Elvira, a.k.a. Cassandra Peterson, Opens Up on the Freedom of Coming Out: ‘I Feel Lighter’
variety.comJazz Tangcay Artisans EditorTo many, Elvira is the horror hostess who gained notoriety in the 1980s with that signature fitted black dress, raven black nails and stark red lips.
To her friends and family, she is simply Cassandra Peterson.As Elvira, Peterson served as the Mistress of the Dark for four decades, starring in dozens of B-movies and portraying her alter ago on many TV shows.
But behind the makeup, Peterson was guarding something very close to her heart — her sexuality. “I was scared that by coming out earlier, I could do some serious damage to my career,” she admits.Peterson revealed all in her 2021 memoir, “Yours Cruelly, Elvira,” detailing her 20-year relationship with a woman while labeling herself as sexually fluid.
The hesitation in talking about her personal life came from having seen many good friends come out — only to have their careers end up in tatters.
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