Read our exclusive interview with actor Raphael Sbarge, who’s currently portraying Archie Hopper, as well as Jiminy Cricket’s human form, in ABC’s acclaimed fantasy fairytale drama ‘Once Upon a Time.’ The series follows Emma Swan (played by Jennifer Morrison), the daughter of Snow White (portrayed by Ginnifer Goodwin) and Prince Charming (played by Joshua Dallas), as she escapes the Evil Queen (portrayed by Lana Parrilla) transported to present day Boston. When contacted by her son Henry (played by Jared S. Gilmore), whom she had given up for adoption when he was born, she discovers that he lives in Storybrooke. Henry informs her that everyone is in really a fairy tale character who is living there in exile. However, because of one of the Evil Queen’s curses, no one remembers their true identity.

Sbarge, who has appeared in over 30 films, including ‘Risky Business’ and ‘Independence Day,’ and has made over 100 guest appearances on such shows as ‘NCIS’ and ‘Burn Notice,’ discusses with us what attracted him to the role of Archie Hopper. He also talks about how ‘Once Upon a Time’ differentiates itself from similarly-themed shows.

ShockYa (SY): You portray psychologist Archie Hopper in ‘Once Upon a Time.’ What was it about the character that convinced you to audition for, and accept, the role?

Raphael Sbarge (RS): The thing that’s so great about this show is how the writers have really put such original spins on the fairy tales we’re all familiar with. That quality storytelling was apparent from the pilot script—it was one of those scripts that actors fall in love with because we get to explore our characters’ journeys in both the fairy tale and modern worlds.

You get to see why Jiminy became a cricket, and you get to watch Archie start to come into his own and out from under Regina’s control. You don’t often get the chance to explore what’s essentially the same character, in so many different ways. What the writers have crafted is just quite magical.

SY: Archie is Jiminy Cricket’s human form in present-day Maine. Since he is such a beloved character, do you feel any pressure to portray him in a particular way?

RS: Definitely—who doesn’t love Jiminy Cricket, after all? I think we all felt a certain responsibility—we wanted to show our respect for these beloved characters from everyone’s youth, but also stay true to the story we’re telling on ‘Once Upon a Time.’

This is where the writing has really helped us, by painting such vivid back stories for our characters that fans tell me they never knew Jiminy was a man who chose to be a cricket! It’s really a testament to our writers that the viewers have bought into the show so much that they don’t realize the stories we’re telling are new.

SY: Archie serves as Storybrooke’s resident therapist, who treats the show’s central characters. What are your thoughts on the psychological evolution of the main characters so far-do you feel they have changed at all since the series launched in October?

RS: Oh, absolutely. I think the Storybrooke characters are starting to question their realities and everything they’ve known and accepted for years. Their world is starting to become more, well, real, now that Emma is in town. And she’s gaining that sense of family and community that she never had as an orphan. Both worlds just continue to expand in such wonderful ways with each script.

SY: Can you offer any insight into what’s going to happen with Archie and the characters he treats during the rest of the season?

RS: One think I can tease (and I got permission to be able to say this) is that you will see Archie having a new patient in the coming weeks.

SY: Along with Jiminy Cricket, ‘Once Upon a Time’ brings together several fairytale characters, including Snow White, Rumpelstiltskin and Pinocchio, in the modern era. Do you feel the storylines featured between the characters on the series relate to the contemporary issues Americans are facing today?

RS: You know, I think that’s another thing that our writers have done really well; the fairy tale and modern worlds allow them to weave so many elements from fantasy and reality into their stories. You see fairies granting wishes, but you also have a character who was a foster child and lived in the system; a child who was adopted and is determined to establish a bond with his birth mother; and people who are torn between doing what’s right and doing what they’ve been pressured to do. So much about life comes down to making the right decision at the right moment—and now, many of our Storybrooke characters are facing serious choices, some perhaps for the first time.

SY: ‘Once Upon a Time’ is competing against another new fairy-tale fantasy drama, NBC’s ‘Grimm.’ What differentiates itself your show from ‘Grimm’ and other similarly-themed shows?

While I can see why people compare our shows, I think they’re also quite different in a lot of ways: ‘Grimm’ is more of a procedural, isn’t it? And it’s doing that very well. We’re more along the lines of ‘Lost’ (which our co-creators, Eddy Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, wrote for)—we have a similar, underlying mythology, as well as the seemingly stand-alone shows that also serve to move the overall arc forward.

We’re also giving you that glimpse into the fairy tales, while ‘Grimm’ is more rooted in the modern world. I think that while there are, of course, many similarities, there are just as many differences between our shows.

SY: You are known for your television work, having previously regularly starred on ‘The Guardian,’ and having guest starring/recurring roles on such series as ‘Dexter,’ ‘Big Love,’ ‘Prison Break’ and ‘Private Practice.’ What is it about television that you find so compelling, and leads you to continuously appear on various shows?

RS: Television can give an actor the opportunity to see a character’s story through, even if it’s a short-term, recurring arc. When you’re a guest star, you’re helping to tell the stories of other actors and their characters. It’s a wonderful medium, and I’ve just been really fortunate to have had the chance to work with so many gifted directors, writers, actors and other crew members throughout the years.

SY: You reunite with your ‘Big Love’ co-star Ginnifer Goodwin on ‘Once Upon a Time.’ What is it like working with her on two completely diverse shows?

RS: Bottom line: she is dreamy. I love her work—I was a huge fan of ‘Big Love’ and her on it. But, these two shows are literally (and figuratively) worlds apart. What is wonderful for me is to have an opportunity to forge a relationship with her, in this new world, and one that we can share. I am so grateful to be a part of this incredible cast and production team. It’s the acting equivalent of being on an all-star team….

SY: While you’re primarily known for your television work, you have also appeared in over 30 films, including ‘Message in a Bottle’ and ‘Pearl Harbor.’ Do you have any upcoming movies lined up that you can discuss?

RS: At the moment, my extra time has been devoted to my producing. I am currently Executive Producing a Web series with acclaimed actor/environmentalist Ed Begley, Jr. He and his wife are building the most sustainably advanced home in North America, and we are filming the process, along with drop-ins from his many of his celebrity friends. It’s called, ‘ON Begley Street’ and will be available at OnBegleystreet.com in the next few weeks. We are very excited about it.

Written by: Karen Benardello