Bethany Joy Lenz has a lot on her plate, from starring in Hallmark’s new series “Hope Valley: 1874” to preparing for the fall release of her first fiction book, not to mention being a single mom (her teen daughter even has a role in “1874”).
But the multi-hyphenate is already looking ahead to what comes next, revealing in a new interview that she’s plotting out her next three years with great intention — and even hinting at a continuation of her new series.
Bethany Joy Lenz Has Her Sights Set on Broadway
GettyLenz first skyrocketed to fame on the teen drama “One Tree Hill,” but has since revealed in her candid 2024 memoir, “Dinner For Vampires,” that she was also unknowingly part of a cult at that time, caught in its web of lies for a decade. It took a long time, even after escaping the cult, for Lenz to get back on her feet and trust herself and others.
“Being in a cult really stole the next 10 years of my ambition,” she told Gio Journal in an interview released on April 17, 2026. “When I left ‘One Tree Hill’ I was exhausted and surviving as a single mom while trying to rebuild my life. There were a lot of detours.”
Nowadays, Lenz loves to go with the flow and see where life takes her, from acting to writing to singing and songwriting. But she also has a practical side, so she has a loose career plan for the next several years.
“I would love to get back to theater,” Lenz told Gio Journal. “People who haven’t read the memoir may not know this, but as a musical theater kid I trained heavily in that world, and I was offered Belle in ’Beauty and the Beast’ on Broadway.”
“I turned it down because…I was in a cult. Long story — read the book,” she laughed. “Performing in the West End or on Broadway is a dream that hasn’t gone away.”
Bethany Joy Lenz Hints That ‘Hope Valley: 1874’ Will Continue
HallmarkMusing about a future in the theater, Lenz also seemed to tip her hand about the future of “Hope Valley: 1874,” in which she stars as single mom Rebecca Clarke during the Gold Rush era.
The “A Biltmore Christmas” star told Gio Journal, “Now that I know my schedule for the next few years with the show, I’m hoping to get back onstage, maybe in 2027 or 2028. I’ve started brushing back up on my dancing and singing, getting myself back in shape for it.”
Lenz also noted that she’s open to whatever else comes along, telling the outlet, “And I’ll keep writing, keep making music, and whatever else is set before me.”
The eight-episode first season of “Hope Valley: 1874” premiered on Hallmark+ in March. Lenz’s first work of fiction, “The Betrayal of Cora Wexford,” will be published by Simon & Schuster this fall.
