Troian Bellisario

“I was going to move to New York after college and had no interest in pilot season. I'd seen what happened on TV shows because of my dad, and I didn't want to open myself up to that. But 'Pretty Little Liars' had a very early audition, and my agents encouraged me to go even though I didn't think it would be my thing.”

“It's a very wonderful yet difficult thing to be given a lot of really good opportunities and the world is at your fingertips.”

“I love to operate in a world that values things outside of beauty. It's just more what I feel comfortable doing.”

“I was a 2-year-old baby on something, but it's not like I had lines. But I actually had my first lines when I was 4. And then I finished school, and I went to USC for their BFA program in acting.”

“I was definitely a tomboy. My mother liked to dress me differently, but it was her loss when I came home with mud in my hair every day. I've always been more comfortable with guys; I don't know why.”

“You have to remember what's most important in life. I am loved by so many people and have a wonderful job. I know I'm incredibly blessed. I am a completely lucky human being.”

“I've had a lot of girls reach out to me about struggling with body image. I've only been able to write back to a few of them, but I've been able to write and have correspondence with a few of them and really talk about what I think they should do or if I think they should ask for help.”

“If I'm going to try and find something, I stick to the flea markets, or I pull hand-me-downs from my family because I like pieces to have stories.”

“I hate nothing more than having my nails painted. I feel like I'm in time out.”

“I grew up with brothers. Girls terrified me.”

“Being a teenager is chaotic because you're kind of coming into your own, but you're not an adult; you're fighting with your parents over responsibilities and freedom.”

“I love being natural. I never feel more beautiful then after I've been to the beach and my hair's just a crazy mess of salt curls, or when I've just been outside all day hiking.”

“Seeing my friends succeed, find love, or just feeling content makes me feel unconditionally happy.”

“My dad is a successful television producer, director and writer and my mom's a director and writer.”

“I'm partial to slouchier, more free clothing. My icon is Patti Smith, so the more rips, the more punk, the more comfortable I feel.”

“When I was 5 years old, my best friends were Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen because we lived across the street from each other.”

“What Hollywood truly wants is for people to be themselves. I think what it's designed for is to kind of turn people into something and just make them saleable. But what it really stands for, what it really loves, are people who are unafraid to be themselves, and as you can see, these are people who are excelling in their careers.”

“I'm mostly pretty quiet on the weekends. I either read or visit friends or go hiking or something like that.”

“Hollywood is a challenging place; it's very easy for people to lose their heads. Fortunately, I grew up on it and I think I have a little bit of a head start.”

“I can tell if I'm being lied to or manipulated a little better than most. It's definitely an advantage for me.”