|
Moderator Support Team
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 595,730
|
April 2nd, 1981, that's a day a star was born. And it may sound cliche, but it's true. Bethany Joy Lenz is a star in every single way possible. She acts, she performs, she sings, she dances, and can do pretty much anything else you throw in her way. She may have no desire to be a star, but that doesn't mean she isn't one. She may not be a star in the way popular culture defines it; a celebrity who plays a principal role in TV or film and is tracked by the paparazzi every where they turn. No, Joy isn't that kind of star. She's the one who excels is all she does, who gives it her all, who never gives up. When she's performing, all eyes turn to her. She's a star in her own, humble, little way.
Prior to her first film role at age 11, Joy participated in some theater productions such as To Kill a Mockingbird where she played the role of Scout, and The Wizard of Oz. In 1992 she was in her first film role as the role of Shelly Barnes in Psalty the Singing Songbook's movie Psalty's Salvation Celebration, a religious Children's movie about how a girl (Shelly) struggles to share her faith. From there she went onto more roles, such as an extra in the 1996 movie I Love You, I Love You Not, and Linda Halleck in the Stephen King thriller movie Thinner. In 2000, Joie was cast in the Mary and Rhoda movie as Rose Cronin, Mary's daughter. It was here that Joy got to work with the legendary Mary Tyler Moore.
Joy got her big break as an actress when she was cast as Teen Reva Clone on the long time soap opera, Guiding Light. While this storyline only lasted a few episodes, Joy was asked back to Guiding Light later that year to take on a bigger and more permanent role as Michelle Bauer. On Guiding Light she had the opportunity to work with Paul Anthony Stewart, who Joy said taught and guided her in her growth as an actress. Working on Guiding Light also introduced her to people that soon became her close friends like Tammy Blanchard, Abigail Spencer, and Jonathan Jackson. During Guiding Light, Joy and a few other soap stars (including Abigail Spencer) appeared in the off-Broadway musical Foxy Ladies Love/Boogie 70s Explosion.. After two years of playing Michelle Bauer, Joie thought it was time to move on and see what else was in store for her.
After Guiding Light, Joy did some guest spots on various shows such as Off Centre, Charmed, Felicity, The Guardian, and Maybe It's Me. For her next film debut, Joy was cast as Marni Potts, sidekick to cheerleading captain Tina (Bree Turner) in the movie sequel, Bring It On Again. Here Joy got to show her fiercer side and her dancing skills as she had to learn difficult cheer and dance moves for her role in the movie. Also in 2002 Joy released her first CD titled Preincarnate that featured eight original tracks all written by Joie herself.
In 2003 Joy landed the role that would put her on the map and skyrocket her career. She was cast as Haley James Scott in the WB/CW drama One Tree Hill. Currently on it's 7th season, One Tree Hill has taken Haley on every twist and turn you could possibly imagine with her being a wife, mother, and musical sensation all before graduating high school. In the season 5 the show took a big leap and skipped ahead four years, skimming over the character's college journeys. Skipping ahead let us see a more mature and more motherly side of Haley. Now in season 7, with 2 of the leading characters gone, Haley has taken on a bigger, made new friendships, and is really diving into her music career.
In 2005, to coincide with Haley's One Tree Hill storyline, Joy, Tyler Hilton, & The Wreckers went on a 25 city musical tour around the Unites States. It was on the tour that we heard some of our favorite Joy songs for the first time, such as John & Junior, Crazy Girls, Songs In My Pockets, Sunday Train, Oh God/Foolish Heart, and If You're Missing (Come On Home). She also sang When The Stars Go Blue with Tyler Hilton, which their characters sang on the show. Joy also sang some covers such Movin' Out and Queen of Wishful Thinking. During the tour was also when Joy released her second CD, Come On Home, which featured 4 tracks she sang on the one tree hill tour, as well as another original song, Leaving Town Alive.
On December 31st, 2005, Joy got married to Michael Galeotti, the keyboardist in the ban Enation. Michael and Joy have been friends for a long time. Michael is also friends with Joy's old time soap friend, Jonathan Jackson, who is the lead singer in Enation. Joy and Michael got married in a Barn on an apple orchard in Oregon. Michael and Joy's wedding was featured in In Style Magazine.
In 2006 Joy signed with the record label Epic Records and was supposed to produce her third CD, The Starter Kit. Music producer and friend, Ron Aniello was helping her with this album. The deal ended up falling through, but we did get to hear some of the songs that were going to be on the album such as Devil Archerist, Quicksand, Never Gonna Be (C'mon, C'mon), Sunday Storm, Shiver, and Then Slowly Grows (Come to Me). It was under Epic Records that Joy also recorded her first podcast during which she answered fan questions and told us a little bit about her life. In 2007, Joy was asked to write 3 original songs for the independent movie, Ten Inch Hero. Joy had actually tried out for one of the roles but the producers and director thought she was "too beautiful" for the part. They still wanted her involved in the movie some how, so Joy wrote and recorded the songs Get Your Love, The Long Way, and Something Familiar. The movie came out on DVD 2 years later.
After the record deal with Epic fell through, we didn't hear much more from Joy's music until 2008 when she and friend Amber Sweeney formed their current band Everly. Everly's first EP Mission Bell was released in 2008 that included three original songs, Home Is Me. You Are Mine., Stars, and Little Children. Their song The Sweetest Thing was released on the hard copy of their Mission Bell EP. During season 6 of One Tree Hill, Everly wrote and recorded 3 songs (Karen's Cafe, Scheming Star, and Mrs. Scott to be used in Chad Michael Murray's 40 themed episode. The 4th song that was released but not used in the episode was Hotel Cafe, which is the original song and lyrics to the one changed for the episode, Karen's Cafe. In October 2008, Everly performed some of their songs from Mission Bell at a USO show. Their song Home Is Me. You Are Mine. was actually written for the troops. In April 2009, Everly attended Tin Pan South in Nashville Tennessee, which is a convention for singers/songwriters. There they performed 2 new songs, The Girl In the Moon and The Right Time.In One Tree Hill's season 7 premiere, Everly re-wrote and re-recorded Joy's song Quicksand to be used in the episode. That song was originally supposed to be on Joy's Epic Album The Starter Kit. Everly's songs from Mission Bell and the ones released as singles, quickly rose to the iTunes and CD Baby charts. Everly is planning to record a CD soon and their "for reals" website should be up and running shortly. Until then, you can check their current website or follow Everly on Facebook and Twitter.
Also in 2009, Joy added another thing to her resume, she became a restaurant owner! She and her husband Michael opened up a restaurant in their hometown of Battle Ground, Washington. Galeotti's instantly became a huge hit in the North West area with their delicious entree's and great wine. The Grand Opening of Galeotti's was a huge success! Both Enation and Everly performed to customers and fans alike. It was here that Everly performed Quicksand for the first time, as well as their old songs the Sweetest Thing, The Girl In the Moon, and The Right Time. Everly also did covers of songs such as Hold On, Billie Jean, and I won't Back Down.
In August 2009, Joy released that she and long time friend and music producer, Ron Aniello released they were planning on making a musical production of the Nicholas Spark's novel (and hit movie) The Notebook. Joy and Ron have already written the script and all the songs, now they are looking to make their dream a reality. Music for The Notebook ranges from American Wartime Standard and Swing to Bluegrass and Gospel. Joy and Ron held auditions for the musical in Wilmington, NC. This work-in-progress will be presented in Wilmington during October 2009 and is designed to be used as a creative critique for the everyone behind The Notebook before it moves into a traditional workshop setting at an Equity level. Joy and Ron hope that one day The Notebook will make it to Broadway.
Over the years Joy has proven her talents and shined in everything's she done. She's a rare gem, a humble but amazing person. She has dreams and accomplishments and she's down to earth. Her abilities in singing and acting are outstanding. She'll leave her mark. If Joy hasn't impacted the world already, then she will. A woman with this much talent is a star.
♪i c o n s♪
   
+ more icons here
♪a r t s♪
  
+ more arts here
Only one part of her talent is acting (between) her singing and love of musical theatre. She's going to be a huge star.
Paul Johansson
Joie. Joie. I love her, man. She’s my best friend down here. But she lives on Joypiter.
Hilarie Burton
Her name is Joie, we call her Joybutter. She’s from somewhere very far away and we thank God every day that they sent her here because she is so unique and so just from any person I’ve ever met. You know, at first we were all like, Joie, she’s different. And then we realized, Oh my God, this girl’s like the coolest. She can do anything. She’s got wild ideas, and she’s just a fun, fun person to hang out with. So when we were all divvying up things to do for the game, you know, Chad and James were playing, Sophia was a team mom, I was a team mom, and a cheerleader. I’m like what can Joie do? Duh, sing.
Hilarie Burton
Joie’s got the most beautiful voice I’ve ever heard. You know, she’s gotta record an ablum, she’s gotta be on Broadway. Broadway’s like her dream. And so it’s only a matter of time before that happens. Cause I just feel that she’s one of those people who’s way too good to be down here with us. And so Joie said, ‘Fine, I’ll sing,’ and I was trying to find somebody to play a guitar on set last week and nobody was really biting, and so Joie disappeared and apparently Joie went off and taught herself how to play her own rendition of the national anthem onguitar. So, she’s running late and I’m calling her, I’m like, ‘Joie, dude they’re holding the game, where are you?’ She’s like, ‘I’m five minutes away. I’ll be there.’ Next thing you know, ‘Alright, give it up for Bethany Joy Lenz.’ Joy had run from her car, she had just left it in the parking lot, ran with her guitar, propped herself up on the side of a deck. Like she didn’t even get a real chair or a stool. Her leg was all cropped up underneath her. And sets the notebook down and just plays. In the process, drops her pick, picks it up without missing a beat and sings the most beautiful version of the national anthem that I’ve ever heard in my entire life.
Hilarie Burton
Joy sings a lot. Joy's constantly... always always using her voice. She sings between takes and stuff. I always laugh because she's always singing some showtune that I have no idea what it is or where it's from or when it's from or she just made it up. But yeah she does have an incredible voice and she's a very talented girl. And when she sang the national anthem I'll be honest, I never hear a national anthem like that, I think that's probably my favorite national anthem I've ever heard because I wanted to hear more after it was over. It was really great.
James Lafferty
Joy's someone who challenges herself to be electric on every take. Many times she will make choices that elevate the material. And that's when you really win.
Mark Schwahn
She's quiet, soulful. That's a good word for her. She's one of those people who are just really talented.
David Hartley, One Tree Hill producer
The audience took to Joie in the snap of a finger. I've never seen anything like that before.
Mary Alice Dwyer-Dobbin, executive in charge of Procter & Gamble productions
My first impression of Joie was, 'Damn, she's 17.'
Paul Anthony Stewart
Joie Lenz... wasn't she great... I got her a gold bracelet at the end of the shoot that had "Reva 17" inscribed on it. What a talent... We shot 7 shows in 5 days that first week... almost 200 solid pages of material... it could have been a horrific experience... It was great fun...
Robert Newman, Guiding Light
[Joy is] an amazing person. She's the type of girl who can do anything! She's been fortunate to be in the public limelight on a number of occasions, but we've never seen it go to her head. She's mature well beyond her actual years. She's level-headed and sensible, yet full of that crazy artist-passion which makes her so fun!
a family friend
I wasn't really a hardcore Danny and Michelle fan, but I did really like Joie Lenz. She easily clicked and held her own with Robert Newman, Michael O'Leary, Hunt Block, Laura Wright, and other actors. Paul Anthony Stewart is a good actor and Joie Lenz clicked with him too. I was a fan of hers from the clone. She was the perfect adult Michelle. She gave Michelle a depth that was lacking since Rachel Miner left the role. There was such a genuine quality to her. She didn't play Michelle as a victimized martyr either. She played Michelle as a true heroine who was sweet, sexy, passionate, and strong. Unlike the current Michelle, her Michelle had a backbone. She was determined without being obstinate. She was warm without being tepid. She was sweet without being saccharine. She was devoted and loyal without seeming like a stepford wife with a glazed look in her eye. She didn't have to try to be sexy. She just was.
a Guiding Light viewer
I couldn't help but notice that the 'it' she brought to the screen, and in her photographs, transferred to her being right in front of me. Some actors just look different, some look the same, some blend in, but she stood out every single time. What she brought to the screen came across very easily.
a fan on meeting Joie
It isn't just one scene or one moment that captured our hearts, it's the character that was created and nurtured over time. It's a scene here, a moment there, that look in her eye, the smile on her lips, it's all of them coming together, it's the little things that I will miss and remember most. [...] I will remember all the faces of Michelle: daughter, sister, friend, wife and mother. So instead of rushing home to pull out my tape and watch my scene, I'll just close my eyes, cue the song in my heart and let my mind take me back and just remember...
Joie Luck Club tribute on Joy's last day on Guiding Light
Joie Lenz, you are the master. Years from now film scholars will look upon your role of Marni in Bring It On Again and see a star born. Playing the # 2 Evil Girl henchwoman role, you shine in this dopey cheerleader sequel to Bring it On.
Kevin Hanna, Entertainment-Today on Joy's role in Bring It On Again
I'm going to give the microphone to the best actress on One Tree Hill who is an incredible singer. Who is it? That's right! Bethany Joy Lenz!
Paul Johansson introducing Joy on the OTH tour
Joy and I jam quite a bit. Maybe I'll do some things on her album and maybe she'll do some on my next one. It all depends on where we are. She really is talented, though. Lots of people ask me if that's really her singing. She doesn't only sing in an honest, unpretentious voice, she plays piano wonderfully (I keep asking her to show me how to play a couple of her songs 'cause I can't figure them out), and can song write so well. I've got her demos on my iPod. She just says things differently in her songs...I love 'em.
Tyler Hilton on Joy's music
I still liked the idea of doing a very homemade feeling video where Joy could be Joy. Something that was real, like her music, and not overly glossy or lacking the human element and soul that you see missing in many music videos today. Joy's music is heartfelt and I wanted the video to mirror that. Also she has the kind of spirit and glow that you don't need hundreds of thousands of dollars to manufacture, nor could you manufacture for any amount of money. I loved the idea of stripping away all the elements and having Joy just do her thing.
Alex Merkin on the making of Joy's SIMP video
So at the end of our meeting with Bethany Joy, (which went great and David and I have been fans of hers ever since), I asked about her music and did she have a demo CD or anything. She said she did in her car but needed to go burn me a copy... so she runs out and burns a copy on her laptop, comes back in like a half-hour and hands me this CD-R with song titles written on a piece of paper. I went home and listened to it, and don't want to be melodramatic but I was blown away. And that happens very rarely. Amazing vocals, wonderful vocal style, very real and natural, great phrasing, and 100% natural real sound, none of that over-processed, auto-tuned to death stuff we're all used to hearing now. Two songs in particular grabbed me and would not let go, "Blue Sky," and "Never Gonna Be." (I have probably listened to Blue Sky now 50-100 times; it's a cover of a Patty Griffin song.) So I gave the CD to David and told him this is no ordinary singer, she's amazingly good. He listened and felt the same way I did.
Mark Witsken, producer of Ten Inch Hero on Joy's music.
When I first joined the show, the first day before I started shooting, I met Rob and I met Joy. Rob and I instantly clicked because we’re both 5 years old on the inside and completely immature and joke around all the time. It’s funny. Joy and I, I feel like we’re already sisters. She just had her baby, Maria, and I’m going to cry when I talk about it, but I was one of the four people who was in the delivery room. I got to see her and help her deliver her baby. It was one of the most amazing miracles I’ve ever experienced. And it will forever bond her and I even further. So, if anybody asks if we’re friends, it’s more that she’s my sister. She’s amazing and she’s talented and she’s what I call a “Renaissance woman.” Now she has a little girl, she writes, she wrote a whole play, came up with the music for it….she’s so incredibly talented and I love being around her because it inspires me to want to do more, be more and have more goals because she’s so incredible.
Shantel VanSanten
 | 200th thread » | 300th thread » | 400th thread »
previous thread »
__________________
are you sleepy? wanna sleep?
is that what you want?
Steph/credit: My Kind Of Crazy
|
Duve Love Naley DJo Pandie Semma Mccollins Dair 
