Lana Parrilla is very grateful to be performing as both Regina and the Evil Queen on Once Upon a Time this season.

Parrilla has had to pull double duty on Once Upon a Time this year, playing Regina and the Evil Queen separately and sometimes in the same scene. The actress admitted in a recent interview that it's been a very "different" acting experience though it allows her to flex her acting muscles.

"It's different because I'm actually in scenes with myself. So, that's really different," Parrilla admitted to Access Hollywood. "So it requires me to approach the whole process differently because I have to remember how I'm going to play it on the other side before [I've] even played it (laughs). And then, if I play the Evil Queen first, when I'm Regina, I have to remember what I did as the Evil Queen. And then, if I am playing the Evil Queen first, I have to know what I'm going to do as Regina (laughs). ... So, it's really about tracking. Yeah, it's a little harder this season."

Even though it's harder, Parrilla stated that she's essentially playing one of the best roles on television right now.

"I mean, this is so awesome to be doing this role," she said. "I would say that I probably have one of the top 10 best female roles in television right now, and everything that I get to do with her and everything that they give me, with the material and what they allow me to do, is pretty incredible."

Parrilla might have even more juicy material in the weeks to come with the return of Sean Maguire, who played Regina's love, Robin Hood, on the series before his death in season 5. It's not clear exactly how Maguire will return, but it could certainly complicate things for Regina or the Evil Queen.

Once Upon a Time airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

Watch the promo for the next episode of Once Upon a Time here:

Tags: Once Upon A Time television ABC