While the televised version of Emily Fields identifies as a lesbian, Pretty Little Liars actress Shay Mitchell isn't putting a label on her sexuality.
And, in a candid interview with Cosmopolitan, the Freeform star explained precisely why she won't — not that she owed anyone an explanation. "When I started, people were like, 'What are you?'" Mitchell recalled. "I'm like, right now I'm dating a guy."
"I don't know what it's going to be in three years," she said, alluding to the mutability of sexual orientation. "You love who you love. Black, white, polka-dot, that's what my dad always said. I'm never going to label myself. I could be 50 and dating a woman and then what? I said I was straight and now I'm not?'"
Regardless of the gender of her partner, however, Mitchell maintains that she's adamant about preserving her independence. Reflecting on her pre-stardom days — back when she used to work bottle service at night — Mitchell shared that she'd have "old guys saying 'You're so pretty, why are you working?' or 'Come live with me, honey.' Like, what, so I can be taken care of? That's the last thing that I want. What I wanted to say was, '(I work) so I will never end up with someone like you.'"
And as for where Mitchell will end up post-Pretty Little Liars? "I don't want to be dependent on a call from my agent—taking projects I'm not okay with because I need to. To be honest, winning an Oscar is not one of my goals," the actress admitted. "I’d rather have a company."
Well, OK then, Ms. Mitchell!
