Bethany Joy Lenz says exec warned her 'One Tree Hill' was about 'f-ing and sucking'

"I have a direct quote that I've been asked to relay to you, to make sure you know exactly what you're getting into before you sign this contract," Lenz recalled her manager saying in her upcoming memoir, "Dinner for Vampire." "You tell her this show is about f-ing and sucking and if she's gonna have a problem with that, she shouldn't come in tomorrow." This stark warning highlighted the bold nature of 'One Tree Hill.'

Despite the blunt introduction to the show, Lenz was drawn to 'One Tree Hill' due to its distinctiveness. "Grit didn't scare me, and the 'One Tree Hill' pilot had grit," she expressed, emphasizing that the show was different from conventional teen dramas. Lenz appreciated its depth and challenges, believing it deviated from typical 'bubble-gum TV' with hidden agendas.

Raised in an Evangelical Christian household, Lenz grappled with her role. She worried that portraying a character living with a boyfriend would normalize "living in sin" for young girls. Yet, she identified with her character, describing her as the "most wholesome" of the main cast, which allowed her to reconcile her values with the show's themes.

Lenz believed in the show's potential to convey positive messages, stating, "I didn't feel too at risk of being objectified... I believed in this show and its ability to send meaningful, uplifting messages to the audience." This optimism underpinned her commitment to the role of Haley James Scott.

Read at New York Post