Victoria Smurfit to Join Once Upon A Time

ABC

Dracula actress Victoria Smurfit is to join the cast of ABC’s fantasy drama Once Upon A Time.

Entertainment Weekly report the actress has signed up to appear in several episodes of the ABC drama in an “iconic role”. Smurfit will make her first appearance in Once Upon A Time in the Winter mid-season finale and although producers are keen to keep details under wraps it seems as though the actress’ character may have been revealed.

TVLine suggests that the actress will play the iconic role of the villainess Cruella de Vil; the fur-loving villain of One Hundred and One Dalmatians. A tweet from Smurfit heraself stating “super excited about playing Cruella for such an iconic show as @OnceABC” seemed to give the game away as well as recent fan sightings of cast member Emilie de Ravin filming with a Dalmatian.

The character of Cruella de Vil was played by Glenn Close in the 1996 live-action film version of One Hundred and One Dalmatians. The actress reprised the role for the 2000 sequel One Hundred and Two Dalmatians. In the 1961 Disney animation film the character was voiced by Betty Lou Gerson.

Victoria Smurfit most recently appeared in NBC’s adaptation of Dracula, opposite Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, in which she played the vampire hunter Lady Jane Wetherby. The actresses other notable roles include Trial and Retribution, The Clinic, Cold Feet and North Square.