Bethany Joy Lenz Admits She Had a Strained Relationship with Sophia Bush While FilmingOne Tree Hill

Mar. 15, 2025

Bethany Joy Lenzwasn’t necessarily close toSophia Bushwhen the two starred onOne Tree Hilltogether.

In her new memoirDinner For Vampires: Life on a Cult Show (While Also in an Actual Cult!), Lenz, 43, says that when they first met, they got along great.

“Sophia herself was also hilarious and a bit mischievous, always down for an impulsive adventure,” Lenz writes, talking about how they went to get pit bull puppies together not long after they met. But the friendship didn’t last.

“I soon realized I wasn’t equipped to get too close to Sophia,” Lenz says.

Sophia Bush, Bethany Joy Lenz when they starred in One Tree Hill in the 2000s.Carley Margolis/FilmMagic

Carley Margolis/FilmMagic

The actress goes on to explain that she actually felt slightly inadequate around Bush.

“I failed to notice that she was also trying hard,” Lenz says. “Frequently favored and constantly underestimated in life because of her beauty, Sophia worked obsessively at proving her value.”

Lenz, who was deeply entrenched in a what she calls a Christian “cult” at the time, says this clashed with how she believed one should prove their value.

Hilarie Burton, Bethany Joy Lenz and Sophia Bush in 2022.Gabe Ginsberg/Getty

Gabe Ginsberg/Getty

“I was using religion as my benchmark,” Lenz says. “My budding friendship with sweet Sophia became a casualty of this, and instead of sitting shiva for my ego, I really f—ing wish I could turn back time, walk into her trailer, and give her a long, hard hug.”

In the memoir, Lenz says that she andHilarie Burtonwere close during filming, sharing a love of vintage shopping and crafting, but she recently admitted that they, too, had had a falling out, despite Lenz being a part of Burton and Bush’sOne Tree HillpodcastDrama Queens.

During an appearance on theCall Her Daddypodcast on Wednesday, Oct. 16, Lenz opened up about the dynamic.

“I love Hilarie, I have always and will always, and I don’t have any problem with her,” she told host Alex Cooper. “There have been some bizarre misunderstandings that I really hope we can figure out one day, but I love that girl."

James Lafferty and Bethany Joy Lenz on a 2006 episode of ‘One Tree Hill’.Everett

Everett

In an interview with PEOPLE about life now, Lenz said she’s still incredibly close with several of herOne Tree Hillcastmates.

“I was just in Wilmington for the21st-anniversary conventionand got to hang out with Tyler Hilton andPaul Johansson and James Lafferty, and Robbie Buckley and Cullen Moss and Colin Fickes and Lee Norris. Everybody was there, including Antwon Tanner. It was mostly me and the boys, and Barbara Alyn Woods was there and Moira Kelly,” she said.

“And so we all just got to sit down and emotionally snuggle,” she continued. “We have all these moments in between all the events where we catch up on what we’re doing, and then we’ll have a dinner afterward or something, and it feels really good.”

source: people.com