Colette

I know. Magic always comes with a price. But if mother's death taught me anything, it's that sometimes a hero has to sacrifice everything to save the people they love, and I will do whatever I can to save our land. And I can be a hero, just like mother.

—Belle to Maurice^src

Colette is a character on ABC's Once Upon a Time. She débuts, with her only appearance, in the sixth episode of the fourth season and is portrayed by guest star Frances O'Connor.

Colette is based on Beauty's real mother from the Villeneuve version of "Beauty and the Beast."

History

Before First Curse

Colette marries Sir Maurice and they have a daughter named Belle, who quickly gains a love for books after her mother reads her a story called Her Handsome Hero, a tale about compassion and forgiveness. ("Family Business," "Her Handsome Hero")

Years later, after Belle has become a young woman, Maurice grows concerned about the frequent ogre skirmishes occurring in the kingdom, which many brave soldiers have died because of. At some point, he talks to his wife about gaining help from Lord LeGume's forces so the ogres can be defeated, but for this to be possible, Belle has to marry Lord LeGume's eldest son Gaston. Colette agrees with the idea, and Maurice later acquaints Belle with the proposal. Belle, dismayed at the news, asks what her mother had to say about it. She then receives confirmation from her father that Colette is on board with it. ("Her Handsome Hero")

Sometime after the ogres breach the eastern region, they storm Maurice's castle, with Colette being notified by soldiers that she must evacuate the grounds. Busily collecting books she deems too valuable to leave behind, she then orders them to take the filled trunks to the carriage. She calls to Belle, who scurries over with the book her mother once read to her. Before they can flee, the pounding of ogre footsteps stops them and they hide under a table. When the doors burst open and an ogre barges in, Colette persuades a fearful Belle to remain silent as they endure the creature's presence. She comfortingly whispers that everything will be all right just as the ogre rips away the table obscuring the mother-daughter pair from view. To save Belle, she sacrifices herself to the ogre and its approaching companions while her daughter is pulled from the room by guards. Soon after, Colette is killed by the ogres, but Belle loses her memories of what happened. Sir Maurice prepares a funeral casket for his wife and while everyone is in mourning, Belle awakens and discovers her mother is dead. Despite that Sir Maurice obscures the truth from his daughter, he eventually tells Belle of her mother's courageous feat to save her from the ogres. ("Family Business," "Her Handsome Hero")

Family

Maurice

Moe French

Colette †

Gaston †

Belle †

Rumplestiltskin †

Mr. Gold †

Weaver †

Gideon

Notes:

Solid lines denote parent-child blood relationships

Dashed lines denote marriage and engagement relationships that result in offspring

† denotes the deceased

Gaston and Belle were formerly betrothed

Trivia

Etymology

The name "Colette" is of French origin and is a feminine form of the Greek name Nikolaos, meaning "victory of the people."^[1] While the origin is a nod to the French origin of the fairy tale "Beauty and the Beast," the meaning is a reference to the war between the ogres and the people, with the people being victorious at the end.

Production Notes

Her casting call describes her as "a strong-willed, spirited woman" who carries herself with grace and aplomb – even under the most trying circumstances. She also boast a natural European accent.^[2]
Actor Victoria Smurfit, who portrays Cruella De Vil, once auditioned for this role.^[3]

Appearances

Once Upon a Time: Season Four
"A Tale of Two Sisters":	"White Out":	"Rocky Road":	"The Apprentice":	"Breaking Glass":	"Family Business":	"The Snow Queen":	"Smash the Mirror":	"Fall":	"Shattered Sight":	"Heroes and Villains":
Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Appears	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent
"Darkness on the Edge of Town":	"Unforgiven":	"Enter the Dragon":	"Poor Unfortunate Soul":	"Best Laid Plans":	"Heart of Gold":	"Sympathy for the De Vil":	"Lily":	"Mother":	"Operation Mongoose Part 1":	"Operation Mongoose Part 2":
Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent

Once Upon a Time: Season Five
"The Dark Swan":	"The Price":	"Siege Perilous":	"The Broken Kingdom":	"Dreamcatcher":	"The Bear and the Bow":	"Nimue":	"Birth":	"The Bear King":	"Broken Heart":	"Swan Song":
Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Mentioned	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent
"Souls of the Departed":	"Labor of Love":	"Devil's Due":	"The Brothers Jones":	"Our Decay":	"Her Handsome Hero":	"Ruby Slippers":	"Sisters":	"Firebird":	"Last Rites":	"Only You":	"An Untold Story":
Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Mentioned	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent

Once Upon a Time: Season Six
"The Savior":	"A Bitter Draught":	"The Other Shoe":	"Strange Case":	"Street Rats":	"Dark Waters":	"Heartless":	"I'll Be Your Mirror":	"Changelings":	"Wish You Were Here":	"Tougher Than the Rest":
Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Mentioned	Absent	Absent
"Murder Most Foul":	"Ill-Boding Patterns":	"Page 23":	"A Wondrous Place":	"Mother's Little Helper":	"Awake":	"Where Bluebirds Fly":	"The Black Fairy":	"The Song in Your Heart":	"The Final Battle Part 1":	"The Final Battle Part 2":
Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent

Once Upon a Time: Specials
"Magic is Coming":	"The Price of Magic":	"Journey to Neverland":	"Wicked is Coming":	"Storybrooke Has Frozen Over":
Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent
"Secrets of Storybrooke":	"Dark Swan Rises":	"Evil Reigns Once More":	"The Final Battle Begins":
Absent	Archive	Absent	Archive

Note: "Archive" denotes archive footage.

References

↑ Colette. Behind the Name. Retrieved on March 20, 2022. "Usage French (...) Short form of Nicolette."
Nicolette. Behind the Name. Retrieved on March 20, 2022. "Usage French (...) Diminutive of Nicole."
Nicole. Behind the Name. Retrieved on March 20, 2022. "Usage French, English, Dutch, German (...) French feminine form of Nicholas, commonly used in the English-speaking world since the middle of the 20th century."
Nicholas. Behind the Name. Retrieved on March 20, 2022. "Usage English (...) From the Greek name Νικόλαος (Nikolaos) meaning "victory of the people", derived from Greek νίκη (nike) meaning "victory" and λαός (laos) meaning "people"."
↑ Mitovich, Matt Webb (August 28, 2014). Matt's Inside Line: Scoop on Once, Walking Dead, The Mentalist, B99, Beast, Resurrection and More!. TVLine. "Do you have any info on Belle's mom on Once Upon a Time? –Natalie Debuting in an Episode 6 flashback, Ma Belle Belle's ma is described as "a strong-willed, spirited woman" who carries herself with grace and aplomb – even under the most trying circumstances. She'll also boast a natural European accent, if casting has their druthers."
↑ sev 🍉 may nalaman (@Xivent) on X, formerly Twitter: @Victoriasmurfit audiotionned [sic] to be Belle's mother. #FairytalesIII #FT3 #Xivents (June 20, 2015). (backup link; original post, and the user's other posts, have been protected, so that only approved followers can see them) (archive screenshot; note that the image and the backup link were created when the user's name matched their Twitter handle)

[1] Colette. Behind the Name. Retrieved on March 20, 2022. "Usage French (...) Short form of Nicolette."
Nicolette. Behind the Name. Retrieved on March 20, 2022. "Usage French (...) Diminutive of Nicole."
Nicole. Behind the Name. Retrieved on March 20, 2022. "Usage French, English, Dutch, German (...) French feminine form of Nicholas, commonly used in the English-speaking world since the middle of the 20th century."
Nicholas. Behind the Name. Retrieved on March 20, 2022. "Usage English (...) From the Greek name Νικόλαος (Nikolaos) meaning "victory of the people", derived from Greek νίκη (nike) meaning "victory" and λαός (laos) meaning "people"."

[2] Mitovich, Matt Webb (August 28, 2014). Matt's Inside Line: Scoop on Once, Walking Dead, The Mentalist, B99, Beast, Resurrection and More!. TVLine. "Do you have any info on Belle's mom on Once Upon a Time? –Natalie Debuting in an Episode 6 flashback, Ma Belle Belle's ma is described as "a strong-willed, spirited woman" who carries herself with grace and aplomb – even under the most trying circumstances. She'll also boast a natural European accent, if casting has their druthers."

[3] sev 🍉 may nalaman (@Xivent) on X, formerly Twitter: @Victoriasmurfit audiotionned [sic] to be Belle's mother. #FairytalesIII #FT3 #Xivents (June 20, 2015). (backup link; original post, and the user's other posts, have been protected, so that only approved followers can see them) (archive screenshot; note that the image and the backup link were created when the user's name matched their Twitter handle)

[1]