Bethany Joy Lenz

Bethany Joy Lenz is an American actress, singer-songwriter and filmmaker. She is known for her portrayal of Haley James Scott on the television drama "One Tree Hill." She also starred as Michelle Bauer Santos on the CBS Daytime soap opera "Guiding Light," and is recognized for her music as a solo artist and as a member of the band Everly.

Lenz began singing in church in Florida at the age of three, and enrolled in a performing arts school after moving to Arlington, Texas at age seven. Lenz, whose grandfather, George Lenz, was a Broadway musical theater performer, quickly found roles in community theater. She won her first TV-commercial audition on a trip to Los Angeles, and as a child actress earned parts in a handful of TV movies in the '90s before landing a recurring role on the daytime soap "Guiding Light" in her late teens. Still working on her music skills in the meantime, Lenz learned to play guitar and piano, and released her first solo album, the folk-rock-inspired "Preincamate," in 2002.

Two years on "Guiding Light" led to several guest spots on network primetime shows such as "Charmed" and "Felicity," until Lenz was cast as a regular on "One Tree Hill." She played Haley on the hit show's full run from 2003 to 2012. During her time on the series, Lenz was featured on "One Tree Hill: Music from the WB Television Series, Vol. 1," singing a duet with Tyler Hilton called "When the Stars Go Blue," which was written by Ryan Adams. She also directed multiple episodes of the show. She released her sophomore LP, "Come on Home," in 2005, and later formed the folk duo Everly with musician Amber Sweeney. They made their debut with "Mission Bell" [EP] in 2008, and issued an extended version of the record later that year. Everly also released the holiday album "Fireside" in late 2009. Another Lenz solo album, "Then Slowly Grows," arrived in 2012.

Lenz followed her time on "One Tree Hill" with more music and more acting. Her fourth solo album, "Your Woman," appeared in 2013, with the four-track "Get Back to Gold" out in 2014. She also found regular work in television, including recurring roles on shows such as "Dexter," "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," and "American Gothic."

Introduced to Love146 by former Everly bandmate, Amber Sweeney, Lenz has been actively supporting the international human rights organization largely through social media outlets. On June 12, 2011, she revealed details of an online boutique called Lark, selling apparel with original designs by Lenz. All proceeds benefit Love146, To Write Love On Her Arms, as well as Reading is Fundamental.