Lisa Ann Walter's “Abbott Elementary” Costars Have to Tell Her Young Men Sliding into Her DMs Are Hitting on Her

The actress admits she can be naive when approached by guys on social media, but adds that she's "absolutely ... open to meeting someone and forming a meaningful connection with them"

Lisa Ann Walter’s Abbott Elementary character, Melissa Schemmenti, may teach the second grade, but the actress recently got schooled on dating in the age of social media.

Walter, 60, opened up to Cosmopolitan in the Sex After 60 Issue about how she’s suddenly found herself to be the object of affection for a handful of younger men. Despite her DMs being filled with potential suitors, she admitted that she wasn’t certain they were interested in her until her Abbott Elementary costars told her what “sliding into someone’s DMs” really means.

“I have young men coming on to me all the time now. Some of them are famous. I won’t name names, but they slip into my DMs,” Walter said.

At first, the actress said she thought the messages she was receiving were innocent. “I tell my colleagues at work, like, ‘So-and-so just said they wanted to talk and they want to have lunch. Isn’t that sweet?’ Because I’m looking at it like, ‘Aw, this kid,’ ” she shared.

Related: Lisa Ann Walter on Finding 'Life Partner' in 'Parent Trap' Costar Elaine Hendrix: She's 'It for Me' (Exclusive)

Her castmates on the ensemble ABC comedy, on the other hand, disagreed. She continued, “And all my costars are like, ‘Girl... he wants to hit that.’ ”

The SAG Award winner explained that she felt like it’s been an adjustment in recent years to realize how beauty standards have changed and made her feel more desirable. She said, “The younger generation of guys have been socialized to be attracted to my exact body type, which I was always taught to be ashamed of when I was growing up.”

Despite the attention she receives from men outside of her generation, Walter admitted that she’s “always been attracted to men [her] own age.”

Still, she told the outlet that she “would absolutely be open to meeting someone and forming a meaningful connection with them.”

Related: The Abbott Elementary Cast's Best Behind-the-Scenes Photos

The Parent Trap star even revealed that she felt inspired to “dive back into the dating pool” by spending time with Sheryl Lee Ralph, Janelle James and Quinta Brunson and hearing Brunson, 34, talk about a relationship.

Walter will soon reunite with her costars on the Emmy-winning series, which is set to return for its highly anticipated season 3 on Feb. 7. The upcoming season will kick off with an hour-long premiere on ABC.

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Related: Abbott Elementary's Lisa Ann Walter on Her Friendship with Her Ex-Husband 24 Years After He Came Out to Her

Back in December, the teaser for the forthcoming season dropped, revealing fans can expect another school year full of hijinks from TV's favorite band of misfit teachers.

The hit sitcom was recently recognized at the delayed 2023 Emmy Awards, which ended up being held in January. The show and its cast members received six nominations and Brunson took home the award for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series, adding to the show's two previous wins in 2022.

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