‘Tell Me Lies’ Star Cat Missal Confirms “I Am Gay, So Thank God” After Finale
Speaking alongside her partner, Missal offered a personal note of clarity following three seasons of televised turmoil.
Featured image by JC Olivera/Variety via Getty Images
Actor Cat Missal is out there telling truths, publicly confirming that she is gay. She shared the news in a recent interview conducted shortly after the February 17 finale of Tell Me Lies.
Missal, 26, who uses she and they pronouns, addressed her sexuality while discussing the Hulu drama’s depiction of manipulation and toxic relationships with Teen Vogue. Asked whether the series suggests that most men would manipulate women if given the chance, she responded, “Well, I am gay, so thank God.” Her partner, Jess Panneton, who was seated beside her during the interview, added, “You’re safe with me.”
While Missal has previously been relatively private about labels, she and Panneton have appeared together at events in Los Angeles and have shared aspects of their relationship publicly since at least 2020.
Tell Me Lies, adapted from Carola Lovering’s book of the same title, concluded its third season with an episode that was heavy on emotional fallout. Missal portrays Bree, the college best friend of Lucy Albright. In the finale, Bree is revealed to have leaked a recording of Lucy confessing to lying about being sexually assaulted. The tape had been used as leverage by Lucy’s boyfriend, deepening the rupture between the two women. Lucy ultimately chooses to remain with Stephen, and Bree ends the friendship.
Despite the severity of their on-screen conflict, Missal has expressed hope for the characters’ future. “I truly think friendship can stand the test of anything,” she said. “Even though they’ve done toxic things to each other, they do love each other genuinely. I think that’s where a lot of the heart of the show lies, too, within their friendship, even though it’s built on lies.”
Off-screen, Missal’s own relationship began at a drag show in West Hollywood, where she met Panneton while out with two of her sisters. Recalling their first encounter, she said, “I just thought you were so cool. It just felt kismet because they were like, ‘Who are you flirting with? Who’s that?’ And now we’re all family.”
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The couple now live together in the San Fernando Valley with their two cats, Chicken and Bunny. Panneton is a cofounder of the sapphic party Futch Night. In 2020, she shared photos of the pair together, including a Valentine’s Day post and images from a skate rink date.
More recently, the two have attended public events together, including the Los Angeles premiere of Send Help and an event hosted by The Hollywood Reporter.
As Tell Me Lies comes to a close, Missal has indicated that she is interested in pursuing roles with more grit and continuing to make music. She contributed two songs to the series soundtrack, including a cover of “Mr. Brightside.”
