A movie that rocks! Vanessa Ray, known for her mischievous role of Charlotte DiLaurentis on Pretty Little Liars, stars in the romantic dramedy film All in Time, available on Friday, October 7, in 15 theaters (check local listings) and on VOD nationwide. Ray plays Rachel, whose boyfriend Charlie (Sean Modica) quits his job to manage his favorite band.
“I love the film because it’s a film about using your imagination a little bit,” the actress, 35, tells Us Weekly exclusively. “It’s about letting go of your expectations of what you think life is supposed to be. I loved playing a character that had this passion to do something with her life.”
“What I found I loved so much about Rachel is that she gets in and out of all the situations with grace,” Ray continues. She also points out that the film has a surprise twist.
On PLL, Charlotte was revealed as “A” in season 6’s summer finale, and the character died in the season 6 winter premiere. The Blue Bloods star tells Us that Charlotte might still have a few tricks up her sleeve on the Freeform drama’s final 10 episodes that begin airing in April 2017.
The actress teases, “I have been keeping up with the show, and you might see my face soon. I love getting to be around that crew and the lovely cast.” She also expresses her gratitude to PLL showrunner I. Marlene King: “I feel like she put me on the map single-handedly.”
Ray also shares some shocking speculations on who the “A” torch may finally be passed down to once and for all. “I think it’s going to be Aria,” she says. “I think like early in the early days, she just kind of had the most to lose. She was hurt the most by the antics that ‘A’ put her through, so that’s why I think she might be the one that’s coming back to get them all.”
The actress has a few choice words about her hopes for the series finale — quite literally, she wants it to go out with a bang. She says, “I hope they burn Rosewood down. I hope they just take a match. I really hope there is a slo-mo montage of them walking away with sunglasses on or something.” Talk about epic!
While her possible PLL comeback is still a bit down the road, Ray is currently filming Blue Bloods, which premiered its seventh season on CBS September 23. Ray reveals to Us that fans can expect to see a different side of her character, Officer Eddie Janko: “You see her a bit more perhaps aggressive and passionate. You’re able to kind of see her open up a bit more.”
Of Eddie’s connection with Will Estes’ character, Jamie Reagan, son of police commissioner Frank Reagan (portrayed by Tom Selleck), Ray discloses, “I think fans are going to be pleasantly surprised to see the evolution of their relationship. I think [Eddie] trusts Jamie in a way that she didn’t in other ways on other seasons, so it’s great. I just love those two so much — I think Jamie and Eddie are the best!”
Ray adds that working with Selleck “makes you feel like you’re the best actor in the room, even though he clearly is.” Reflecting on the first time she saw the acting legend, Ray recalls, “He was smoking a cigar outside in a casual button-up, let’s just call it that, and I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, that is literally Magnum P.I.’ Like, literally everything I’ve ever wanted him to be.”
Tell Us: How do you think Charlotte will return to PLL?
Blue Bloods airs on CBS Fridays at 10 p.m. ET. Pretty Little Liars returns to Freeform for its final 10 episodes in April 2017. All in Time is available in limited theatrical release and on VOD nationwide on Friday, October 7.
