Born 2 April 1981, Bethany Joy Lenz is an American actress, filmmaker, and singer-songwriter. She is famous for acting as Haley James Scott in One Tree Hill’s TV drama. She served in this drama for over a decade and shared an on-screen romance with actor James Laferty. She was also featured as Michelle Bauer Santos in the Soap Opera Guiding Light and is renowned for her music as a solo artist and member of the Everly band.
Early life and education
Bethany Lenz was born is the only child of Robert George Lenz, a therapist and history teacher, and Catherine Malcolm Shepard, an entrepreneur, and personnel manager. She is of Scottish, Australian (her paternal side), Irish and German descent. She has a lineage that trails back to the Scottish King, Malcolm. Her grandfather George Lenz was on the Broadway stage in the 1950s, performing in musicals South Pacific, Wish You Were Here, and many others.
Following her grandfather’s footsteps, she began singing at age three at The Carpenter’s Church in Florida. At the age of seven, her family relocated to Texas, where she attended Pope Elementary. She also enrolled in a Creative Arts Theater and School, where she took jazz, dance, theater, and acting classes. She went to a private school in Passaic Country, Northern New Jersey, named Eastern Christian High School.
Top 10 facts about Bethany Joy Lenz
- Bethany Lenz was born and raised in a religious home with her parents in Florida; then, she moved to New York City. Eventually, she relocated to Los Angeles, where she currently resides.
- Beyond just featuring in movies, Bethany has experience in directing; she directed three episodes of One Tree Hill and has also produced films.
- Bethany is a philanthropist who uses her platform to help people in need. She has involved herself with several non-profit organizations.
- Glitter Magazine asked Lenz if she had any advice for potential entertainers; she told Glitter Magazine, “It’s the same advice I’ve given for years, which is to do it because you have to, not because you want to be famous. Like, really, examine your motives because the world just doesn’t need another star, we don’t need one.”
- Bethany loves to be surrounded by significant events and flashing lights, but she tries to enjoy the simplicity of life beyond that. Her hobbies are horseback riding and hiking.
- Bethany is not just an actress but a creative woman. She loves artworks, and in 2016, she launched a jewelry business in which she donated 10% of the profits from her sales to charity.
- Bethany is a talented singer and songwriter. She has released more than five albums, although some albums are no longer available for sale.
- Due to her career, Lenz has had the opportunity to travel to so many countries: Monaco, Italy, and France. Travelling has given her so many beautiful experiences and memories.
- During the period that One Tree Hill was airing, Bethany Lenz enjoyed popularity and became one of the most recognized faces on US Television.
- Bethany got married to Michael Galeotti, which lasted for seven years, after which they divorced; a few years later he died of heart disease.
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Career
Acting career
Bethany got her first professional job in a commercial for dolls from the drama series Swans Crossing. After which, she continued her search for jobs as an actress. When Lenz was in her second year in High School, Lenz played Linda Halleck’s role in Stephen King’s Thinner. After which, she featured in several commercials and films and performed in regional theatre until she was selected to play a role in Guiding Light.
When she was seventeen, Bethany acted the teenage counterpart of Reva Shayne on the Soap Opera Guiding Light for nine episodes. Her excellence earned her commendable reviews from critics, viewers, and executives. Lenz was eventually recast as Michelle Bauer Santos after Rebecca Budig’s exit.
Lenz moved to Los Angeles from New York at the end of her two-year contract with Guiding Light. In 2002, she featured in Bring It On Again as Marni Potts.
Lenz was cast in the TV series One Tree Hill when she was 22. She initially auditioned for the roles of Haley James and Brooke Davis, but she got the part of Haley James, the admirable girl-next-door, who was intimate friends with Lucas Scott. During her time in the movie, she was offered the role of Belle in Beauty and the Beast, which she turned down due to conflicts in her schedule. The show ended in April 2012.
In September 2013, Lenz played the role of Lauren Byrd on the songbird for E! The show portrayed Lauren as a prodigy songwriter who hires staff alongside her sister to manage and enable her weird yet successful process. Production began in January 2014 in New York City City, but E! rejected the show.
In 2015, she played the role of Zoe in the Shonda Rhimes drama, The Catch. On 18 May 2015, Lenz disclosed that she was replaced. In her words, “Looks like they need a different type for Zoe, so I’ll be replaced,” she still urged her friends to continue watching the show.
In 2016, Bethany featured in her friend’s (Kristin) short movie Grace. She also featured in two episodes of Season 3 of Agents of SHIELD. She featured in the new drama American Gothic as the character, April. In 2021, Lenz started a Podcast with Hilarie Burton, and Sophia Bush titled Drama Queens.
Music career
After Bethany’s exit from Guiding Light, she continued her career in music. She plays piano guitar and writes her music. Her first album, titled Preincarnate, was released in October 2002. She worked under Director Garry Marshall and musician Carole King on a piece adapted from Happy Days. Bethany Lenz released her first Christmas album, titled Snow, produced by Mike Bundlie. Her song featured her daughter Maria in her song Listen.
In an interview with Shine on Media in 2013, Bethany stated that she was meeting with long-time friend Jeff Cohen, a music producer, to record an album. In May 2013, she tweeted a photo of the studio, and the caption read: “Recording new music in #Nashville with old pal Jeff Cohen! #LeavingTownAlive #CrazyGirls”
In July 2013, during an interview with Mary Ann Albright, Bethany shared her plans for her music career. She planned on releasing her first full-length album in the nearest future titled Your Woman as an autonomous release on her blog site. In her words, “The best way I can describe this album is Patsy Cline meets Paula Cole meets Sam Cooke.”
In August 2013, she released Please on vibedeck and iTunes as Bette (another musical name, although she didn’t use it more than once). Her fans celebrated the song after she performed it on “Rock the Schools Concert” in 2012. In 2014, she released Calamity Jane on iTunes.
