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

Bethany Joy Lenz wasn’t necessarily close to Sophia Bush when the two starred in One Tree Hill together.

In his new memoir Vampire Dinner: Life in a Cult Show (Albeit a Real Cult!)43-year-old Lenz says that when they first met, they got along great.

“Sophia herself was also hilarious and a bit mischievous, always prone to impulsive adventure,” Lenz writes, talking about how they went to pick up pit bull puppies together shortly after they met. But the friendship did not last.

“I quickly realized I wasn’t ready to get close to Sophia,” says Lenz.

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

Carley Margolis/FilmMagic

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“As vivacious and compassionate as she was, she was even more intelligent…NASA could have put her mind to good use—except, of course, she’s so beautiful that astronauts would never want to leave Earth,” Lenz writes.

The actress goes on to explain that she actually felt a bit out of place around Bush.

“I didn’t notice that she was trying too hard,” says Lenz. “Often favored and constantly underestimated in life because of her beauty, Sophia worked obsessively to prove her worth.”

Lenz, who at the time was deeply entrenched in what she calls a Christian “cult,” says it clashed with how she believed she needed to prove her worth.

Hilarie Burton, Bethany Joy Lenz and Sophia Bush 2022.

Gabe Ginsberg/Getty

“I used religion as a yardstick,” says Lenz. “My young friendship with sweet Sophia fell victim to this, and instead of fighting for my ego, I really fucking wish I could go back in time, get into her trailer, and give her a big hug.”

In the memoir, Lenz says she and Hilarie Burton were close during filming, sharing a love of vintage shopping and crafts, but she recently admitted they also fell out, despite Lenz being part of Burton’s and Bush’s One Tree Hill podcast Drama queens.

During the performance at Call her dad podcast on Wednesday, October 16, Lenz opened up about the dynamics.

“I love Hilarie, always have and always will, and I have no problem with her,” she told host Alex Cooper. “There were some bizarre misunderstandings that I really hope we can sort out one day, but I love that girl.”

One Tree HillBethany Joy Lenz Reveals Hilarie Burton Clash Was Caused By ‘Bizarre Misunderstandings’

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

Everett

In an interview with PEOPLE about life now, Lenz said she’s still incredibly close to a few of her own One Tree Hill fellow actors.

“I was just in Wilmington for the 21st anniversary convention and I got to hang out with Tyler Hilton and Paul Johansson and James Lafferty and Robbie Buckley and Cullen Moss and Colin Fickes and Lee Norris. They were all there, including Antwon Tanner. Any is mostly me and the boys and Barbara Alyn Woods was there and Moira Kelly,” she said.

“And so we all just had to sit down and have an emotional hug,” she continued. “We have all these moments between all the events where we catch up on what we’re doing, and then we’ll have dinner or something afterwards, and it feels really good.”

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Source: HIS Education