Lucy Hale Opens Up About Challenging Times with 'Pretty Little Liars' Castmates During the Show's Journey
Lucy Hale opens up about her experiences on the hit show 'Pretty Little Liars', revealing the challenges she faced with her costars throughout the 7-season run
Lucy Hale Marc Piasecki/WireImage/Getty Images
Despite the apparent perfection in Rosewood, Lucy Hale has candidly shared that there were some challenges among the girls on the set of Pretty Little Liars. During her appearance on the November 1 episode of "Call Her Daddy," the 34-year-old actress revealed that she frequently felt the pressure to measure up to her co-stars. Portraying the character Aria Montgomery on the Freeform series from 2010 to 2017, Hale worked alongside Ashley Benson (Hanna Marin), Shay Mitchell (Emily Fields), and Troian Bellisario (Spencer Hastings).
"What the hell, these individuals are like heavenly beings in my midst. Do I truly belong in their midst?" Hale disclosed to podcast host Alex Cooper on Wednesday. "People constantly tried to pit us against each other. Were we all best friends? No. Some of us formed connections, while others did not. Did we have difficult periods? Absolutely. We were in our freaking 20s, so naturally."
"Some of the girls genuinely formed strong and meaningful connections, and I've always struggled to connect with people," she explained. Hale mentioned that due to this, she wouldn't always socialize with her co-stars outside of work, which led fans to start false rumors that none of the other PLL actresses liked her.
Hale revealed that she was marching to her own rhythm. Despite the occasional conflicts while filming, a strong bond of love always existed among the women. Nonetheless, Hale frequently experienced feelings of being overwhelmed by the pressure, making her past battles with eating disorders even more challenging.
Lucy Hale, Sasha Pieterse, Troian Bellisario, Ashley Benson, and Shay Mitchell, cast members of the popular TV show 'Pretty Little Liars', were seen attending the 2016 ABC Freeform Upfront held at Spring Studios in New York City on April 7, 2016. They were photographed together at the event.
Hale expressed being "overwhelmed" by the changes in her career and uncertain about her place within it. After watching the show, she felt "disgusted" with herself, prompting her to take control of her eating habits. At that time, Hale was doing her best, and having control over her food helped her feel better. During Wednesday's podcast, she emphasized the importance of understanding that she was not in a good place, especially considering young women were watching the show.
During her time on PLL, Hale revealed that she has never discussed her feelings of pressure with any of her castmates. She speculated whether they experienced similar emotions. Although she mentioned that there was no obvious competition among her and her costars, she acknowledged the reality that only one girl would be chosen for magazine covers.
Hale's love for the PLL cast remains strong despite her past experiences.
"I loved them then, and I love them now," she expressed. "I am immensely proud of the familial bond we have managed to uphold. Like any family, you may not always connect with every member, but they are still family."
