Bethany Joy Lenz was born in Hollywood Florida, and now resides in North Carolina where her current project - the WB hit One Tree Hill - is filmed. Lenz plays "Haley James Scott", wife to James Lafferty's "Nathan", and childhood mate of Chad Michael Murray's "Lucas".

Prior to One Tree Hill, 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", etc...

After moving from Texas to New York, Bethany portrayed "Michelle Bauer Santos" on CBS's Guiding Light. When her two year contract ended there, she left New York and moved to Los Angeles and guest starred on shows like Charmed, Felicity and The Guardian. 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.

She is also an accomplished singer 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, Ewan McGregor). Bethany has also recently completed a full-length album for Epic Records (Sony BMG), which is expected to be released in early 2006.
She has a springer spaniel named Scout, and two cats named Noah and Allie. Released the limited CD "Preincarnate" featuring eight original tracks (2002) The unusual spelling of her name was adopted in her early teens. Her hobbies are Photography, painting, writing, horseback riding, knitting, and making stationery. Is also a talented musician and singer with a four-octave range. Goes by her middle name "Joy." She has a 13 year old sister, who is not allowed to watch her on the WB's One Tree Hill. Impressed producers so much during her three week stint as "Teenage Reva Clone" on Guiding Light, she was re-hired later that year in the contract role of "Michelle Bauer" on the daytime serial. Her favorite musicians are: Sheryl Crow, U2, Coldplay, "and anything that's not a sellout". Her favorite TV shows are: Joan of Arcadia, Alias, I Love Lucy, Lost, Arrested Development and Friends. Her prized possession is Journals. She is engaged to Michael Galeotti of the band Enation November 2005: Announced she will be marrying Michael Galeotti by the end of the year. She will be taking his surname and using "Bethany Galeotti" professionally, which should be reflected in the One Tree Hill opening credits by the new year. Since leaving Guiding Light in 2000, she has kept in touch with co-stars Tammy Blanchard (Drew) and Paul Anthony Stewart (Danny). Performed with Tyler Hilton, 'Gavin Degraw' and The Wreckers (Michelle Branch and Jessica Harp) on the One Tree Hill Tour. Best friends with Brittany Snow, Sophia Bush, Hilarie Burton and Abigail Spencer.