Bethany Joy Lenz Interview
By: Sindy
Bethany Joy Lenz has been acting for a while, but you probably recognize her best from her role on One Tree Hiil as Haley James. Hear what she has to say about Hollywood, love, relationships and her favorite food right here!
Sindy: What has been your most enjoyable acting role so far and why?
Bethany: I absolutely loved working with Paul Anthony Stewart on Guiding Light. He is a wonderful, spontaneous actor and the chemistry we had was rare. Also, I had a blast playing Paul Sorvino’s daughter in an ABC pilot called “Burning Down the House”. And of course I can’t rule out my theater roles… the stage is really a home away from home for me. I feel I get to be me the most when I’m on stage.
Sindy: Your character on One Tree Hill, Haley, gets married straight out of high school. What are your thoughts on marrying young?
Bethany: Young is one thing – 16 is another. I don’t know any 16 year olds who are ready to get married… come to that, I don’t know many 26 or 36 year olds who are ready to get married. I think you ought to know who you are and be willing to give ALL of yourself to your spouse, not just some of you. Marriage is two becoming one and until you are ready and willing to take the kind of risks that will keep the marriage alive, you shouldn’t do it.
Sindy: What do you enjoy doing more – acting or singing? What would you rather win, an Oscar or a Grammy?
Bethany: I can love or hate acting depending on whether the material is good or bad, but I’ll always love singing. As far as winning an Oscar or a Grammy… I don’t care much for awards. If it’s like an appreciation kind of award or something like that, that’s cool, but I think Hollywood’s turned it into a competition and I don’t believe in that. I mean, who are we to say that one person’s best is better than another person’s best? That’s also why our public school system is so messed up, but I won’t get into that :) Lol. I don’t know, I just think people should do projects they believe in, and not projects that will win them awards.
Sindy: You’ve had the opportunity to do a duet with Tyler Hilton on the One Tree Hill soundtrack – who else would you like to collaborate with?
Bethany: Billy Joel would be a dream to work with. He’s a musical genius. Paula Cole, too… she’s really, really underrated.
Sindy: What’s on your iPod/CD player right now? Who are your musical influences?
Bethany: A new band called ENATION is in my iPod always (www.enationmusic.com). Right now I’m listening to John Denver and some others in there are Rachel Yamagata, Jamie Cullum, Linkin Park, the soundtracks to Aida, Les Mis, Ain’t Misbehavin’, and Jars of Clay’s new album.
Sindy: I’ve read that you have aspirations to act on Broadway – is there a specific production you would want to work on?
Bethany: Mary Poppins is in London right now and I hope to audition for it when it comes to NY. Beauty and the Beast also has always been a dream of mine… I don’t know, there are so many good shows out there.
Sindy: You’ve already taken on the world of acting and singing, do you have any aspirations to follow in the footsteps of other celebrities and design your own clothing or accessories?
Bethany: Absolutely, I’ve already designed a few things I’m trying to get patented, and I hope to design formal and casual dresses someday.
Sindy: What has been the biggest challenge so far in your career?
Bethany: Being on location away from my family, and fighting off the temptation to get caught up in that cliche “Hollywood” mentality. It can be a very seductive lifestyle if you’re not careful.
Sindy: Have you ever felt that you have to look a certain way to work in Hollywood?
Bethany: Absolutely. Lies about your physical appearance in Hollywood creep in like a nasty serpent in your bed. It’s awful. “Who’s got the best outfit?”, “Who’s makeup artist is terrible?”, etc… I’ve really been learning that I have to choose to believe that it is not my clothes or my hair or my makeup that is going to make me shine. It’s a battle I fight everyday with myself.
Sindy: What do you do to stay in shape?
Bethany: It’s not so much to stay in any particular shape as it is just to feel healthy for my body type. My body takes pretty quickly to physical activity… it just sort of wakes up and sucks in! Lol! I enjoy Pilates, 15-20 minutes on the treadmill, free weights, dancing, walking… the basics, I guess.
Sindy: Favorite food?
Bethany: I think my palate is changing right now… I used to love sweets, but now I prefer savory foods. I could never nail down one favorite, but I did have rabbit once in France… it was prepared like a crab cake and it was DIVINE!
Sindy: What are you favorite TV Shows? Movies?
Bethany: TV: LOST is the best show on television by a landslide, Arrested Development, Joan of Arcadia, 24, and I Love Lucy is always on my TiVo. MOVIES: About A Boy, Braveheart, Equilibrium, Much Ado About Nothing, Newsies, French Kiss and Last of the Mohicans probably top the list.
Sindy: What is the one item of clothing you couldn’t live without?
Bethany: Jeans, are you kidding!? My American Eagle jeans I could live in.
Sindy: Who is your role model?
Bethany: I would never put that kind of pressure on a mortal.
Sindy: What made you change the spelling of your name?
Bethany: LOL… Well, I changed it to JOIE when I was 13 because I thought it would make me unique. Luckily I learned that I don’t need a funny name to be special, so I changed it back to my birthname before One Tree Hill started. Bethany Joy Lenz is on my birth certificate.
Sindy: Are you dating anyone? What kind of qualities do you look for in a guy?
Bethany: Not dating. I don’t believe the human heart was made to be put through the abuse of the dating world. I believe very strongly that there is one person created for everyone who is meant to be married. If you have the faith to just wait for your other half and let God fulfill that place of romantic longing in your hearts until your mate is brought to you, you won’t have to settle (like everyone does, it seems, these days) and you’ll have a whole heart to give your lover.
Sindy: Do you have any advice for kids trying to break into either the acting or the music industry?
Bethany: Don’t do it if you want to get famous, cuz, I promise you – you’ll either end up broke and lonely, or you’ll end up famous and lonely. Do it because you want to make a difference in the world and you feel you can do that best through an artistic medium.
