Sydney Penny Discusses Role as Mama Vanderwaal

“Taking This One to the Grave” PLL 5x12 introduced us to Leona Vanderwaal (Mona’s mom), played by Sydney Penny.  Sydney talked to ABC Soaps in Depth about her role on PLL and how working on the show was sort of like a reunion.

There were certainly times when the Liars thought of Mona as the devil.  How does Mona’s mom view her daughter?  According to Sydney, “she sees her daughter in the way that parents see their children: in the very best light and in a protective way.”  Sydney sheds light on how Mona’s relationship with her mom is different.  “It’s a young woman and her single mother making their way together … there’s a different flavor to it than it would be if there was a man in the household.”

Sydney Penny also discussed working with the PLL cast.  This wasn’t the first time she had worked with her television daughter, Janel Parrish.  The two worked together on an episode of “Home & Family” last year.  And she and Ashley Benson go way back, too.  Ashley Benson is the granddaughter of a family friend.

Meet Mona’s Mom in “Taking This One to the Grave” PLL Episode 5x12

The Liars may think Mona is the devil, but she has a family that we will finally get to meet.  Mona’s mom, Leona Vanderwaal, will be played by Sydney Penny.  You may recognize Sydney Penny from the soap operas “All My Children” and “The Bold and the Beautiful”.

Janel Parrish, who plays Mona on PLL, seems happy with the casting choice.  She tweeted “Mona finally gets a mama.  The beautiful @sydney_penny”.

Mona finally gets a mama. The beautiful @sydney_penny 😍 http://t.co/P2HHeaGDM5
— Janel Parrish (@JanelParrish) July 10, 2014

And the feeling goes both ways.  Sydney Penny tweeted “Lucky me!  Love my ‘daughter’!”

“@JMeilanixo: Mona finally gets a mama. The beautiful @sydney_penny 😍 http://t.co/VRb1Plltml” Lucky me! Love my 'daughter'!
— Sydney Penny (@sydney_penny) July 11, 2014

Janel isn’t the only PLL cast member psyched about the casting choice for Mona’s mom.  Ashley Benson (Hanna on PLL) posted this picture of her with Sydney Penny and captioned it “Can’t believe we are working together @sydsshots been in the family for a longgg time”. 

What do Ashley Benson and Sydney Penny have in common?  They’ve both been on the soap “Days of Our Lives”.  Ashley Benson played Abigail Deveraux on “Days of Our Lives” from 2004-2007.  Sydney Penny has guest starred on “Days of Our Lives” as Dr. Norman.

We haven’t heard much about Mona’s family on Pretty Little Liars so far.  On “She’s Better Now” PLL episode 3x14, we learn that Mona’s parents didn’t want her to return to Rosewood High after her stint in Radley Sanitarium, but Mona begged them to let her come back.  However, we never got to actually see her parents. 

Sydney Penny will appear as Leona Vanderwaal on PLL in the summer finale “Taking This One to the Grave” episode 5x12.

Do you think Mona's mom will be exactly like Mona?  Can’t wait to see a little more about Mona’s home life.  And wouldn't it be awesome to see Hanna interact with Mona's mom, given Hanna and Mona's history?