Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-5047768-20131028040230/@comment-6175354-20131028132011

DarKingdomHearts wrote:

But I'm glad they made Regina play the role as Ursula. The reason why she calls herself Ursula hopefully will be revealed, but that she transformed into an octopus sounds logical. I am sure OUaT will explain, why Regina transformed herself into a cecaelia.

JoAnna Garcia said, in an interview, that Ursula was powerful goddess who granted the merpeople's wish for legs, once a year. It would seem that she was known to the humans, as well.

For all we know, Ursula could just be a myth in the Enchanted Forest. People believed in her, but no one actually ever saw her. Leaving Regina full reign to masquerade as Ursula, in her ongoing power-struggle with Snow White.