Teen TV dramas of the 2000s have gifted the Jewish community with a plethora of Jewish characters and actors. Seth Cohen from “The O.C.” (played by Adam Brody) is the archetype NJB, Wallace Shawn as Cyrus Rose was honestly the true star of “Gossip Girl” and the character of Jake Jagielski on “One Tree Hill” brought actor Bryan Greenberg into the spotlight. But did you know that Sophia Bush, aka Brooke Davis from “One Tree Hill,” is also Jewish?
Here are 18 things to know about her!
1. Sophia was born on July 8, 1982 in Pasadena, California to an interfaith family.
2. Her household was a mix of Judaism, Catholicism and Agnosticism and it has led her to be interested in learning about other religions.
Indeed. I grew up in a blended Catholic/Jewish/Agnostic family. The curiosity fostered at home led me to study Buddhism & Islam, & take multiple courses on theology. More information about the belief systems on earth made me more invested in humanity. I wish that for more folks.
— Sophia Bush (@SophiaBush) December 5, 2020
3. She graduated from Westridge School for Girls in 2000 and attended University of Southern California. She later dropped out of college to star in “One Tree Hill.”
4. She got her start in drama by getting involved with Westridge’s theater department.
5. At age 17, Sophia was chosen as the 2000 Rose Queen for the Tournament of Roses. “I wasn’t expecting it. It’s a real shock,” she told the L.A. Times at the time.
6. Her film debut was in 2002’s “National Lampoon’s Van Wilder” and she starred opposite Ryan Reynolds.
7. Sophia starred in “One Tree Hill” from 2003-2012 playing Brooke Davis. (She also directed a few episodes of the show!) Please enjoy Sophia doing a dramatic reading of some of Brooke’s lines from the show.
8. Sophia got engaged to “One Tree Hill” co-star Chad Michael Murray in 2004. They were married in May 2005, separated in September 2005 and were divorced in December 2006.
“It devastates me now that I have been reduced to a Hollywood statistic — another joke marriage. I never expected to be married more than once… because I knew what I was getting into and will always believe in love,” Sophia said later.
9. Sophia married businessman Grant Hughes in 2022. They divorced in 2023.
10. Sophia once met Rihanna while doing research for her “One Tree Hill” character and then GHOSTED her. Listen to her tell the story to Drew Barrymore:
11. She celebrated Hanukkah 2019 eating latkes at Russ & Daughters Cafe.
12. Sophia has used her platform to advocate for numerous causes including reproductive justice, LGBTQ+ rights and environmental justice. “I will be uncompromising on advocacy forever,” Sophia told People Magazine in 2021.
13. She’s a friend (and fan) of Jewish comedian Alex Edelman!
14. Sophia has a long list of credits since breaking into the entertainment industry in the early 2000s. Some of her most notable projects (beyond “One Tree Hill”) include “John Tucker Must Die,” “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago P.D.,” “Love, Victor” and “Good Sam.”
15. Since 2022, Sophia has co-hosted a podcast with her former “One Tree Hill” co-stars Hilarie Burton and Bethany Joy Lenz. The show “Drama Queens” is dedicated to discussing everything “One Tree Hill.”
16. Sophia also has her own solo podcast called “Work in Progress.” Her first guest was Gloria Steinem.
17. Sophia came out as queer in an essay for Glamour in 2024, and confirmed her relationship with former U.S. Women’s National Team soccer player Ashlyn Harris.
“I sort of hate the notion of having to come out in 2024. But I’m deeply aware that we are having this conversation in a year when we’re seeing the most aggressive attacks on the LGBTQIA+ community in modern history,” Sophia wrote. “There were more than 500 anti-LGBTQIA+ bills proposed in state legislatures in 2023, so for that reason I want to give the act of coming out the respect and honor it deserves.”
She added, “I am so lucky to be here, now. I have real joy. It took me 41 years to get here.”
18. She recently starred in “Junction,” a film written and directed by her “One Tree Hill” co-star Bryan Greenberg.
