Just in time for Halloween, horror industry sex symbol Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, has proved she still has a few new tricks up her long black sleeves.
Cassandra Peterson, the woman behind the legend of Elvira, had more to say about her newly revealed, long-time romance with partner Teresa “T” Wierson — news that shook fans, who for decades had no idea the actor is queer.
The 70-year-old appeared on “The Tamron Hall Show” on Thursday following the release of her new memoir, “Yours Cruelly, Elvira: Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark” (Hachette) and host Hall asked the icon why — now, in 2021 — would Peterson’s sexuality be trending news.
“I think it’s because the character I play. Obviously I appeal to men,” Peterson observed.
Elvira, who has appeared in a number of films, advertisements and even been adapted as a comic book character, is idolized by a cult following of horror fans for her sardonic wit, comedy and a blend of pin-up good looks with vampiric sex appeal.
As she explained to Hall’s viewers, “It’s a super sexy character — that’s ‘straight,’ because she’s a bit of a horndog, she’s always chasing guys.”
Days after shocking the world with news of her relationship, Peterson said her coming out has been a load off so far.
“It’s scary and exciting, but also I’m very relieved, and so is my partner,” she told Hall, then quipped, “Holding in secrets all the time, you know, it gives you gas.”
To his credit, Peterson quoted her friend, actor Danny Trejo, who once mused to her, “You’re only as sick as your secrets.”
As The Post reported, Peterson confessed that she’d kept her 19-year relationship a secret for so long — telling only close family and friends — for fear that fans wouldn’t accept her true identity.
“I felt the need to protect Elvira in order to keep my career alive,” she wrote in her book. The pair met at a Hollywood Gold’s Gym, with Peterson initially taking “T” for a “tan, tattooed and muscular” man. The former Groundlings member was previously married to Mark Pierson, who would be her manager and producer until the pair split in 2003 after a 25-year union.
Peterson also discussed her “coming out” with Yahoo Entertainment, noting that she’s “mainly attracted to men” but “fell in love” with her partner.
“It’s funny. I mean, people call it ‘coming out,’ and I guess in a way it is. I haven’t ever been gay and I don’t feel like… I guess, you know, now there’s nonbinary, gender-fluid, whatever,” she explained, “I fell in love with somebody who I met, who I really loved, and she was a woman.”
She continued: “And you know, I’m always asking myself, ‘Did you turn gay all of a sudden, after 50 years? Wow! What’s up with that?’ I don’t think I did, because I’m still mainly attracted to men. Oh, [my partner] loves it when we’re walking down the street and a hot guy goes by and I’m like [gawking]! It makes her crazy! But I am attracted to men. I fell in love with a particular person who I had been friends with for many years. And then the relationship just got deeper, and then we’ve been together for 19 years and it’s fantastic.”
“But still, I would be fine with saying I came out and I’m gay, but I don’t think I’m gay. I don’t know what the hell I am!” she told Yahoo, “And even people have said, ‘Oh, you’re bi.’ And I said, ‘Well, I guess I am now! It wasn’t until I turned 50!’ I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s been great.”