When I interact with any of the fans, you see this show has allowed people — especially people who feel like they’re marginalized, are off to the side, and not really part of society — and it’s created this whole other world where they realize there are other people there who feel the same way, and they get to connect together and through the fandoms. It’s taken on a life of its own, and I think this show allows you to see that if you believe in yourself, and even though there are hard times, there is hope. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, if you’re willing to believe in yourself and see it through.

What’s been the most poignant thing you’ve heard from a fan over the years?

There’s been a couple of times where people have said that they were so desperately alone that they’ve considered taking their own lives, and through the show, they’ve met other people who felt the same way, and realized, “I’m not alone, there are people out there who I can talk to,” you know? That blows me away, where they feel, through this show, and through the love that they get from the other fans and people who are in the same situation, that they realize, “You know what, there is hope, there is light.”

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The Cast of 'Once Upon A Time' Talk About Season 7 | Comic-Con 2017 | MTV

The cast of 'Once Upon A Time' (Lana Parrilla, Colin O'Donoghue,  Andrew J. West, Dania Ramirez, & Gabrielle Anwar) talks to Josh Horowitz about Season 7 at 2017 San Diego Comic-Con.