Gretel is a character on ABC's Once Upon a Time. She is portrayed by Sara Canning, with her younger self portrayed by Lily van der Griend.
Biography
Background
Gretel and her brother, Hansel, end up in a gingerbread house where a witch tries to cook and eat them. When the Wicked Witch of the West arrives at the gingerbread house seeking to banish the witch, Gretel begs her to free them, but she refuses. Eventually, Gretel and Hansel manage to escape their candy prison, and tell their father how Zelena ignored their pleas. Hansel tries to attack her, only for Zelena to disarm him by burning his arms, which ends up scarring his sanity as well as his flesh and starting Hansel's obsession with revenge. Never wanting to be powerless again, Gretel learns magic. Gretel and Hansel eventually part ways, and Gretel hears that her brother is wandering the realm under another name. Later, Gretel decides to join the Coven of the Eight, and fights against the other competitors for the open spot in the coven. Gretel initially allies herself with fellow candidate Drizella, but ends up betraying her, forcing Drizella to kill her.
Trivia
- She is based on Gretel from the fairytale Hansel and Gretel.
- Her magic is candy-based, suggesting she may have learned magic from the blind witch.
Appearances
- S7, E15: "Sisterhood" (flashback)
- S7, E17: "Chosen" (flashback)