She grew up on our screens as the quick-witted Alex Dunphy from Modern Family, became a familiar voice in countless living rooms as Sofia the First, and now she’s back for more magic, mystery and meaningful life lessons in Apple TV’s The Sisters Grimm. But this time, Ariel Winter’s character is learning that even the strongest big sister needs someone to lean on.
For families who have watched Winter grow up on screen, there’s something special about seeing where her career takes her next. From the hilarious family dynamics of Modern Family to the princess-filled world of Sofia the First, Winter has spent years entertaining audiences across generations. Now, she’s returning as Sabrina Grimm in an adventure that brings a fresh, imaginative twist to fairy tales—and a surprisingly relatable take on growing up.
In Season 2, Sabrina and her younger sister, Daphne, face bigger adventures, magical villains and the everyday challenges of school, including bullying and figuring out whom to trust. Beneath the fantastical setting, however, is a story about sisterhood, vulnerability and learning that growing up sometimes means letting others in.
For Winter, returning to Sabrina means more than slipping back into a familiar voice. It means allowing a character audiences already love to evolve.
“It’s always wonderful to get a second season and to be able to step back into that world that people have loved so much and that you’ve had a hand in creating,” Winter says.
And while Sabrina’s protective instincts remain firmly intact, this season finds her navigating situations that challenge the tough exterior she’s relied on—and reveal a softer side that may resonate with kids and parents alike.
Sisterhood, Growing Pains and Finding Your People
At the heart of The Sisters Grimm is the relationship between Sabrina and her younger sister, Daphne. Their adventures may involve enchanted worlds and extraordinary characters, but the push and pull between the sisters feels wonderfully familiar to anyone who has grown up with a sibling.
Sabrina has long taken on the role of protector, carrying the responsibility of keeping Daphne safe. This season, however, their relationship begins to shift, revealing that even the person who seems to have everything under control sometimes needs someone to look out for them, too.
“What I find really interesting about them is I feel like towards the end of Season 2, we see a shift,” Winter says. “The younger sister sometimes [takes] on more responsibility, and maybe instead of it being, like, 100% of Sabrina taking care of Daphne, Daphne’s trying to take care of Sabrina a little bit.”
For Winter, that evolving dynamic is one of the most beautiful aspects of their relationship.
“I think that’s really beautiful, and I think very indicative of a normal sibling relationship, where it’s like a push and pull and then, you know, just making sure the other person is taken care of.”
It’s an especially meaningful reminder for young viewers that growing up together means learning when to lean on one another. The strongest sibling relationships aren’t necessarily the ones without disagreements or difficult moments; they’re the ones that make room for both people to grow.
And as Sabrina begins to navigate middle school, friendships and bullies, she discovers that protecting her sister is only one part of the equation. Learning to let other people in might be just as important.
From Sofia the First to the Everafters
For families who have followed Winter’s career through children’s entertainment, there’s something particularly delightful about seeing her return to a world filled with fantasy, fairy tales and larger-than-life characters.
Many young viewers first came to know her as the voice of Sofia in Disney Junior’s Sofia the First, where she played a young girl learning to navigate royal life after her mother marries a king. Surrounded by princesses, magical adventures and lessons about kindness, Sofia became a beloved character for a generation of children.
Now, in The Sisters Grimm, Winter finds herself once again in an imaginative universe where fairy tales are anything but ordinary.
“I feel very lucky that I get to do two, amazing, cool fantasy magical shows and play these characters that are put in these worlds,” she says.
And while she has spent plenty of time bringing fictional worlds to life, Winter admits she wouldn’t mind experiencing a little of that magic herself.
“I’m a little bit like, hey, where’s Ferryport Landing for me? You know, like, why don’t I get to go into the Everrealm?”
The appeal of these roles is easy to understand. From princesses and sorceresses to characters who must summon their courage to face extraordinary challenges, Winter has had the opportunity to explore the kinds of imaginative adventures that captivate children—and the grown-ups watching alongside them.
“When you’re little, you want to play like a princess or you want to play, you know, like a sorceress and stuff like that and a crime fighter,” she says. “And then I get to do both. And so I’m really lucky.”
For families who remember watching Sofia the First together, The Sisters Grimm offers another opportunity to hear Winter bring a memorable animated character to life, this time in a story with a little more mystery, a few darker fairy-tale twists and plenty of heart.
The Art of Bringing a Drawing to Life
Winter has spent much of her career moving between live-action television and voice acting. Audiences know her from her years as Alex Dunphy on ABC’s hit comedy Modern Family, where her character’s quick wit, intelligence and often hilariously exasperated perspective helped make her a fan favorite.
But animation requires a different set of skills. Without costumes, facial expressions, physical comedy or a carefully designed set to establish the mood, voice actors must build an entire emotional experience through their voices.
Fortunately, Winter has been doing this since she was young, developing an appreciation for the creativity—and the challenges—of the process.
“It is kind of tougher to do animation if you start out when you’re older,” she says. “I started doing animation when I was younger.”
That early experience helped her become comfortable experimenting with different voices and bringing characters to life in the recording booth, even when she is working alone.
“Bringing, a little drawing to life is the idea of that is just so fun,” Winter says. “But in practice, it’s pretty hard.”
She may not have the physical comedy or costumes that helped define her work on Modern Family, but that is part of what makes the craft so rewarding.
“You don’t have the physical comedy, you don’t have the costumes, you don’t have the sets that you’re in to, like, really evoke that emotion in you,” she explains. “And so really, you’re just doing it on your own to bring a little drawing to life.”
Still, she wouldn’t trade the experience.
“I love doing animation. It’s one of my favorite things to do. Obviously, I love on camera too, but animation is… it’s just a different beast, and I really enjoy it.”
And yes, there is one undeniable perk to working in the recording booth: “You get to go to work in your pajamas and who doesn’t love that? That is a huge plus.”
Fairy Tales With a Bigger Message
While the magic and adventure are what draw viewers into The Sisters Grimm, Winter believes some of the series’ most important moments happen beneath the surface.
Having worked in children’s entertainment for much of her career, she has watched the genre continue to explore how stories can entertain young audiences while also helping them understand the world around them.
For Winter, that evolution is particularly meaningful when it comes to empathy and the experiences of children whose lives may look different from their own.
“With Sofia, we have so many important themes in that, trying to get kids to be more empathetic and welcoming and generous,” she says. “And then, you know, we have similar themes in Sisters Grimm with the empathy of, like, what these kids are going through.”
One of the series’ more significant story elements is Sabrina and Daphne’s experience as children in the foster system. Their circumstances offer an opportunity for young viewers to consider experiences they may not otherwise encounter, all within the framework of a fantastical adventure.
Winter sees value in telling these stories in a way that feels approachable and engaging for children.
“I think it’s really just trying to make children’s entertainment more meaningful as well as something for them to tune into after school and be like, ‘Oh, this is interesting, and this is fun,’ but now things that they can take away from it.”
That balance is central to what makes family entertainment memorable. A story can be filled with magical creatures, unexpected twists and laugh-out-loud moments while still encouraging children to think about kindness, belonging and the importance of understanding someone else’s perspective. And when those lessons are woven into a compelling story rather than delivered as a lecture, they can open the door to conversations between kids and parents long after the credits roll.
Season 2 of The Sisters Grimm is streaming on Apple TV+
