Regina Mills sits down with Lavender writer to discuss Colstead and the upcoming season and spills more than we had planned. Our very own Amber Lang got cozy with the cop bombshell yesterday afternoon to get the latest scoop and boy did she get one.
As you know, if you are a steady Lavender reader, I am obsessed with 'Crime & Punishment' and was so excited when I was told that I could reach out to Regina Mills and co-star Zelena Malvagio for an interview. Unfortunately, Zelena was booked for this week but Regina was happy to sit down with me for a little while.
AL: Ms. Mills, oh my gosh I am so excited to get the chance to do this interview. I love the show and I have been a Colstead shipper since day one.
RM: I'm so glad that you have been enjoying the show!
AL: You seem a little bit nervous.
RM: [Laughs] Do I? I suppose I must. I'm always a little bit nervous during interviews!
AL: You haven't done many of them, right?
RM: This will be my second.
AL: Well, I'll try to go easy on you!
RM: Thank you! Forgive me if I am a bumbling mess.
AL: You? Never! Well, you just began filming season three, right?
RM: Yes, that's right. As a matter of fact, we are only a few days into filming! Less than a week.
AL: Is it nice to be back on set?
RM: Yes, it is. The cast, we are all a big family so we miss one another terribly when we're on break and spread across the country. I showed up the first morning and Graham had my favorite cup of coffee for me and Zelena had a few jokes. I am also fairly certain that August has grown a foot since I saw him last.
AL: As little boys will do.
RM: Yes, yes, exactly.
AL: Now, correct me if I'm wrong but you were made a full-time cast member as of season three, right?
RM: Yes! I was! I'm so grateful. That is the highest compliment the producers and fans can give you.
AL: Telling you that they want you to stick around?
RM: Exactly.
AL: Is there anything you can tell us about this upcoming season? We keep hearing words like 'action packed' and 'suspenseful'.
RM: Oh yes, I think those descriptions are very accurate. They give us a fully written script for the first half of the season and I devoured it. It was the best book I had read in months! There are many very exciting things that will be happening for Annabella, Samantha as well as for Charlie.
AL: Now, your character, Annabella, she is in a relationship with Charlie, however, the main Annabella-ship is actually with her best friend and partner, Samantha, correct?
RM: Both my Carlie and my Colstead fans are very devoted, I am so lucky as an actor, but yes, I would say that the Colstead fan base is quite large. There was recently a C&P convention and the number of Colstead fans there was staggering.
AL: It's so interesting that it is such a big ship for your character since both Annabella and Samantha are presumably straight, right?
RM: Right. [Laughs]
AL: What do you think it is about the characters that draws such a heavy lesbian fan base?
RM: Well, it's hard to say exactly. The women are so well written, they are both strong and they support one another fully. When they first met it did not seem as though they would be able to accept one another as they are, but now they seem to know exactly what the other needs. They have a bond that is just for them; especially now that they have been searching for Jake for so long.
AL: And how does Charlie feel about that bond?
RM: [Laughs] I can't say that there won't be a few bumps in the road for Carlie this upcoming season, however, I think in the end Charlie will understand. Sam and Anna quite literally face life and death together on a daily basis. That bond is very important.
Now we come to the interesting part of the article guys; when Regina Mills drops a bomb that none of us were expecting. Sit tight and see!
AL: How does it feel as a straight woman to be such an icon in the current LGBT community? Is it weird for you at all?
RM: Well, Amber, that is the thing.
AL: What's the thing?
RM: I'm not.
AL: You're not what?
RM: We are at such a pivotal time in the world right now when it comes to the LGBT community. Same-sex marriage was just legalized, it is becoming more and more common to see LGBT characters on TV, and I think I can say with confidence that those of us who can help make a difference are extremely lucky. I know that many wonderful actors are out there playing roles that to do not match their own sexuality and I admit that I am one of them. While Colstead is a wonderful ship, it is not the current canon relationship; Annabella is in a relationship with Charlie.
I think I got a little too excited, readers because at this point I almost fell out of my chair to ask:
AL: Are you saying that you are a lesbian, Ms. Mills?
RM: I am.
AL: You're kidding.
RM: That would be a very poor joke indeed.
AL: Is this new information or is this information that I have always missed before?
RM: No, this is definitely new information.
AL: So you're...coming out?
RM: [Laughs] Yes I am.
AL: Wow!
RM: Indeed.
AL: So when you decided to do this article, did you plan to come out of the closet?
RM: Absolutely not.
Even I have to admit that Regina did look a little surprised at her own revelation, readers.
AL: What made you do it, then?
RM: Well, [pauses to think] I suppose it was time. I was living as an out lesbian before I was hired on C&P and I suppose I just felt as though it was time to tell the truth.
AL: Why did you feel you needed to hide?
RM: That is a loaded question. We all remember the struggle that Ellen went through after she came out of the closet, as well as a number of other celebrities in recent years. I suppose, there is always a fear that the negative consequences will overrule the positive.
AL: If you could say anything to other celebrities in the same position that you have been in then what would it be?
RM: I think it would be to wish them luck and tell them to stay strong. Their time will come.
AL: Are you worried about the outcome now?
RM: Incredibly.
AL: What do you think this will mean for Colstead?
RM: In truth, it should have no bearing on Colstead or Annabella whatsoever. Just because I am a lesbian does not mean that Annabella Colt is.
AL: Are you seeing anyone or are you on the market?
RM: [Blushing], Do I sense a date request, Amber? No, I'm only teasing. Yes, I am currently seeing someone.
AL: Anyone we would know?
RM: No, no one you would know, but someone quite wonderful.
AL: Alright, well thank you, Regina, for your candor! I look forward to season three!
Never did I expect such a revelation. Welcome to the team, Regina! We are happy to have you.
Emma didn't even realize she was walking toward her car until she ran headlong into it.
"FUCKADUCK!" she cried, rubbing her knees.
She slid in and let her phone fall to the passenger seat.
Oh my god.
That had just happened.
Regina did it.
"Hoooooly shit."
Regina fucking did it!
She drove like a bat out of hell, her mind on autopilot.
She barely registered the passing cars or the fact that Regina was home when she should have been on set.
She buzzed the intercom.
Silence.
She buzzed again.
Nothing.
"Regina!" she cried at the box. Did she still have that key?
The front gate buzzed and Emma brushed past it.
The front door was open.
"Regina?"
"I'm hiding out."
Emma whirled and was confused by what she saw. Regina had been a mess for the last two weeks but this woman - she looked like Regina again. Her hair was in perfect order, her makeup done with perfect precision, her slacks perfectly tailored and her deep red blouse so perfectly contoured and stunning that Emma had to appreciate it. She was even smiling a real smile. "You're not a wreck."
"No," Regina chuckled, "I'm not a wreck."
"You look - better."
"Oh god," Regina sighed deeply, "I feel better."
Cautious Emma reached for her and Regina came to her more willingly than she had since Tink had outed her.
She nuzzled into Emma's throat and sighed.
"You uh, you came out."
"I did."
"Are you...okay?"
"Yesterday, I was not. I can't tell you how many times I picked up the phone to ask the company not to run the interview. But somehow - oh, I'm just so relieved that it's finally done."
"Is this because of Tink?"
"No, Emma, not really. Who knows if anything would have come from what happened in the bar but it was only a matter of time, right? There was no way to know if or when an ex of mine would have surfaced and - I just - I couldn't keep doing it."
Emma kissed her forehead, torn between absolute fear and relief that Regina seemed better now, more even, she seemed happy. "What's going to happen now?"
"I'm not sure. Officially I can't be kicked off the show for being a lesbian but I think I can be written off because I broke my morality clause. We're required to speak to people about these things before we announce them to the public. Then again they did just make me a full time cast member."
Emma took a shuddering deep breath and Regina finally lifted her head to look at her face. "You're worried."
"Of course, I'm worried! Holy crap, Regina! I've been so afraid for you and then you just go and do it!"
"I didn't plan it."
"Yeah, I got that much." Emma studied Regina's serene face, "Are you sure this was a good idea?"
"No. Not at all."
"Regi-"
"I'm so happy, Emma. It's - it's as though this huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders."
Emma could hear it in Regina's voice; she could see it in her face. She nodded, "Okay."
Regina smiled, "Okay." She pulled Emma in by the back of the neck and thoroughly kissed her.
"I'm here for whatever happens."
Regina nodded. "And Emma."
"Hmm?"
"I love you too."