Princess Abigail is a recurring character on Once Upon a Time. She makes her début in the third episode of the first season. She is portrayed by guest star Anastasia Griffith, and is the fairytale counterpart of Kathryn Nolan.
Abigail is the princess of a foreign land; the daughter of King Midas and the ex-fiancée of Prince Charming.
History
Season One
Prior to her betrothal to Prince Charming, Abigail was engaged to a knight named Frederick. However, Frederick was turned into a gold statue while protecting her father, King Midas. She tried everything to free him of her father's curse, though to no sucess.
Later, Charming slays a dragon that had been terrorizing Midas's kingdom and Midas gives Abigail's hand in marriage as a reward, as well as to unite his and King George's kingdoms. She goes along with it, even though she has no feelings for him. She is next seen riding in a coach with Charming as they make their way through the woods. She is constantly complaining about the bumpy ride and how they should have taken the Troll Road.
They come to a tree blocking the road and Prince Charming gets out to help his men move it, but realizes that it's been cut down. Meanwhile, a thief reaches into the coach, steals a package of jewels, and rides off. The princess begins frantically screaming. When Prince Charming hears her cry, he goes after the thief.
Some time later, she arrives at George's kingdom and captures Charming as he is running away from George's guards. She reveals that she knows about Snow White and that she, too, is in love someone else. Abigail takes Charming to a spot deep in a forest, a golden statue of a man. Her betrothed, Frederick, was accidentally turned to gold by her father's touch. She tried to break the curse with true love's kiss, but was unsuccesful becasue the gold kept them apart. Seeing her desperation, Charming offers to help restore her love, by getting the magic waters of Lake Nostros.
After Charming successfully defeats the Siren, Abigail pours the water over Frederick's head. He becomes human again and the couple is reunited. As thanks for Charming's selfless act, they provide him with provisions for his journey to find Snow White. However, Abigail warns him of King George's wrath before they part ways.
Appearances
| Once Upon a Time: Season One | ||||||||||
| "Pilot": | "The Thing You Love Most": | "Snow Falls": | "The Price of Gold": | "That Still Small Voice": | "The Shepherd": | "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter": | "Desperate Souls": | "True North": | "7:15 A.M.": | "Fruit of the Poisonous Tree": |
| Absent | Absent | Appears | Absent | Absent | Appears | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| "Skin Deep": | "What Happened to Frederick": | "Dreamy": | "Red-Handed": | "Heart of Darkness": | "Hat Trick": | "The Stable Boy": | "The Return": | "The Stranger": | "An Apple Red as Blood": | "A Land Without Magic": |
| Absent | Appears | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent |
Trivia
- In the myth of King Midas, he accidentally turns his daughter to a gold statue, which only can be cured with running water. In some versions, her name was Marygold or Marigold.
- The name Abigail means "father's joy," which King Midas meant when he said she was worth more than gold.
- King David of the Bible—alluding to David Nolan—also had a second wife named Abigail.
- Her Storybrooke counterpart Kathryn's name refers to the Grimm Brother's tale of Frederick and Catherine. Some of Abigail's scenes allude to the Grimm tale. Thieves rob both women, but the stolen goods are retrieved. Catherine says, "What can't be cured must be endured," and both women accept suffering as it comes their way.