Actress Lana Parrilla, known for her roles in hit TV series like Once Upon a Time, Miami Medical, and The Lincoln Lawyer, recently garnered praise for her performance in Atlas alongside Jennifer Lopez. Despite her current success, Parrilla’s journey to stardom was anything but easy, as she recently revealed details about her challenging early life.
Parrilla opened up about facing homelessness during the early stages of her career, a period she described as “really hard.” In a candid conversation on the I’ve Never Said This Before podcast with host Tommy DiDario, she shared the difficulties she faced while trying to pursue her dreams in the entertainment industry.
During her time in school, Parrilla found herself struggling to support herself financially while simultaneously chasing her aspirations and seeking an education. The pressure became overwhelming, leading her to make the difficult decision to drop out of college in order to focus on earning more money.
However, the lack of a stable income and the high cost of living eventually led to Parrilla experiencing homelessness. “And so I was living out of my car for a couple of months,” she revealed, reflecting on the challenging period of her life.
Living in her car and occasionally staying on friends’ floors in cramped apartments left a lasting impact on Parrilla, instilling a sense of fear and uncertainty about her future. Despite the hardships, she found the inner strength to fight against her circumstances and motivate herself to keep pushing forward.
The experience of witnessing homelessness firsthand deeply affected Parrilla, serving as a constant reminder to never become complacent and to continue working hard to achieve her goals. This fear of reverting to a similar situation drives her to stay motivated, pushing her to explore new opportunities and create her own projects.
Parrilla acknowledges the fine line between the struggles she faced as a young artist and the potential threat of homelessness later in life. While the challenges she endured in her youth continue to shape her perspective, they also serve as a source of motivation to remain grounded and continue striving for success.
Learning from her past experiences, Parrilla remains determined to appreciate her current success while never forgetting the hardships that shaped her journey.
