Sophia Anna Bush was born on July 8, 1982, in Pasadena, California. She is an only child. Her father, Charles William Bush, is a renowned advertising and celebrity photographer, and her mother, Maureen Bush, runs a photography studio.

Young Bush was brought up in Pasadena; she made her acting debut in a school theater production while attending Westridge School for Girls, a small private school in her hometown. She was crowned the Queen of the Tournament of Roses at Pasadena Rose Parade in 2000; that same year she graduated from HS. In 2002 Sophia Bush made her screen debut as Sally, a college student, in the comedy Van the Man opposite Ryan Reynolds. She attended University of Southern California for three years and took Journalism major and Theatre minor, albeit she did not graduate, taking her leave of absence after getting the part as Brooke Davis, a flirtatious cheerleader on the WB TV series One Tree Hill (2003). She was also cast to play opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger and Nick Stahl in Terminator 3 but, after she began principal photography on the film, the director deemed her too young for the role and she was soon replaced by actress Clare Danes.

However, Bush got her big break when 'One Tree Hill' developed a loyal following and became her steady gig over four seasons. It was while working on the series that Bush began dating her on-screen love interest, actor Chad Michael Murray. They wed in a seaside ceremony at the historic Casa del Mar Hotel in Santa Monica, California, in April 2005, but split after five months, in September 2005. She suffered from the traumatic experience and emotional pain of separation, while continuing her work on the series, now having a "professional relationship" with Murray and his new fiancée Kenzie Dalton. In February 2006, Bush filed petition to annul her brief marriage on the grounds of fraud; finally, she and Murray got divorced in December 2006. Meanwhile, she continued to land big screen roles, such as October Bantum in Stay Alive, a horror film by writer/director William Brent Bell, and as Beth in John Tucker Must Die, a comedy by director Betty Thomas. Bush is co-starring as Grace Andrews, who is terrorized by a killer played by Sean Bean, in the remake of The Hitcher.

Outside of her acting profession, Bush has been working as an Assignment Editor for Annenberg TV News in her spare time. Her other talents include horseback riding, boxing, and photography. She enjoys reading and spending time with her friends and is currently residing in Wilmington, North Carolina, where the 'One Tree Hill' show is filmed.
Works for Annenberg TV News, a student news organization, in her spare time, as an Assignment Editor. Was the Tournament of Roses Parade Queen in 2000. Was cast as Kate Brewster in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines and even worked on-set for several days, but was replaced with Claire Danes when director Jonathan Mostow deemed her "too young" to play the role. She attended an all-girls high school in Pasadena, California called Westridge and graduated in the class of 2000. She is an alumna of the sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma at the University of Southern California. She attended USC for three years before getting the role of "Brooke Davis" on One Tree Hill. Her dad, Charles William Bush, is a celebrity photographer and her mom, Maureen Bush, is a photography studio manager. Her favorite TV show is Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. 26 September 2005: Announced she has separated from her husband Chad Michael Murray. Special Skills: Photography, horseback riding, boxing. Sophia was #3 on Femme Fatales The 50 Sexiest Women of 2004. Named #15 on Much Music's 20 Hottest Women of 2004. Wore a Vera Wang Gown in her April 2005 wedding to Chad Michael Murray. Is an only child. Named #90 in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women of 2007. Ranked #24 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2007 list. Is good friends with Bevin Prince. Is good friends with James Lafferty. She and Milo Ventimiglia are very close friends. They both are members of charity for children.