xavier if she is alright. Eva states she is fine aside from the fact Cora has ruined her slippers. Cora is made to kneel and apologize, although the accident was not her fault. Later, at a royal ball in which the king's son, Prince Henry, is looking for a bride, Eva and the other ball attendants watch as Cora spins straw into gold in front of the king's court. Immediately after, Henry proposes to Cora, who accepts.

Many years later, Eva marries King Leopold and gives birth to a daughter, Snow White and is hailed as a good and kind queen. When Snow White's birthday celebration comes to pass, Eva is proud and excited to give her the tiara her own mother wore. The two leave the banquet hall where the feast is being prepared and encounter their servant Johanna trying on Snow White's tiara in the mirror. Snow White moves to berate her, stating that servants should not wear crowns. Eva orders for her to stop, and Snow White turns to Eva with an incredulous look on her face. Eva informs her that it does not matter if someone is a royal or a servant; that each person deserves love and respect. She asks Snow White what the birthday celebration is for, and Snow White selfishly responds it is for her honor on her birthday. Eva corrects her gently, saying that it is for Snow White to honor her people and to show them what a good and kind Queen she will one day make. Eva then places the tiara on Snow White's head and beams with pride before collapsing in a sudden coughing fit in a chair. A concerned Snow and Johanna rush to her side.

Eva later rests in bed, and a doctor attends her. Snow White rushes to her side after the doctor inspects her and states that she wants to cancel her birthday celebration so that later they can celebrate Eva's recovery. Eva says Snow White's birthday celebration must go on, and that she will be proud to see her daughter wear the tiara. Suddenly, Eva bursts into another fit of coughing, and holds a cloth to her mouth, then takes it away to reveal blood. She orders Johanna to take her daughter from the room, and Johanna leads a weeping Snow White out.

Later in the evening, Snow returns to Eva's room, and crawls into bed beside her. She tells Eva that she went to the Blue Fairy to request a way to save Eva from dying, and she was given a candle that would take life from one person, then transfer that life into Eva. But, Snow White tells Eva she could not do it, and that it was a weakness on her part. Eva corrects her, praising Snow White for showing strength, and that she is very proud of Snow White for being good and sticking to good's side. She dies as a distraught Snow White looks on.

The next day, Eva's body lies in state as Snow White and the court come together to honor her memory. Snow White lays a single snow drop on Eva's chest, and whispers that she loves and misses her. Following the service, Snow White and Johanna leave, and the Blue Fairy enters, and transforms back into Cora. Cora walks up to the body and remarks that poison becomes Eva, and Snow White will never be the queen that Eva desired her to be as Regina will be queen in her place. She tells Eva that she will make Snow White's heart black as coal, and destroy the legacy Eva hoped to leave behind. She takes the flower placed on her chest, inhales the fragrance of it, and tosses it aside before kissing her own fingers and placing them on Eva's lips.

Trivia

 * The casting call describes her as, "Katerina captures the affection of all those that meet her, thanks to her pure spirit and kind heart. As if she doesn't already sound perfect enough, it's worth noting that she treats everyone with dignity and respect, no matter their place in society and she's super close with her adoring fam."
 * The casting call name for her was "Katerina".
 * "Eva" is Hebrew in origin, which means "life".
 * Eva's bedchamber in the Summer Palace appears to be the same one Regina would later use during her reign.