An Emmy-winning actress has been cast as the mother of the evil queen in ABC’s "Once Upon a Time," reports EW.com’s Inside TV blog.

Barbara Hershey, who won an Emmy for "A Killing in a Small Town" in 1990, will appear in both the current season and the show’s second season, even though ABC hasn’t yet announced a renewal, the story says.

Given that the show is the highest-rated new drama this season, it’s considered a sure thing for getting another season, the piece notes.

Hershey also received an Emmy nomination for “Paris Trout” in 1991, and was nominated for an Oscar in 1997 for “The Portrait of a Lady.”