Why Lucy Hale Struggled After Pretty Little Liars Came To An End
Of all the thousands of teen TV shows to have ever existed, there are about a couple dozen that have remained an iconic staple rewatch for many. "Pretty Little Liars" was certainly a unique show at its time, combining catty teen friend-group drama with actual murders and kidnappings. Four former best friends forming a union to track down their ex-frenemy? What more could you ask for.
Spanning over seven seasons, "PLL" garnered a massive fanbase (via Cheat Sheet). Along with producing a successful show, four successful stars were also a result of the show. Lucy Hale, Shay Mitchell, Troian Bellisario, and Ashley Benson have amassed huge fame as a result of the show (via Us Weekly). The ladies all became celebrities overnight, they were plastered on every magazine and earned roles in some of the hottest newest movies and TV shows like Netflix's "You" and the hit movie "Where'd You Go, Bernadette."
While their crazy success seemed more and more glamorous with every red carpet shot, Lucy Hale shared the less-than-desirable side effect of their success story...
Lucy Hale shares how she questioned what she likes about herself
With her new buzzed-about rom-com, "The Hating Game," set to release on December 10, 2021 (via Forbes), Lucy Hale joined People for a moment of reflection about the show that started it all. Four years after Freeform's "Pretty Little Liars" finale aired, Hale reflected on what its success felt like at the time, "It was such a crazy experience to be a part of something that was massive on a global scale," she added, "The show changed our lives overnight. We were so young, so busy and over worked. But you're up on this mountain, and you're like, 'Every thing is so great! People love us!'"
Hale also touched on what it felt like to come out on the other side, "When you step outside of that, you're like, 'That's not normal,'" she said. "After the show ended, it was a dark time in my life. It made me realize, 'Oh God, I actually don't know what I like about myself.'"
The "Fantasy Island" star shared how the experience humbled her and allowed her to reflect and enjoy being herself, "I just really had to hang out with myself. I'm at a point now where I love what I do, but I also like who I am outside of that. That, to me, is a big accomplishment because I didn't know if I'd ever be able to say that about myself"