“Pretty Little Liars” cast: Here's where Shay Mitchell, Lucy Hale, and the other liars are now

It’s no secret. Here’s what happened to Aria, Spencer, Hanna, and Emily.

The pulpy teen mystery series Pretty Little Liars premiered in 2010, following high school girls Aria, Hanna, Emily, Spencer, and Alison in the fictional town of Rosewood, Pa. But the friend group soon grows apart when their leader, Alison, disappears. A year later, the four remaining “liars” are tormented by a mysterious messenger dubbed “A” who threatens to expose their deepest secrets.

Though the series wasn’t exactly a critical darling, it maintained a loyal fanbase that enthusiastically tuned in each week. Many viewers were curious about “A’s” identity and whether they had guessed correctly. Others were in it for the fashion or to see their favorite stars, many of whom won Teen Choice Awards.

Pretty Little Liars ran for seven seasons on Freeform (previously ABC Family) until 2017 and later spawned two spinoff shows. Keep reading to see what the original liars and their cohorts are up to today.

Lucy Hale (Aria Montgomery)

Lucy Hale’s Aria Montgomery is the artsy one in the group. Although she's intimidated by the mysterious “A,” she’s certainly not afraid to date her English teacher — or rock an eclectic hipster outfit while walking the halls of Rosewood High.

Hale was one of the first actors cast in Pretty Little Liars, thanks to her role as Rose Baker in Privileged. The showrunners snatched her up when that CW drama was canceled after one season in 2009. Originally, Hale hoped to play Hanna but quickly realized she was born to be Aria.

The actress was just 20 years old when she streaked her hair pink to play Aria for the next seven years, during which she won seven Teen Choice Awards and a People’s Choice Award. She also made a foray into country music with her 2014 album, Road Between.

Hale has continued acting on the small screen, playing the title character in the Riverdale spinoff Katy Keene (2020) and a detective in the murder mystery series Ragdoll (2021). She’s also hinted at a possible cameo in the Pretty Little Liars: Summer School spinoff.

Her résumé includes movies, as well. Following a bit appearance in Wes Craven’s Scream 4 (2011), Hale further established herself on the horror scene with lead roles in Truth or Dare (2018) and Fantasy Island (2020) and landed a key part in the indie comedy The Unicorn (2018). More recently, she headlined romances Puppy Love (2023) and Which Brings Me to You (2024).

In real life, Hale is in no rush to find a partner and says she will “die alone” before she settles. She’s content with her two dogs and celebrating her sobriety by encouraging her social media followers that they are not alone.

Troian Bellisario (Spencer Hastings)

Troian Bellisario plays Spencer Hastings, a smart, driven overachiever with a competitive edge that occasionally gets her into unsavory situations. Mess with anyone important in her life, and you’re going down. Watch out, “A!”

Bellisario grew up around show business because of her father, screenwriter and producer Donald Bellisario. One of her first gigs was guest starring on his hit show, Quantum Leap (1990), followed by several independent short films. In 2009, Bellisario auditioned for Pretty Little Liars and landed the breakout role she’d play for the next seven years.

During her tenure as Spencer, she also starred in the web series Lauren with Jennifer Beals, married Suits star Patrick J. Adams in 2016, and made her directorial debut during PLL’s final season. Her character’s boldness even carried over into the actress’ press runs. Yes, she straight-up spoiled the final season’s big ending, but to her credit, no one actually believed her.

Bellisario told EW that the last table read was “really emotional,” noting that the cast returned to the room where they first read the pilot years earlier. Saying goodbye was harder than she anticipated, but things looked up for the newlywed when she and her husband attended the royal wedding in 2018, showing support for his former Suits costar Meghan Markle.

Today, Bellisario is a proud mother of two daughters, the youngest of whom she birthed in a car parked at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Adams delivered the healthy baby himself in about three minutes.

That kind of drama naturally brings a couple closer. It’s not surprising that the pair have collaborated on each others’ hit shows, developed a clothing line for charity, and starred together in the miniseries Plan B (2023). Sorry, Spoby fans… it looks like this relationship is here to stay.

Ashley Benson (Hanna Marin)

Arguably one of the most beloved liars, Ashley Benson turned Hanna Marin from a snobby, outspoken tough girl into a loving, loyal friend. Does she want all the attention left over from Alison’s disappearance? Of course. But logic dictates that someone has to step up and fill the shoes of the missing Queen Bee.

Benson was no stranger to the screen when she auditioned for the role of Hanna. She had previously played Abigail Deveraux on daytime soap Days of Our Lives (2004–2007) and Mia Torcoletti on Eastwick (2009). Luckily for Pretty Little Liars fans, Eastwick was canceled during its first season, which led Benson straight to showrunner I. Marlene King’s casting call.

And if you’ve ever found yourself humming the catchy theme song, you also have Benson to thank. She played “Secret” by the Pierces for her fellow castmates while filming the pilot in Vancouver, and the earworm was later adopted into the series.

Benson capitalized on her popularity by taking on roles in more major productions. She booked a guest appearance on How I Met Your Mother (2013) and reprised her Pretty Little Liars character for two episodes of the show’s supernatural spinoff, Ravenswood (2013–2014). On the big screen, she starred in Spring Breakers (2012) alongside Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez, and Rachel Korine as a quartet of college girls gone wild with a small-time Miami gangster (James Franco).

After the liars bid the series farewell, Benson landed a major supporting role in the Elisabeth Moss-led rock-star drama Her Smell (2018), where she met and began a two-year relationship with costar Cara Delevingne. She’s since appeared in the British miniseries Wilderness (2023) and the psychological thriller McVeigh (2024).

Benson later found love with oil and gas heir Brandon Davis. They married in late 2023, and she now plays the part of mom to their baby girl.

Shay Mitchell (Emily Fields)

Shay Mitchell shined as Emily Fields, playing a shy, emotional, and somewhat timid girl who has harbored a personal secret for so long. Emily’s ever-changing moods and growing self-assurance allowed Mitchell to showcase her range as the seasons progressed.

With just one small part in Degrassi: The Next Generation (2009) and a music video under her belt, Mitchell auditioned for the role of Emily and almost didn’t get it. The showrunner later admitted another actress had been attached to the project, but Mitchell “nailed” her final audition and ultimately got the part.

During their last days of filming, Mitchell publicly grieved with fans in a heartfelt goodbye on social media. As an on-screen representative of the LBGTQ+ community, Mitchell told PEOPLE in 2021 that “it’s one of the best characters that I may ever play because of the [impact] she had on so many different people. So I'm very fortunate I was able to be the one to bring Emily to life."

Mitchell has kept busy since Pretty Little Liars ended, starring in season 1 of You (2018) before moving on to lighter fare with the comedy Dollface (2019–2022). She hosts the upcoming Max travel show Thirst (2024) where she explores specialty drinks in Colombia and Peru. In short, she’s come a long way from the swimming laps at the Rosewood High pool!

Mitchell has two daughters with her boyfriend Matte Babel, and even had a YouTube series documenting her pregnancy. She’s also launched a luggage brand and a sparkling tequila drink.

Sasha Pieterse (Alison DiLaurentis)

How can someone so young be so feared and respected? Only the citizens of Rosewood can answer that question. Alison DiLaurentis is vindictive, selfish, cunning, and presumably dead. But that doesn’t stop her from allegedly controlling all of her “dear friends” from the grave.

Sasha Pieterse was only 13 years old when she was cast as Alison. The actress was practically a baby compared to her costars, but she had already built a solid résumé. Pieterse made her film debut in Robert Rodriguez’s The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl (2005) as the ice princess followed by parts in House (2005), CSI: Miami (2007), and Heroes (2009–2010).

After uttering the line that made the entire cast cry during their last table read, she competed on Dancing With the Stars in 2017 and lost 15 pounds in the process. Pieterse, who had previously gained 70 pounds due to a hormone condition called Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, dedicated a dance to her then-fiancé Hudson Sheaffer as a thank you for supporting her through her health issues. The couple married in 2018 at an Irish castle and welcomed a baby boy in 2020.

Pieterse notably reprised the role of Alison for Freeform’s spinoff Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists (2019), in which fans finally learned what happened to her character. She also appeared in the film adaptations of Annie Barrows’ bestselling book series Ivy + Bean (2022) and the thriller The Image of You (2024) alongside Nestor Carbonell and Oscar winner Mira Sorvino.

Janel Parrish (Mona Vanderwaal)

Whether or not she’s a villain is up for debate, but one thing is for sure: Mona Vanderwaal is a genius. Her hyper-intelligence makes her a master manipulator, and she goes from “Loser Mona” to popular “it girl” after Alison’s disappearance thanks to Hanna.

Janel Parrish began her acting career as Young Cosette in Les Misérables on Broadway. At age 11, she appeared in Disney’s made-for-TV movie Geppetto (2000) alongside Drew Carey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Usher. She also had parts on The Bernie Mac Show (2004), Zoey 101 (2006), and The O.C. (2006). In 2007, the rising actress landed her first starring role by playing Jade in the live-action Bratz movie, followed by a recurring part on Heroes (2006–2008).

Parrish didn’t secure a series regular spot on Pretty Little Liars until the third season. She notably portrayed one of 2014’s most shocking TV moments when Mona (supposedly) dies, sending fans into a frenzy. “I think if Mona was going to die, that would be the way to do it,” Parrish told EW. “She is going to go out with a bang.”

She reprised her Pretty Little Liars role for the spinoff The Perfectionists and starred as Margot Covey in the beloved To All the Boys film series on Netflix (2018–2021). She also dominated the reality television competition scene by placing third in both Dancing With the Stars (2014) and The Masked Singer (2023) as “Gazelle.”

In 2018, Parrish married chemical engineer Chris Long in Hawaii. As for her continued on-screen work, you can’t blame us for wishing the trailer for the fake romantic comedy Falling for Football  — which is loosely inspired by Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s romance — was real.

Bianca Lawson (Maya St. Germain)

Maya St. Germain is the new girl in town who stirs the pot by moving into Alison's old house. Emily soon bonds with the talkative rebel, and their relationship eventually blossoms into a full-on romance.

Bianca Lawson is no stranger to teen TV shows. She had recurring roles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–1998), Dawson’s Creek (1999–2000), The Vampire Diaries (2009–2014), and Teen Wolf (2012–2014), to name a few. Her other significant gigs include a lead role on Saved by the Bell: The New Class (1993–1994) and a supporting turn in the hit Julia Stiles/Sean Patrick Thomas drama Save the Last Dance (2001).

Even though Lawson’s arc on Pretty Little Liars almost wrecked us, she kept up momentum after her departure, landing a key role in the acclaimed series Queen Sugar (2016–2022), created by Ava DuVernay.

Fun fact: Lawson is the daughter of Denise Gordy and actor Richard Lawson, who is married to Tina Knowles but in the middle of a divorce. Their union made her a step-sister to singers Beyoncé and Solange Knowles. She’s also the grand-niece of Motown founder Berry Gordy through her mother.

Ian Harding (Ezra Fitz)

Aria fell for Ezra because he’s thoughtful, devastatingly handsome, and romantic — but he’s also her English teacher. Though this understandably caused a riff in their relationship, their chemistry was undeniable.

Pretty Little Liars is actor Ian Harding’s best-known work, but he also had a notable arc on Chicago Med (2019) and led the short-lived basketball drama Long Slow Exhale (2022). He’s also appeared in major films, including Best Picture nominee Ford v. Ferrari (2019) and the Jake Gyllenhaal/Anne Hathaway romantic drama Love & Other Drugs (2010). Recently, he brought his charms to the Hallmark holiday movie Ghosts of Christmas Always (2022).

Harding quietly married his girlfriend, Sophie Hart, in 2019. They welcomed a baby boy in 2022. Outside of acting, he wrote the book Odd Birds, chronicling his life in Hollywood. And yes, the collection of essays includes tales from the Pretty Little Liars set. He also is an ambassador for raising awareness and support for the autoimmune disease lupus, which his mother has battled for decades.

Tyler Blackburn (Caleb Rivers)

What is Hanna Marin, the most popular girl at Rosewood High, doing with a bad boy like Caleb? Is it the hair? The tech skills? Or is she attracted to the sarcastic, resourceful guy who’s constantly worried for the people he loves? Let’s say all of the above.

Tyler Blackburn played Caleb, and fans quickly fell in love with his personality. He was soon upgraded to a series regular role in season 3. Before Pretty Little Liars, Blackburn portrayed Ian on the daytime soap Days of Our Lives (2010). He also starred as Peter Pan on the web series Wendy (2011).

Blackburn joined the PLL spinoff Ravenswood before it was canceled after 10 episodes. He later landed a role in the main cast of Roswell, New Mexico (2019–2022) as Alex Manes. The actor explained in a tweet that he was absent from the series' final two seasons due to “intense mental health issues.”

In 2019, Blackburn came out as bisexual, telling The Advocate, “I just want to live my truth and feel okay with experiencing love and experiencing self-love.”

Although Blackburn doesn’t currently have any acting jobs lined up, he is active on social media as an influencer for numerous brands.

Keegan Allen (Toby Cavanaugh)

It may seem like an odd match, but local loner Toby Cavanaugh and smarty pants Spencer Hastings are a powerhouse couple. Especially when Toby has to survive living in a town that assumes his brooding personality means he’s a stone-cold murderer. Don’t let the shy outcast act fool you; it’s good to have him on your side when the going gets tough!

Before appearing in episodes of CSI (2011), Young & Hungry (2015), and the season 5 finale of Major Crimes (2017), actor Keegan Allen’s heart belonged to photography and cinematography. In addition to two published photography books, he posts his shots on Instagram. The artist talks about his life, interests, and experiences on his podcast, “Foreverland.”

He also landed a string of roles in literary adaptations directed by James Franco, including The Sound and the Fury (2014), In Dubious Battle (2016), and Zeroville (2019).

In 2021, Allen began playing Liam Walker in the CW’s Walker, Texas Ranger reboot, Walker. One wonders what Spencer thinks about Toby’s new scruff? It’s probably very distracting when trying to play Scrabble…

Brant Daugherty (Noel Kahn)

Poor, Noel. The spoiled, pampered rich kid didn’t amount to much — other than being Aria’s placeholder partner until she was old enough to date Mr. Fitz without it being creepy. He was the bad boy we loved to hate, and it’s a shame he lost his head in the end.

Before Pretty Little Liars, Brant Daugherty was featured on Days of Our Lives, followed by a short stint on Army Wives (2013). He was also cast in an episode of Charlie Sheen’s Anger Management (2014) and played Anastasia’s bodyguard in Fifty Shades Freed (2018). Like Sasha Pieterse and Janel Parrish, Daugherty competed on Dancing With the Stars, finishing in seventh place.

Daugherty found his sweet spot in the same place as Ian Harding (and all the other handsome men with great hair shine): the Hallmark Channel. Who needs to be the lovable villain when you can spread Christmas cheer? Move over, Chad Michael Murray… Daugherty is coming for you.

When he’s not playing dudes who fall in love with strangers in small towns, Daugherty spends time with his wife, Kimberly Hidalgo. They have two sons together, Wilder and Aero.

Tammin Sursok (Jenna Marshall)

Of all the characters on the show, Jenna Marshall is the scariest. When you take a potential Queen Bee down by blinding her with a stink bomb, things get complicated. And thanks to the talent of Tammin Sursok, her sinister smile and signature dark glasses carry a lot of weight. Sounds like the perfect “A” candidate, yes?

Unlike many of her castmates, Sursok was a relative star before playing Jenna on Pretty Little Liars. Her breakout role was on the long-running Australian soap opera Home and Away (2000–2004), appearing in nearly 300 episodes.

After a brief stint in the music industry, Sursok returned to acting through The Young and the Restless (2007–2009) and an eight-episode run on Hannah Montana (2010–2011). She later joined the cast of the Australian soap Neighbours (2022) for an 18-episode arc as Montana Marcel.

Sursok has been married to actor, producer, and director Sean McEwen since 2011. They welcomed a daughter in 2013 before suffering two miscarriages. Their second daughter was born in 2019. She recently partnered with fellow Pretty Little Liars alum Lindsey Shaw to host the podcast “Pretty Little Liars: True Crime,” discussing the twisted secrets and behind-the-scenes dirt.

Torrey DeVitto (Melissa Hastings)

This opinionated perfectionist has everything she could ever want in life. She’s ridiculously smart, a natural-born leader, and a high achiever. The only problem is that her boyfriends tend to make out with her little sister, Spencer. Rude!

Torrey DeVitto got her big break in the drama series Beautiful People (2005–2006). She followed that success with recurring roles as Carrie on One Tree Hill (2008–2009) and Meredith Fell on The Vampire Diaries (2012–2013). In addition to Pretty Little Liars, she's known for her series regular role as Dr. Natalie Manning on Chicago Med (2015–2021). She’s also starred in a handful of holiday romantic comedies.

As for her personal life, DeVitto is engaged to director Jared LaPine. She was previously married to Vampire Diaries actor Paul Wesley before their divorce in 2013.

Drew Van Acker (Jason DiLaurentis)

Alison’s half-brother Jason has been through a lot of trauma, and that can weigh on a person. Especially when you find out that you’re related to the girl you just kissed. That must really mess with your head…

Drew Van Acker dabbled in a handful of acting gigs before taking over the role of Jason DeLaurentis from Parker Bagley after season 1. He enjoyed bit parts in Castle (2009), The Lake (2009), Greek (2009), and Tower Prep (2010). While starring in Pretty Little Liars, he pulled double duty as Remi Delatour on Devious Maids (2013–2015). Following his PLL stint, he was cast in the small-screen adaptation of Training Day (2017), starring the late Bill Paxton. He also got into the superhero business with a three-episode arc as Garth/Aqualad in Titans (2019).

Van Acker’s social media isn’t extremely active, but you can find him brooding in black and white. He invited fans to watch him act alongside Alicia Silverstone in the sci-fi thriller Last Survivors (2021).

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.