Lana Parrilla on Why Playing Bruiser in The Rainmaker Feels Like Coming Home

If you watched Once Upon a Time, you already know Lana Parrilla can command a room. As the Evil Queen/Regina Mills, she didn’t just play a character — she created an icon. 

For seven seasons, she gave fans a layered, magnetic performance that made them root for a villain, cheer for a redemption arc, and feel every shade of gray in between.

That same complexity is what makes her Bruiser in USA Network’s The Rainmaker so compelling. 

In John Grisham’s novel and the 1997 film, Bruiser is male, a sharp operator with questionable morals. Here, Parrilla takes the core of that character and reframes it. 

“Diversity is everything,” she says. “Out of all the roles, Bruiser was the one we could bend. It shows the masculine within the feminine — and I get to explore that side of myself in a way I haven’t on screen before.”

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Parrilla’s Bruiser still knows how to win a room — and a case — but her toughness has purpose. 

“She’s tough on the exterior, but once you explore her, there’s so much more,” she says. “Meeting Rudy Baylor opens her eyes to a different way of practicing law — one that reminds her of why she started.”

The Joy of the “Tripod”

Working with Milo Callaghan‘s Rudy and PJ Byrne‘s Deck has been one of the great pleasures of the role. The trio has even earned a nickname on set: “the tripod.” “Each of us influences the other,” Parrilla says. 

“Rudy challenges Bruiser and inspires her; she brings street smarts and experience he doesn’t have. Deck’s the comic relief, the straight shooter. We all grow together as this little family.”

That family feeling extends off-camera. Parrilla lights up when talking about her younger castmates. 

“They’re so talented, and they’re at that exciting point in their careers where everything is new. I love being part of that — being able to support them and watch them take these big leaps.”

Facing Off with Leo Drummond

Then there’s her dynamic with John Slattery’s Leo Drummond. 

“He’s such a veteran, and he brings a whole other level to the show,” she says. “He’ll stop and say, ‘Let’s talk about this moment,’ and that’s the theater actor in him. I love that.” 

Their scenes together crackle because they’re two characters who know exactly how to push each other’s buttons — and two actors who relish the sparring.

Why The Rainmaker Works

For Parrilla, what makes the show worth watching is its combination of legal intrigue and rich, character-driven storytelling. 

“We get to explore these characters over ten episodes, plus new ones like female Bruiser and Sarah Plankmore, who barely appeared in the novel. It’s relatable, it’s grounded, and it’s a legal thriller. Who doesn’t love that?”

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And for fans who still think of her as Regina? Bruiser offers the same delicious contradictions — tough yet vulnerable, sharp yet capable of surprising warmth — in a whole new setting. 

“I’ve been really lucky to play women with layers,” she says. “Bruiser is one more I can’t wait for people to get to know.”

The Rainmaker premieres tonight on USA Network at 10/9c.

Make it a point to watch, and then return here for a full review of The Rainmaker Season 1 Episode 1.

Let’s travel this road together and have some fun with the journey!

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