Is Spencer really working with the enemy?

There were several jaw-dropping moments in Pretty Little Liars’ penultimate episode, “I’m Your Puppet,” none bigger than Spencer (Troian Bellisario) teaming with Mona (Janel Parrish) and her dangerous “A” team. To show just how serious she is about her new endeavor, it was Spencer who kidnapped Ezra’s young son Malcolm (Teo Briones), causing a rift between Aria (Lucy Hale) and Ezra (Ian Harding). A second body also was found, this time the one that Spencer came across in the woods. Is it really Toby (Keegan Allen)?

Warning: Spoilers under the cut. Click HERE to read! »

In the 10th installment of THR’s weekly postmortem with Pretty Little Liars’ cast and producers, executive producer Oliver Goldstick — who made his directorial debut with last night’s episode — discussed Spencer’s shocking decision to join the “A” team, what the discovery of the second body means and the future of Rosewood’s romantic pairings as the finale approaches.

The Hollywood Reporter: One of the big reveals from last night’s episode was that Spencer has now joined the “A” team. What should we be thinking or asking in regards to her big move?
Oliver Goldstick: You should be asking what is behind that, and that leads right up to the finale. If in fact this is something she has been contemplating for some time. Is this something she needs to do to reconnect and to find out if there’s any chance that Toby could still be alive? If you saw the closer, chances are he’s not. She didn’t see that, we saw that, that was privileged information. It tells the audience you’re ahead of Spencer, she may have to catch up with you.

THR: What does this mean now that she’s part of this group that’s been wreaking havoc for so long?
Goldstick: It’s our Spencer, so we’d like to believe that it’s to help her friends. This is the ultimate sacrifice, that she’s willing to go undercover and do something dark. That was sort of the idea of kidnapping Malcolm, to prove to Mona that she’s serious, that’s she’s willing to wreak real havoc between Aria and Ezra. I’m hoping that worked.

THR: To know that it was Spencer who was the one responsible for taking Malcolm was more powerful than any other character.
Goldstick: “Yikes!” is all I can say. I don’t tweet but people were saying, “Oh no she didn’t!” That was repeated over and over.

THR: Mona did bring up the whole fact that had Spencer joined the “A” team when she first asked in the season two finale, all this may not have happened. Has Spencer resigned to the fact that this was where she was supposed to end up?
Goldstick: I don’t want to give away too much. You’re going to find out more next week, but Mona came in the last episode and said you could have avoided a lot of pain and Toby might still be with us had you joined when you could have. I think Spencer’s feeling is, you know what, there’s little left to lose. I will freakin’ go to the dark side and figure out what is going on here.

THR: Emily (Shay Mitchell) has been the only one defending Toby all this time. How does the discovery of the second body affect her?
Goldstick: Her relationship with him was a deep friendship. She was the first one to befriend him out of the girls and I feel like she is in denial. Last night’s episode was really about her having to wrap her mind around him being gone. Emily, in her own mind, would probably believe he was killed because he would only go so far. He wouldn’t go so far as to really, really harm these girls and maybe he paid the price for that.

THR: Will we see a face to the second body in the finale?
Goldstick: Yes, you’ll see a face.

THR: What is the state of the Hanna (Ashley Benson) and Caleb (Tyler Blackburn) pairing, now that we’ve learned Jamie was actually framed?
Goldstick: That’s a hard one to repair right away. Knowing what this relationship was to bring them two together. We spent half a season trying to get Caleb to wrap his head around [his father] and “A” doing this is pretty damaging. We won’t deal with that until next season. The question becomes how does he explain “A” to his father? Can you explain “A”?

THR: Will more people find out about “A” by the end of the season?
Goldstick: Maybe. There are plenty of folks who do know.

THR: What is the state of Aria and Ezra following last night’s episode?
Goldstick: They’re struggling. Last night’s episode was supposed to be if “A” had the gumption and the cruelty to do something to his child, I think she recognizes the collateral damage would be too strong, so it’d be her having to leave him [as a result] without telling him why of course.

THR: In the preview for the finale, the girls are aware that Spencer has joined the “A” team. How do they react to this new development? (Watch the promo below.)
Goldstick: It’s the same disbelief and credulity they dealt with Toby. We want proof, they want something solid and concrete to believe that Spencer could betray them like this.

THR: Last night’s episode also marked your directorial debut. What was the most challenging scene to direct?
Goldstick: The Spencer vision at Radley of Alison was delicate. The idea is this is a manifestation of her [delirium]. She hasn’t slept in three days, she even says at one point, “I haven’t slept.” We’re trying to keep this show fresh in a way that you don’t feel like you’ve seen this flashback before. And the other flashback in the show seeing Alison incredibly vulnerable. Sasha [Pieterse] delivered. The actors, knowing it was me sitting in that director’s chair, were incredibly prepared and game and collaborative. At one point, I turned to my DP and said, “I feel like I’m not directing much.” And she said, “It’s because they’re all at the top of their game, they all want to want to play. They’re here to perform for you.” That was a delicate scene because it could go the wrong way because it could be silly. It had to be haunting and disturbing and frightening when all of a sudden [Alison]‘s not there and all of a sudden Wren (Julian Morris) is staring at Spencer.

THR: That scene certainly had that effect. Were there others that jump out?
Goldstick: I loved the flashback Alison did with Spencer’s mom because we seldom get to see Alison in such a vulnerable place. We often see the Alison who’s punishing other people. To think that, oh my god, there’s something going on here, it’s very close to home.

THR: What’s your favorite moment from last night?
Goldstick: I love “A’s” black glove dipping into Malcolm’s popcorn. That’s one of my favorite visuals we’ve done on this show. I also loved the morgue scenes with Hanna and Emily, and the red coat in the elevator.

THR: When there’s an elevator involved, seems like nothing good can come of it.
Goldstick: [Laughs] Elevators are scary. The last one I wrote, the elevator dropped. In case you didn’t know, I’ve got a fear of elevators. My next series is called Take the Stairs. [Laughs]

THR: What can you tease about the finale?
Goldstick: There’s a shocking revelation and an appearance from someone you haven’t seen for a while. It’s got some nice twists and turns.

THR: And we’ll find out who the red coat is?
Goldstick: You’ll have a better idea after the finale. You’ll think you know, yes.

Pretty Little Liars season three finale airs at 8 p.m. Tuesday on ABC Family, followed by a preview of new drama Twisted.

No one can sing a Britney Spears song quite like the pop princess herself, but Selena Gomez and Ashley Benson did a pretty good job!

Monday at SXSW, the Spring Breakers stars, including Rachel Korine, sang a karaoke version of Brit’s 1998 hit, “…Baby One More Time.”

While all three actresses sang along to the catchy lyrics, it was Selena who really took the lead. And Britney noticed!

“Awww @selenagomez can duet with me anytime,” Spears tweeted Tuesday, linking to a clip of the girls’ performance. “PS- I heard @springbreakers is AAA_MAZING! Can’t wait to see it!”

And she should: The movie features its stars covering Britney’s ballad, “Everytime.” Though it’s a pretty freaky scene. James Franco is on the piano while the girls are in bikinis and pink florescent ski masks.

On ABC Family’s hit Pretty Little Liars, fans follow where to get the ladies’ edgy style in each episode as obsessively as the thrilling whodunit mysteries and crazy plot twists (but really, who is A?!) with countless PLL fashion blogs. Recently, I got the chance to talk Ashley Benson about her partnership with evening-wear designer Faviana (Benson said she never got to go to her prom, so the gig is helping her live out that fantasy–aw!). I had to ask her about her character Hanna’s look.

Glamour: Your personal style is different from Hanna’s. Do you like wearing clothes you normally wouldn’t?
Ashley Benson: I feel uncomfortable when I’m in Hanna’s clothes just because I hate wearing heels, and she’s always in heels. My feet hurt! I’m such a—not a tomboy, I guess, but my everyday style would be what I’m wearing right now—[Ed note: Ashley was wearing the cool-girl uniform of black leggings, tall boots, a casual yet still inexplicably expensive-looking T-shirt, and, of course, a leather jacket. Basically, everything she's wearing in the photo above!]—or jeans, Converse, and a T-shirt. Super plain, just because I always have to be dressed up. I have gotten more into fashion with Hanna’s wardrobe. I’ve taken a lot of pieces home with me, and when I feel like dressing up, I put on something from the show. It’s always fun to go to work because I get to be super different from how I am, but it is uncomfortable because I hate wearing heels. [Our wardrobe stylist on the show] lets me put a lot of my personal style into Hanna. I wear more black. It’s more edgy, which is totally my style. Last season, she mixed more of the girly with the edginess.

Glamour: What have some of your favorite outfits on the show been?
AB: From pictures that I saw from a few episodes ago—the green jacket with the studs—it had an army feel to it. And this super-long hot-pink dress with this black-and-white blazer with this insane high heel. They had no heel—it was just like my heel went back. I would fall after every take and hold on to one of the girls. Every outfit that Hanna wore this last season, I had a lot of say with what I wanted—that was the first time I was able to do that.

BreAking news, Liars!! Next week may be the can’t-miss spring finale of Pretty Little Liars, but Aria, Emily, Hanna, Spencer and the rest of your Rosewood faves will be back in your lives before you can say “A”! Go ahead and mark those cAlendars, because Pretty Little Liars returns for its fourth season on Tuesday, June 11 at 8/7c.

The summer premiere will be followed by Twisted, a new series all of you Little Liars aren’t going to want to miss!! Twisted is a show full of twists and turns that is centered on a charismatic 16-year-old with a troubled past (Avan Jogia) who has recently reconnected with his two female best friends from childhood (Maddie Hasson and Kylie Bunbury). He becomes the prime suspect when a fellow student is found dead in her home. The series also stars Kimberly Quinn, Sam Robards, Ashton Moio and Denise Richards.

A night full of Pretty Little Liars and Twisted? Sounds pretty epic to us. Is it June 11 yet?!

While we’re waiting for summer to arrive, be sure to watch an ALL NEW episode of Pretty Little Liars TOMORROW at 8/7c.

Ashley Benson looked so cool and glam at the ‘Spring Breakers’ premiere at the 2013 SXSW festival in Austin, Texas on March 10. Her makeup artist spills how to get Ashley’s exact look below!

Ashley Benson, 23, switched up the traditional black smokey eye for a cool blue look at the Spring Breakers premiere at the South By Southwest festival on March 10! Makeup artist Nico Guilis created Ashley’s premiere look and breaks it down for HollywoodLifers below!

Check out the exact products used to get Ashley’s premiere look below:

“With Ashley’s sexy cool new brown hair, I thought the makeup should really bring out those blue eyes and focus on her beautiful Jane Birkin-esque classic features. She is so naturally beautiful and with this hair I wanted to try something different,” Nico says.

“I used Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation for a beautiful dewy glow all over the skin. For a highlight on her cheekbones, I used Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel Illuminator. I wanted to give her a smokey eye with a “pop” of blue color. I lined the lash line with MAC black pencil and then went over it with Nars Outremer Eye Shadow and once again over the water line with Chanel’s Jade Pencil. In the apple of the cheek is Pink Swoon Blush by MAC for that healthy glow. On the lips I used Chelsea Girls by Nars.”

Ashley Benson was homeschooled, which means she never went to prom. Now at age 23, the actress is living out her school dance fantasies by way of dress brand Faviana. “They approached me to be their spokesperson, and I said yes because I had never been to prom!” she says. “I remember helping my sister pick out her prom dress, and this is my way of helping my fans do the same thing.” Last week, we met Benson in the Faviana showroom to chat about formal frocks, style missteps, and the upcoming season finale of Pretty Little Liars.

We hear you’ve never been to prom!
I actually got asked to prom a few times. It was for a homeschool dance, and I was never interested! But I remember all my friends going to prom and having the best time. Looking back, it would’ve been so much fun to go. For me now, going to events and dressing up is kind of my version of prom!

What’s your dressing strategy for formal events?
I’ve just started to have to wear gowns the last couple of years. I’ve definitely grown to like long dresses. I love low backs, and I like more form-fitting dresses. But I also love short dresses! I really do like to change up my look.

Which designers do you gravitate towards?
I love McQueen, I like Chanel. I like Elie Saab, Dolce — I have a lot of Dolce. And Saint Laurent! Their dresses are unreal, I’m obsessed.

Do you have any prom styling tips?
Wear something that you’re comfortable in. Go with bright colors to stand out. A lot of people look over-the-top when they go to prom because they have an insane dress and super sophisticated hair. I like wearing messy hair for these type of looks. It’s way more more current. Keep the hair and accessories simple, so you can still wear an amazing dress.

How would you compare your teen style to your style in your twenties?
I really didn’t know what I was doing when I was a teen. I went through so many different phases. I went through a Goth phase when I was in 7th grade because I went to an art school. Well, “Goth”. My Goth look was band T-shirts, black eyeliner, black eyeshadow, but I looked ridiculous. As I got older, I tried to do the girly thing a lot, and it just wasn’t me. Now in my twenties, I’m more laidback. I’m casual-chic, I guess. I love wearing leather boots with tight jeans or leather pants. I love leather jackets, oversized shirts, and Converse. I think you can really make an outfit with the jacket you put on, the shoes that you wear, and your bag.

click to read more »

As far as obsessions go, prom and Pretty Little Liars are biggies in the Seventeen universe! So, it seemed to make perfect sense that Ashley Benson would be the new face of a major prom dress brand, Faviana. We sat down with her at the Faviana headquarters in NYC to get all the deets on her favorite looks for prom, PLL, and her new film, Spring Breakers!

Seventeen: Which style of dress would you wear to prom?

Ashley Benson: I actually never went to prom before! I would probably wear a short, fun dress. Faviana is a line that girls can feel super-glamorous in. A lot of their designs are kind of based off of what celebrities wear on the red carpet!

17: Do you have any recent red carpet looks that you would wear to prom if you were going this year?

AB: I just wore this gold dress at the Berlin premiere of Spring Breakers. It was Monique Lhuillier and it was amazing!

17: Are you having so much fun on your Spring Breakers premiere tour?

AB: I am! I love those girls. It’s been a blast. Europe was so much fun. We were all exhausted, but it’s literally just having fun all day doing interviews. Then, we’d go out and get dinner and dance. It’s so much fun!

17: Do you have any crazy stories from set?

AB: There were definitely new experiences on that movie. It was challenging for sure. For all of us, it was a step in a more mature direction. The whole time filming the movie was just fun! Working with Harmony [Korine] and James [Franco] and the girls was just the best.

Warning: Spoilers under the cut. Click HERE to read! »

17: Okay, we have to talk about last week’s episode of Pretty Little Liars. Spencer just found Toby’s body and you had to push a car into the lake!

AB: Good stories about that scene! It was about 4 or 5 in the morning and I was so tired. We worked a 16 or 17-hour day and had just started rehearsing the scene at 3 AM. I literally thought I was going to pass out from pushing!

17: Can you give us any spoilers from the finale?

AB: Well, we find a body. We don’t know if it’s dead or alive. Also, we get trapped in a house with “A” and all the helpers. There’s a big fire that happens. We all kind of get near death. As always!

Ashley Benson and Vanessa Hudgens are two brave ladies. HollywoodLife.com spoke with Ashley, the face of Faviana‘s gorgeous spring campaign, at the brand’s showroom in NYC on Mar. 1 and she said that she was actually totally relieved that she was filming the scene with Vanesa and James Franco.

When we spoke to the gorgeous actress she said: “I’m really happy I had Vanessa to be there with me and James he’s done this a million times, he didn’t make it awkward at all. We were very comfortable, Harmonie wanted us to be comfortable, or else it would have looked weird. Vanessa and I were so thankful that we were so close and had each other because any intimate scene is very awkward, even kissing a guy on screen is awkward because you have people all around you filming as well as an audience so I don’t know, it turned out amazing.”

Ashley said that they filmed the scene at midnight and beforehand she bought a bunch of chips and ate a ton!

“We didn’t start till midnight so, the whole day it was raining, freezing cold, and I just went to the store and bought a ton of groceries and started eating a lot, then I went to set and discussed the scene with Harmonie, Vanessa and James. We just did it, and then it was done!”