‘Pretty Little Liars’ star likens love, fame to ‘thrilling roller-coaster ride’
TROIAN says her boyfriend is “crazy about press rounds.” MARINEL CRUZ
American TV actress Troian Bellisario, who is in town with actor boyfriend Patrick J. Adams, says that being in love and in the spotlight is like a “thrilling roller-coaster ride.”
The two Hollywood stars arrived in Manila on Tuesday to promote their respective shows “Pretty Little Liars” of ABC and “Suits” of USA Network that are currently airing on ETC and Jack TV, respectively.
Bellisario hinted that she and Adams would spend a couple of days “on the beach” while they’re both here in Asia. For over a week now, the two TV stars have been promoting in key cities like Singapore, Malaysia and now, the Philippines.
“He’s (Adams) been really crazy about these press rounds,” Bellisario said during a media gathering on Wednesday afternoon at the Marriot Hotel in Pasay City. “I think he just wants to lay on the beach. That will give me more time to swim, surf, write, read, and do all the things I like to do while he just snoozes in a corner.”
Bellisario, dressed in a black-and-white printed minidress and a pair of black high-heeled pumps, added: “We’re both on Twitter and Instagram. We would take pictures of each other, especially while on vacation… It was weird to know that we got engaged three times. A family member back home called me to say, ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ I said, ‘Because it’s not true!’ That’s why we’ve been more and more trying to keep it private.”
The 27-year-old actress, who said she’s “addicted” to dried mangoes, was happy to have been served a bowlful of it when she arrived here. “I was the happiest girl while eating it and then an hour later, I was crying because my stomach was killing me,” she recalled.
Bellisario said she would love to try more Filipino food, except that she doesn’t eat meat. She tried durian in Malaysia and discovered that “it tastes so much better than it smells. It’s creamy. It wasn’t terrible at all.”
“Pretty Little Liars” is an American teen drama mystery-thriller loosely based on the series of novels by Sara Shepard. Bellisario, winner of the 2012 Female Teen Choice Summer TV Star award, plays Spencer Hastings in the series. She’s a straight-A student and a perfectionist who always tries to please her wealthy parents.
The TV star is the daughter of producers Deborah Pratt and Donald Bellisario (”Quantum Leap,” “JAG,” “NCIS”). She took up acting at the University of Southern California. In 2012, she produced the short film “Exiles,” which she also wrote and starred in.
BELLISARIO in “Pretty Little Liars”
Here are excerpts from Wednesday’s 30-minute press conference.
How similar or different is Spencer’s personality from your own?
We have a lot of similarities. I’m a very anxious person like Spencer and a bit of a perfectionist. We both care immensely about our friends. I was very much like her back in high school. I was very academic and then I kind of grew up and chilled out. It’s fun to play Spencer because it’s like looking back on who I was. I put so much pressure on myself while growing up. Spencer is my younger version.
How is it like playing a high school student?
It’s a bit of a challenge. It’s very odd for me right now. My best friend, whom I knew since I was Spencer’s age, just got married. I’m having all these adult experiences—my friends having children—and then I stand in front of Spencer’s locker and say, “Oh my God! I’m still in high school!” It’s so weird. It’s really a push-and-pull experience. I always have to remember how it was like to live at my parents’ and be a teenager, and yet, in my life I’m experiencing so many other things.
How much of Spencer are you, like when it comes to your clothes? Do you give input on the clothes that go on the show?
Our costume designer said in an interview that I am one of the persons in the show who is very difficult to dress up, and she meant it as a compliment. I love Spencer’s outfits. Her style is classic American—the blazers and the blouses. I don’t really dress up like Spencer does. I’m much more like the casual, ripped jeans and T-shirt type. I like to be comfortable and Spencer’s clothing is definitely not comfortable, but I like the style.
Your account on Twitter is @SleepintheGardn. Is there a meaning to it?
I still am, an avid fan of Coner Oberts, the musician who started the group Bright Eyes, which founded the folk-indie scene in Omaha. I was obsessed with all of their songs and there’s this one that says “sleep out at the garden.” It’s just something that I liked once. It’s cool!
Do you and Adams ever get jealous of each other’s love interest in your respective TV series?
We joke about it a lot. I think it’s great that I’m dating an intelligent actor. We both understand that this is part of the job.
Do you have a dream role you would like to play?
There’s been a lot of talk about doing a biopic or a film that features a character based on Patti Smith, who is the godmother of punk rock. She’s a huge icon for me, someone I look up to as an artist. Although I don’t look like her right now, I’m a little bit more like her without this makeup on.
You grew up in the industry. What do you think would you be doing if you’re not in show biz right now?
I want to either be a forensic detective or a mortician. I want to work with dead people. I just thought I’d be really happy in the morgue. I guess because I don’t like being around people. Dead people are fine.
What’s your message to young girls when it comes to pursuing their dreams?
My biggest message is to just focus on being yourself; on going after what you want. Don’t let anybody get in the way… even if you have to kill people.
