Bio: Bethany Joy Lenz was born in Hollywood Florida, an only child of Robert George Lenz (a history teacher and therapist) and Catharine Malcolm Holt Shepard (a personnel manager and entrepreneur). She is best known for her role on - the WB hit One Tree Hill (2003) - as "Haley James Scott", wife to James Lafferty's "Nathan" and childhood mate of Chad Michael Murray's "Lucas".Prior to One Tree Hill (2003), Bethany spent most of her acting career on the stage. She has called Musical theater her passion, and has performed in various productions of "Annie", "The Wizard of Oz", "Gypsy", "Cinderella", "CATS for Cats" etc...After moving from Texas to New York, Bethany portrayed "Michelle Bauer Santos" on CBS's Guiding Light (1952). When her two year contract ended there, she left New York and moved to Los Angeles and guest starred on shows like Charmed (1998), Felicity (1998) and The Guardian (2001). She also appeared in Los Angeles stage productions of "The Outsiders" - directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman and "Happy Days" (as Pinky Tuscadero) - directed by Garry Marshall.After moving from North Carolina (One Tree Hill), Bethany spent a year raising her daughter Maria before taking any more roles. Although she started an internet rotating novel 'Diamond Gothic' with 'Abigail Spencer' and 'JC Coccoli' on 'Hello Giggles.Bethany came back strong and guest starred on shows like Men at Work (2012) and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000), joined the cast on Sock Monkee Therapy (2013) and Dexter (2006), and got her own TV show Songbyrd (2014). She also joined and performed original songs on Rock the Schools Concert (2012) and recorded several songs in 2012 (Album: 'Then Slowly Grows') and 2013 (Album: 'Your Woman').She is an accomplished singer with an four-octave range, trained in New York by Richard Barrett, the director of the Brooklyn College of Opera, and in Los Angeles by renowned voice teacher Eric Vetro (Jennifer Garner, John Stamos and Ewan McGregor).
Tivia: Goes by her middle name "Joy."One Tree Hill (2003) costar Shantel VanSanten was in the delivery room when she gave birth to her daughter, Maria.Changed her last name from Lenz to Galeotti when she got married. It was reflected on the credits of One Tree Hill (2003). She has changed her name back to Lenz following her split from her husband.Works heavily with Love146, an organization working to end child sex slavery and exploitation. In May 2011, she started a Tread on Trafficking campaign to raise money for the organization.Good friends with writer Nicholas Sparks.Close friends with One Tree Hill (2003) costars Sophia Bush, Shantel VanSanten and Paul Johansson.Took the "Julius Caesar" book her character Haley gives Lucas in season one of One Tree Hill (2003) when the show ended. She had the entire cast and crew sign it.Is also a talented musician and singer with a four-octave range.Writing a musical stage version of Nicholas Sparks' "The Notebook", with good friend and Grammy-nominated producer, Ron Aniello.Gave birth to her 1st child at age 29, a daughter named Maria Rose Galeotti in February 2011. Child's father is her ex-husband, Michael Galeotti.Started a podcast with One Tree Hill co-stars, Hilarie Burton and Sophia Bush, titled "Drama Queens" in 2021.Started an online boutique called "Lark" to raise money for charity. Every design featured on the website is an original by Joy.Performed with Tyler Hilton, Gavin DeGraw and The Wreckers (Michelle Branch and Jessica Harp) on the "One Tree Hill Tour".Played, on guitar, and sang the National Anthem in the One Tree Hill (2003) cast Super Bowl in early 2004.Starred/worked with Richard Lee Jackson in Bring It on: Again (2004) and married Richard Lee Jackson's band mate Michael Galeotti from their band Enation.Her favorite TV shows are: Joan of Arcadia (2003), Alias (2001), I Love Lucy (1951), Lost (2004), Arrested Development (2003) and Friends (1994).Trained at Dallas Young Actors Studio in Dallas, Texas.When Joy was 4 years old she sang her first solo at the Carpenter's Church in Lakeland, Florida.Wrote a 1920s era rotating internet novel called "Diamond Gothic" with actress Abigail Spencer and comedian JC Coccoli.Her prized possession is Journals.Since leaving Guiding Light (1952) in 2000, she has kept in touch with co-stars Tammy Blanchard (Drew) and Paul Anthony Stewart (Danny).Recorded the album 'Then Slowly Grows' in 2012 and 'Your Woman' in 2013. Also expecting a second edition of 'Your Woman' in 2014.In 2008 formed a band known as "Everly". Several of Everly's songs were featured on the show, One Tree Hill (2003), as part of Haley's musical performances on tour. In late November 2012, confirmed via Twitter that "Everly" was no longer together.Close friends with actress Abigail Spencer and actress Kelly Overton.The unusual spelling of her name was adopted in her early teens.Impressed producers so much during her three week stint as "Teenage Reva Clone" on Guiding Light (1952), she was re-hired later that year in the contract role of "Michelle Bauer" on the daytime serial.Released the limited CD "Preincarnate" featuring eight original tracks (2002)Announced engagement to Enation band member Michael Galeotti. (November 2005)Has a step-sister named Candace and a half brother named Sam.