Vanessa Ray Liptak, known professionally as Vanessa Ray, is an American actress and singer. She is best known for portraying Teri Ciccone on the soap opera As the World Turns, Jenny on the legal drama series Suits, CeCe Drake on Pretty Little Liars, and Officer Eddie Janko on Blue Bloods.
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» All Actor InterviewsHey everybody! That was so much fun! Thank you for all your great questions! Make sure to check out the new seasons of Blue Bloods and PLL this fall, and of course The Rumperbutts comes out tomorrow in Los Angeles and on itunes and amazon! Bye!
Vanessa can currently be seen as series regular, Eddie Janko on Blue Bloods for CBS and in as CeCe Drake on ABC Family’s Pretty Little Liars. She has also recurred on Suits opposite Patrick Adams, Damages for 2 seasons, and HBO’s Girls. Vanessa has starred in Hair on Broadway and the national tour of Spelling Bee. She has also appeared in numerous independent films.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/the-rumperbutts/id988641842
Do you give self-introductions in 3rd person often?
Ha...No?
Who in Rosewood would CeCe date?
Emily
Vanessa,
Thanks for doing the AMA. You mentioned in an interview that you're given the Pretty Little Liar scripts for the episodes around midnight the night before taping, is that the same for all the actors or just specific possibly A ones...? Also, several of the main cast have talked about knowing who A is and what's going on, why would it be necessary to keep it more secret/mysterious for you?
Wow good questions! Not getting the scripts until the day of is sort of a new thing for this past season on Pretty Little Liars. For example on blue bloods we get our scripts about a week ahead of filming. Some of the cast does know who A is but I'm not one of them! I like the mystery of finding out things about the show along with the audience.
Do you think it's still possible that Cece is A?
YES
Was it weird doing scenes with Sasha when she was like 15 and you were in your 30s, playing friends?
No way. Age is just a number. We're both creatives and we age a bit differently then the rest of the world I think.
Does Marlene King torture the cast as much as she does the fan base?
Haha, No She is so amazing.
Hi Vanessa!
In Cece's boutique on PLL, there is a mural on one of the walls of a 3 eyed baby (affectionately known as Bruce) holding a watermelon. My question is: 1. How amazing is that? and; 2. Can I have it?
Oh my goodness!! I am so glad you noticed that!! It made me laugh all day. I want it too!! I wonder who made it.
Hey Vanessa, huge fan.
Is CeCe short for anything? If so, can you reveal what it's short for?
I don't think it is....
If you were in control of who A was, who would you have be A?
Wow.. I am so glad I am not in control!! I would certainly have one of the liars be A. I've read all of the fan theories and I think I'd love for it to be Hannah. She just plays dumb, but she was the puppet master for all of those years. Or CeCe, of course.
Hey Vanessa! Big fan of you work! Thanks for doing this ama!
So:
Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized Alisons or 1 Alison-sized duck?
hahahaha!!!!! Amazing. I'm going to go with 1 Alison-sized duck.
Im such a huge fan!!
Do you think Cece really killed Wilden?
Will you be in PLL Season 6?!
Awe thanks!!! Thats very sweet to hear. I mean I can't say for sure but I think that CeCe killed Wilden!! She's definitely got her hands dirty. There may be a little CeCe in the mix we'll have to wait and see.
Hi Vanessa! Can you reveal anything about CeCe's relationship to Bethany on PLL?
(BTW, you once favorited one of my tweets and it made my day!)
hahah that's awesome! I favorite the nice ones=) I wish I had more to reveal on the Bethany front. I'm sorry.
Hi Vanessa!!
Do you think Cece will turn out to be good or bad??
hmmm you can never really tell for sure, right? I mean, no one thats bad really thinks they are bad. I'm in this movie Rumperbutts and my character can sort of be taken as the villain, but my character believes that she is right and justified and deserving of fame etc. It will be interesting to see where CeCe eventually ends up, morally.
What has been the most fun thing to film in your career?
The most fun?!?! Wow... honestly shooting Rumperbutts there was a lot of time just riffing and making things up as we went along and that was seriously so fun. I also got to do that on Girls and had the most amazing time just trying to make Lena laugh.
Do you think the relationship between Ezra and Aria is toxic (either in the story, or to portray to young viewers?)
I think that love is a tricky thing to let go of.
Did we get any hints of her being gay? I mean it seems like most of the secondary female characters are vaguely if not completely into women.
hahah
Hey I'm a big fan!
Who is your favorite character in PLL, not including CeCe?
Thats such a hard question... My favorite? Probably Mona...no Hannah, shoot I don't know....
Hi Vanessa! HUGE fan here! First question: Did you apply some of the characteristics of CeCe in your Rumperbutts character? They both seem so fierce! Also, will you follow me on Twitter? :)
They are fierce! I am attracted to playing characters that are driven and know what they want. Now both characters don't always go about getting it in a kind way, but thats just fun to play. I also think CeCe and Princess Poly Anne would hate each other.
Another question, if you don't mind.
Would you please describe CeCe's goals in one word?
World domination. Or at least Kardashian status
Hey Vanessa! I have a couple of questions, I'm really excited that you're doing this
1.)Who do you think is -A
2.) Who do you WANT to be -A?
3.)Also, who do you wish you had more scenes with?
Thanks!
What’s it like being on a show (Pretty Little Liars) that is surrounded by so much speculation and mystery?
Since I primarily know you from Pretty Little Liars, what attracted you to your current role on Blue Bloods? I’d love to give it a try.
Thanks!
It's really cool. I'm so unbelievably lucky to get to be a small part of that phenomenon.
What attracted me to my role on Blue Bloods was that she's a ball buster and flawed. I feel very close to Eddie Janko because we sort of have gotten to see her grow and turn into a vulnerable character. You should totally check out the show!! I mean the cast is amazing!
I'm not asking who it is, but are you aware of who Charles is?
No I'm really not sure who he is. I'm just as frustrated as the fans are about it.
How different is LA from NY? Since you've been in LA for a hot minute, do you enjoy it better than NY?
I consider them both home. I miss them both all of the time. For a long time my relationship with New York was almost like a boyfriend. I mean New York is the greatest love of my life. LA has taken longer to fall for, but once I did... oh man I love my life here. My friends are amazing. My Fiance is here most of the time and I love just going to the beach with him and enjoying the sunshine.
What's your opinion on Taylor Swift? aha
She is a goddess
Did you really kill that snake with a mannequin leg? (PLL season 3!)
It was a plastic snake. No snakes were harmed in the filming go PLL. Ha
What's your favourite A theory?
Hannah is A
Do you think Cece is gay?
I don't think CeCe has a label.
Cece is one of the best styled characters. Do you have a favorite outfit or piece of clothing you wore on PLL?
I loved my look for the Christmas Episode. LOVE all of that glitter.
Vanessa! My favorite PLL! The show does SUCH a good job with the lesbian relationships. There are rumors that there will be a transgender storyline. Is there any truth to that? And if so will the fans be satisfied?
I haven't heard any of that, but if it is in the works I know that Marlene will handle it beautifully.
Will CeCe be the only character you play on PLL?
Hmmm, I've also gotten to play Vivian Darkbloom
Vanessa, do you like butts?
Well I gotta big one so I'd better.
Ms. Ray, what's it like being massively famous? How do you handle it?
Well, I wouldn't really know. haha. I'm far from massively famous. I still get so happy when people say that they watch the shows I'm on. The only thing that sucks about it thus far is how many people recognize me when i have no make up on or am coming from the gym and look like garbage. I'm just like, really? It can't happen when I'm put together?!?
Do you do any of your stunts on Pretty Little Liars?
Sure do, but I also have a great stunt double.
How is working with Sasha Pieterse like? Since Ali and Cece are best friends on the show.
She is a beautiful little angel.
If you weren't an actress, what career do you think you would have went for?
Maybe a chef?
If you weren't case as CeCe, which character would you like to have portrayed?
I really like Aria
What is your favourite thing to do during your free time?
Hang out with my girlfriends and drink all of the wine and eat all of the tacos.
I misread your bio on here and thought it said you did Hairspray and I got excited because you would be a great Amber, in my opinion. Do you agree? Is there somewhere specific we can hear your singing?
I would LOVE to be in Hairspray. I actually would love to play Penny. I sing a little in Rumperbutts!
Hey Vanessa! I love watching you on "Blue Bloods" & "Pretty Little Liars "! What's your go-to songs to listen to whenever you prepare to play one of the good guys on "Blue Bloods" or as a woman of mystery on "PLL"?
Janko is a lot of 90's alternative... no idea why. Green Day and Weezer just really speak to me about Janko. I'm not sure I know what I listen to for CeCe
Are you anything like your character?
There's a lot of me in Janko and a lot of me in Jenny from suits. I couldn't be further from CeCe or Princess Poly Anne. I am not a type A personality AT ALL and those 2 most certainly are.
Who is your celebrity crush?
Leo DiCaprio always and forever.
What's your opinion on the deal with CeCe and Mrs. DiLaurentis? Mrs. D gave her those clothes in the woods!
Who knows. I'm lost!
Backstreet Boys or *NSYNC? Britney or Christina?
NSYNC! Brit Brit.
Would you like CeCe to be A, or at the very least be involved somehow? Or would you rather her be innocent?
I want her to be involved!
Are you a Redditor?
This is my first time and it's amazingly overwhelming and fun.
Do you know who A is?
nope
Is it hard for you to juggle more than one character at a time (because you shoot multiple projects at a time?) Do you have to tap into the mindset of each one and does it get tough to do that for multiple mindsets in a short amount of time?
Fortunately I usually have a 5 hour flight to prepare one way or the other.
Hey Vanessa! Love you on Blue Bloods! Two really random questions- have you ever been to San Antonio, TX? & did you play any sports growing up?
I have been to San Antonio! I played softball and was a cheerleader
Do you ever fear you're going to be typecast as CeCe Drake for the rest of your career?
I think that can always be a concern, but I'm confidant that as long as I keep growing as an actor roles will come that are different.
What made you decide to get married at 21? How do you feel about this decision today?
I was very much in love and we wanted to go for it. I am so happy to have had that experience and even though it ended Derek and I's marriage taught us both so much about what we are made of.
That's two words but I'll take it. Thank you! :)
Sorry I just re read the question. whoops.
Do you have a favorite scene in your new movie?
Yeah, I love the musical number.
What's your favorite flavor of ice cream?
mint chocolate chip
If you had a shrink ray gun who would you shrink and what would you do with them?
Probably I'd shrink myself and live life tinker bell style.