CoraCora (Barbara Hershey) is the cruel and controlling mother of Evil Queen Regina. She feels that Regina does not act like a proper lady and wants her to achieve a high status in life, just as Cora, a miller's daughter, elevated her own status through marriage. She is also dismissive of her husband Henry and believes he coddles Regina too much. She uses her magical powers to force Regina to submit to her demands. Cora causes a child Snow White's horse to become wild, knowing that Regina would save Snow. Cora then uses this opportunity to arrange a marriage between Regina and Snow's father King Leopold. When she learns that Regina is in love with the stable boy Daniel, she first appears to let Regina remain with Daniel. She advises them that a good parent knows when to do what is best for her child. Shortly after, she magically pulls Daniel's heart and kills him. Cora tells a heartbroken Regina that love is an illusion and that only power is real. She also states that she made too many deals and sacrifices to let Regina pass up the chance to be queen.[15] The fate of Cora, since her first appearance, has not yet been revealed, but Hershey will return in the second episode of season 2. She is actually the miller's daughter from the fairy tale Rumplestiltskin.