Lucy Hale Then and Now: 'Pretty Little Liars’ star’s transformation through the years

Lucy Hale’s transformation through the years: From ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’ to ‘Pretty Little Liars’

Lucy Hale has come a long way from her debut as a guest in 2007’s ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’ to her starring as Aria Montgomery on ‘Pretty Little Liars’. In late 2021, she told People, “It was such a crazy experience to be a part of something that was massive on a global scale.” But that was just the beginning for Hale, who also gained massive fame after working in shows like ‘Katy Keene’ and ‘Ragdoll’. 

1. Acting debut as a teenager

In 2007, 18-year-old Hale appeared as a guest star in ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’. She played the role of Miranda Hampson for two episodes. A year later, she joined the cast of ‘Privileged’ where she was seen as Rose Baker but the CW show did not run for long.

2. Film debut in 'Fear Island'

In 2009, the Hale got the opportunity to work in the TV film, ‘Fear Island’, in which she was seen in the titular role of Megan alongside Haylie Duff, Jessica Harmon, and Aaron Ashmore.

3. Big break with teen drama ‘Pretty Little Liars’

Hale once said about her casting in 'Pretty Little Liars,' “The show changed our lives overnight.” The show ended in 2017, leaving the Teen Choice Awards winner in a “dark time.” She added, “It made me realize, 'Oh God, I actually don't know what I like about myself.” Along with the mystery teen drama, Haley also starred in two films, ‘A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song’ and ‘Scream 4’, both of which were released in 2011.

4. Voice acting and hosting

Hale also tried her hands at voice acting when she fetaured as Periwinkle character in the 2012 movie ‘Secret of the Wings’. She also co-hosted the Teen Choice Awards in 2013 while continuing her journey on ‘Pretty Little Liars’.

5. Acting career after 'Pretty Little Liars'

In 2016, Hale was seen in a very different avatar as she became a correspondent on ‘Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve’. After the end of ‘Pretty Little Liars’ in 2017, she was seen in the 2018 drama, ‘Life Sentence’, as Stella Abbott as well as in the 2019 movie, ‘Trouble’.

6. ‘Katy Keene’ gives another big break to Lucy Hale

‘Riverdale’ spin-off was a major success for Hale, who played the titular lead of Kate Keene. The series ran for a brief period between February 2020 to May 2020. In July of the same year, the actress expressed her sorrow by reportedly saying, “I didn’t just want to post a picture or a caption because nothing would do justice to how I feel about Katy Keene or how I feel about the people involved with it. Truly one of the highlights of my life. Just such a joy, from top to bottom.” She, however, added, “I’m grateful for the role of a lifetime, what a blast. I’m so proud of what we made. I do believe it’s timeless. I think sometimes things just don’t work out and maybe it was just not the right time for it. I don’t know, I’m a little confused.”

7. 'The Hating Game' and 'Ragdoll' 

In 2021, Hale was seen in ‘The Hating Game’ and ‘Ragdoll’. Also a year later, ‘Borrego’, ‘Big Gold Brick’, and ‘The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry’ were released, and in two of the three movies, Hale not just acted but also worked as the executive producer.

8. Lucy Hale's soberity journey

In 2023, Hale candidly about her sobriety journey. On an episode of ‘The Diary of a CEO’ podcast, she shared, “I have never talked publicly about being sober–I have a little over a year of sobriety. I have been working on getting sober since I was 20. I'm 33. It took time.”