The word obsession has gone through some curious growing pains of late, hasn't it? The noun that once meant a helpless fixation has somehow evolved into a proclamation of approval, as easily applicable to a perfect stranger's Instagram account as to a difficult-to-snag lip kit. All week long we'll be examining what it means to be all-consumed in the digital age. So if you like what we're doing, #LBLBLBLB, okay?
If anyone knows what it's like to be the object of the Internet's obsessive fixations, it's Lucy Hale. After all, the Pretty Little Liars star can't put toner in her hair without setting off a firestorm in her Instagram comments section. And once the characteristically bizarre and twisty sixth season of PLL comes to a close tonight, she can expect more than a few at-tweets from her five million-plus diehard Twitter followers. (Of the finale, this is all she's sanctioned to say: "I can tell you that there's a twin, but I obviously can't tell you whose twin it is…") Sure, why not? A long-lost twin would be one of the less shocking twists in a show that's had characters rise from the dead, get cyber-bullied by the vengeful transgender sister of their former bestie, and flutter in and out of mental institutions so often that they should have their own pre-check lane.
Opener image: Lucy Hale wears a Thakoon top; Stella McCartney bra; American Apparel skirt; Neil Lane diamond studs, and diamond solitaire choker; Loree Rodkin cross necklace (throughout); Jimmy Choo shoes. Above: Hale wears a Jil Sander coat and belt; Valextra handbag.
So for ELLE.com's week of stories about what it's like to indulge our obsessions in the digital age, we figured we'd give one of the most sought-after young stars the chance to fangirl out for a change. And it just so happens that one of Hale's #TBT infatuations is one of ours—and likely one of yours if you still harbor dreams of cruising in a vintage Jag to the sound of wicked orchestral jams. Here, we give you Hale as Sarah Michelle Gellar's sociopathic sexpot, Kathryn Merteuil, from Cruel Intentions. And to commemorate the occasion, we asked Hale about her many connections to the movie—and its television reboot—and had her indulge her own cruel streak by explaining why she wants PLL to go out with a less-than-happy ending.
Your ELLE.com shoot was inspired by a #TBT photo you posted of Sarah Michelle Gellar on Instagram. We assume you're as big a fan of the movie as we are?
Yes! It's just a classic for our generation. It's so, so good. And I have so many connections to that movie. The director [Roger Kumble] has directed a few PLL episodes. My friend Jordan Ross co-wrote the Cruel Intentions musical that was going on in L.A., and now he's a producer on the NBC's Cruel Intentions pilot.
You recently told James Corden that you want Pretty Little Liars to end tragically. Did you mean that?
Yeah, I did! It would be so boring if, after all these years, and after all this torture and drama, everything just ended nicely. I think that the ending should leave people with their jaws on the floor, not really knowing what they just watched. I really think we should go out with a bang and really confuse people a little bit.
So you want PLL to pull a Sopranos.
Exactly!
Here and above: Hale wears an Oscar de la Renta dress and shoes; Neil Lane diamond bracelet (throughout).
Here's a pitch for you: So many characters have taken up the mantle of the mysterious "A" throughout the series. What if the show introduced a new A and then just cut away?
Yes! I want something that doesn't fully answer all the questions and just drives people nuts. I think that's the way to go.
Tonight is the finale of the sixth season, and there's a lot of talk about the seventh season being the last. Is that confirmed?
Well, not really. As far as I know, as of now the seventh season will be the end. But, who knows? I never want to say too much because anything can happen. I mean, there have already been rumors of a movie. It's just too hard to say.
After six seasons, the show still has a rabid social media following. Do you find yourself constantly engaging with fans on Twitter?
Social media is a huge part of the show, and all the actors and producers and writers have been very vocal on all these different platforms. I used to feel the need to explain my character and stick up for my character, but now I just sit back and see how people naturally react. People can get so upset or angry at our characters or storylines, and I used to take it personally. I would take it to heart if people were mad about something my character did. I still engage every now and then, but I've sort of let all that go.
Hale wears a Vera Wang shirt as a dress; Stella McCartney bra; Dolce & Gabbana briefs and embellished iPhone case.
You went blonde recently. Did that get a reaction from your fans?
It's so funny—I get so much attention for my hair. When I cut it off, people just freaked out. When I went blonde, people freaked out. When I went even blonder, people freaked out even more.
You should go full Sinéad O'Connor and watch people lose it.
See, the thing is, people ask me if I would ever do that for a movie part and I'm actually like dying to. I just finished shooting a film a couple of weeks ago with Alexandra Shipp, who plays Storm in the new X-Men. She had to shave her head for the movie and she told me how freeing it was and how she just feels like she can't imagine going back to having hair. So, it's not out of the question for me.
Hale wears a Michael Kors Collection jacket, skirt, and belt; Stella McCartney bra; Eric Javits hat; and Ahlem sunglasses.
This season the show skipped ahead five years in the future, but your character, Aria, seems to be ending up back with her first love, Ezra. Do you find that fans are still shipping the couple after all this time?
Oh yeah, people have the "ships" that they love, and I think they love the show's original relationship the most. I think that's flattering—they recognize we had good chemistry. All of the girls on the show have explored different relationships with different people, but I think it's inevitable that Aria and Ezra in particular are going to be together. I don't know what's going to happen in season seven, but I personally hope to see them end up with each other.
Are you surprised that, six years later, the show's fans are as enthralled as ever?
A couple of years ago I thought, Surely, the show is at its peak. Surely people have had enough of us! But what makes our show so special is our cult following. These aren't people who tune in every once in a while—these are people that tune in every week, re-watch episodes, and tweet about the episodes. And I feel like it's only gotten more intense. What's always blown my mind is the international success of the show. I was in Brazil a week ago, and it's just crazy to see how the show translates everywhere. Everyone loves drama.
Photographer: Olivia Malone; stylist: Sean Knight; hair: Christian Wood; make-up: Kelsey Deenihan; shot at an Oasis Collections private rental.
