Once Upon a Time puts many unique spins on classic fairy tale characters. Once Upon a Time's concept is creative: the Evil Queen casts a Dark Curse that sends fairy tale characters to Storybrooke, Maine. Snow White and Prince Charming's daughter, Emma Swan, is destined to break this curse when she is 28. Emma arrives in Storybrooke because Henry, her son, finds her. However, the Evil Queen — Regina Mills in Storybrooke — adopted Henry when Emma gave him up at birth. This immediately establishes a complex family tree in Once Upon a Time, containing many surprises, twists, and turns.

And the Evil Queen is not the only character with a new identity in the real world. Marco and Archie Hopper exist: two characters formerly known as Geppetto and Jiminy Cricket from The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. Another example includes Ashley Boyd, known as the titular character from Charles Perrault's Cendrillon (Cinderella). In fact, Once Upon a Time's main characters are actually from fairy tales, but some of their backstories are better than others.

10 Grumpy/Leroy

Disney's Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs

The seven dwarfs are actually from The Brothers Grimm's Snow White, but they did not have specific names until Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Each dwarf embodies a different emotion or energy, but Once Upon a Time took their backstories a step further. When dwarfs are born, they receive a magical mining tool that reveals their name. However, Grumpy's original name is Dreamy because he was initially wide-eyed, optimistic, and full of wonder. Eventually, he falls in love with a fairy named Nova and plans to run away with her.

Unfortunately, the Blue Fairy stops Dreamy and warns him that Nova will never complete her fairy training if he runs off with her. Dreamy realizes he has to sacrifice their love for Nova's dreams, but it breaks his heart. The next day, Dreamy is so angry that he breaks his mining tool and needs a new one — except now, the magic reveals that his new name is Grumpy. It is a unique backstory that adds significant depth to Grumpy's one-dimensional character. The only downside is that Nova never returns after Grumpy's backstory episode, leaving their fate as an open-ended question.

9 Zelena/The Wicked Witch Of The West

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz By L. Frank Baum

The Wicked Witch of the West is the antagonist, also known as Zelena, is the antagonist of season 3B. Zelena's story is similar to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, but with some key differences that make her arc more exciting. For one, Zelena turns out to be Regina's older half-sister, whom their mother had to give up so that she could rise to power, leading Zelena to live a miserable life in Oz while Regina has a charmed childhood in a palace.

Furthermore, Rumplestiltskin chooses Regina to cast the Dark Curse, leaving Zelena with insurmountable jealousy, and turning her green with envy. As a result, Zelena becomes motivated to create a time travel spell to eliminate Regina's existence and take her place. Once Upon a Time also further explores her relationship with Glinda and the Wizard, demonstrating that she is truly the most powerful person in Oz. Zelena is certainly wicked and the best villain in Once Upon a Time season 3. Although her arc is muddled when she returns in season 4, Zelena's initial backstory is one of the show's most interesting.

8 Cruella De Vil

The Hundred And One Dalmatians By Dodie Smith

Once Upon a Time's Cruella de Vil does not have a backstory as complicated as some other characters. Nevertheless, it is still one of the best in the show because it truly captures the essence of this evil character. Cruella has no significant reason for becoming evil; she is simply born with darkness and embraces it. This was a surprising decision, given how Once Upon a Time usually takes a different approach with character backstories. However, it works well for someone like Cruella, one of the few Disney villains without a deeper reason for their villainous ways.

"Some people struggle not to be drawn into the darkness, but ever since I was a little girl I've said: Why not splash in and have fun?"

– Cruella in Once Upon a Time season 4, episode 18, "Sympathy for the De Vil"

Although nothing prompts Cruella to become evil, her ties to the Author (Isaac Heller) make the reveal more compelling. Cruella allows Isaac to believe she is suffering in an abusive home with her mother. When Isaac discovers that Cruella lied, the revelation that she loves to be bad is much more iconic, especially since Once Upon a Time has already seen villains with backstories that involve terrible parents.

7 Captain Hook/Killian Jones

Peter Pan By J. M. Barrie

Captain Hook is one of the Once Upon a Time and has always been a fan favorite. His backstory is fascinating, primarily because although he is a villain, he is not Neverland's biggest threat or Peter Pan's number one nemesis. Hook — also known by his real name, Killian Jones — became a pirate because his kingdom indirectly killed his brother, Liam. Hook lost his hand when Rumplestiltskin cut it off. Killian's childhood was quite dire: His father sold Killian and Liam into slavery, and they only escaped because they killed their captain.

While Killian's backstory makes him one of the best Captain Hook portrayals, Once Upon a Time could have done much more with his story. Unfortunately, the show failed to do so, but not for lack of trying. Killian's story is simply too similar to Regina's, from their complicated relationships with their parents to the trajectory of their villainous arcs. If Once Upon a Time had worked harder to make Killian's arc more unique — including his descent into darkness and redemption arc — then he would easily have the best backstory in the show. However, his character is still great for what it is.

6 Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold

Rumpelstiltskin By The Brothers Grimm

Rumplestiltskin has one of the most extensive arcs in Once Upon a Time, but it makes sense because he has lived for centuries. In fact, because Rumplestiltskin has lived for such a long time, he became a combination of multiple fairy tale characters. His father names him Rumplestiltskin because he believes his son is responsible for his mother's death. Rumple helps Cora, Regina's mother, spin straw into gold and win the prince's hand, but the story differs from there because Rumplestiltskin and Cora briefly fall in love before she chooses power over him.

Rumplestiltskin is also the Beast from Beauty & the Beast, the Crocodile from Peter Pan, the Fairy Godmother from Cinderella, and Carl Fredricksen in an allusion to Up. The amalgamation of various fairy tale and Disney characters accompanied by a devious twist is what makes Rumplestiltskin's backstory so appealing. Although his arc is significantly better in the first few seasons of Once Upon a Time, it is still intricate and compelling throughout the show.

5 Regina/The Evil Queen

Snow White By The Brothers Grimm

Regina also has one of the best arcs in Once Upon a Time, so naturally, she has one of the best fairy tale backstories. To be fair, it does not take much to improve the Evil Queen's backstory because hating Snow White due to her beauty is highly superficial. However, Once Upon a Time went above and beyond with Regina's arc, extensively portraying her troubled relationship with her mother, why she wants Snow White dead, and how the kingdom came to know her as the Evil Queen.

Regina's redemption arc seems inconsistent, but it makes it more believable and authentic. While Once Upon a Time season 7's finale is cheesy, it is a testament to how much Regina has changed. The only issue with Regina's backstory involves Once Upon a Time season 6, episode 14, "Page 23." This episode suggests Regina became evil because she hates herself, a reason that cheapens how far she has come. If this episode had never existed, then Regina would have the perfect backstory and character arc as the Evil Queen, who eventually became the Good Queen.

4 David/Prince Charming

Sleeping Beauty By Charles Perrault

Rumplestiltskin's involvement in David's backstory turns Prince Charming into a compelling character. David was not born a prince; his parents were poor shepherds who traded David's twin, James, to Rumplestiltskin in exchange for medicine to heal the boys, who were very sick. Rumplestiltskin gives James to King George, but James tragically dies. As a result, David takes James' place to slay a dragon, but King George instructs his knights to kill the dragon so that David can take credit for it.

In a shocking twist, David slays the dragon after believing in himself and trusting his resources, proving he is a true prince and knight despite being raised as a poor shepherd. David continues to encounter obstacles on his way to a happy ending, but he remains true to himself and does his best for his subjects, proving that he is much more worthy of being dubbed Prince Charming than any previous portrayal of this character.

3 Ursula

The Little Mermaid By Hans Christian Andersen

Although Ursula only appears for a few episodes in Once Upon a Time season 4B, she still has one of the best backstories in the show. It is a fascinating twist on The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen, and even more so regarding Disney's version. Once Upon a Time combines Ariel and Ursula's characters into their version of Ursula in a way that does not diminish either role. Ursula loves her singing voice, but her father, Poseidon, forces her to use it to kill sailors. She ends up becoming human for a short period and meets Captain Hook.

Once Upon a Time is available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu.

Unbeknownst to Ursula, Hook also makes a deal with Poseidon, and when Ursula discovers his betrayal, she is enraged and eliminates the squid ink Hook needs. In retaliation, he steals Ursula's singing voice, which prompts Ursula to transform herself into a Cecaelia. Hook manages to redeem himself years later when he finds Poseidon to give Ursula her voice back. It is a beautiful tale of redemption, parent-child relationships, betrayal, grief, and selfhood. Ursula is a shining example of what Once Upon a Time can do with fairy tale characters.

2 Ruby/Little Red Riding Hood

Little Red Riding Hood By Charles Perrault

There have been several retellings of Little Red Riding Hood, but none have been quite as compelling as Once Upon a Time's version. Red is raised by her grandmother in a village where a dangerous wolf lurks about, and she is desperate to eliminate the wolf and run away with her love, Peter. With Snow White's help, Red realizes that the wolf is actually a shapeshifting human, and they suspect it is Peter. Red decides to put Peter in chains to test the theory.

However, in a tragic twist of fate, it turns out that Red is the real wolf, and her grandmother encourages her to wear her red cloak, which prevents her from turning. Unfortunately, the discovery occurs too late, and Red eats Peter. This retelling of the classic tale completely reinvents the narrative and Red Riding Hood's purpose. Once Upon a Time's version gives Red much more agency while further complicating her character. The show's rendition also plays into Sergei Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf.

1 Snow White/Mary Margaret Blanchard

Snow White By The Brothers Grimm

The best fairy tale backstory in Once Upon a Time is none other than Snow White herself. Once Upon a Time turned a bland and ive Disney Princess into one of its most remarkable characters. Before Once Upon a Time, Snow White was one of the most forgettable Disney Princesses, but the show reignited interest in her character. In Once Upon a Time, Snow White is not just a helpless princess who likes to clean — she is the heir to the kingdom and learns how to fend for herself when she is on the run from the Evil Queen.

Snow White is also not the perfect princess and has done bad things. Some elements are the same, such as her living with seven dwarfs for a while and always being an optimist. However, Snow White is still Once Upon a Time's most impressive fairy tale backstory because of the radical transformation the show successfully made with her character. Snow is now a hero in her own right; she is an active character and the hero in her own story.