Cassandra Peterson, the actress known for playing beloved horror icon Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, reveals in her new memoir, “Yours Cruelly, Elvira,” that she has been romantically involved with a woman for the past 19 years.

Peterson, who is now 70, kept the relationship secret out of fear of losing her hordes of male fans. She’s also not sure she wants to be labeled.

Peterson tells Yahoo:

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.

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.

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! … 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.”