A beauteous brunette best known as sexy head cheerleader-turned-clothing designer Brooke Davis on the CW teen soap, “One Tree Hill,” and for her role in the horror remake, “The Hitcher,” Sophia Bush is an answer to a longstanding question: “Do any Rose Parade queens ever actually become famous?” Sophia was born in the beautiful but smoggy Southern California clime of Rose City in 1982, and her early life looks to have been picture perfect for a Pasadena girl. She played varsity volleyball, attended a prestigious girl’s school, was crowned Queen of the Rose Parade, and then matriculated at the University of Southern California – just a freeway ride away from home. Not surprisingly, she didn’t have a hard time finding a spot in a sorority.
In interviews, Sophia seems quite down to earth and claims to be a studious, nose-to-the-grindstone type. And in a funny way, that might have something to do with her moving from drama classes to landing her first movie role in the lowbrow college comedy “Van Wilder,” as well as an episode of “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch,” and three episodes of FX’s “Nip/Tuck.” The coed’s career was heating up, and Sophia had a brush with the movie big-time when she was cast as the romantic lead opposite Nick Stahl in “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines,” but the young semi-unknown was replaced by Claire Danes when director Jonathan Mostow reportedly changed his mind and decided that Sophia was too young for the part.
Things improved, however, when, nearing graduation, Sophia landed the part of Brooke in “One Tree Hill.” Though she says she fretted, there was no way to combine a TV show and USC, so the sheepskin would have to wait. Since then, the show and her evolving character have kept her busy, but she has made the cross-over beyond TV land with parts in films like “John Tucker Must Die,” in which co-starred with her friend, Brittany Snow. Sophia also found her way into the tabloids with her very brief and tumultuous marriage to “One Tree Hill” co-star and love interest Chad Michael Murray. Things seem to have settled down some since, though young actresses always like her are guaranteed to generate some Internet gossip.
But Sophia really has been keeping her nose to the grindstone, and she has landed some important movie work during her “One Tree Hill” hiatuses, including a starring role in “The Hitcher.” While the horror remake was hated by critics and did mediocre business, at least it gave her the chance to do her own stunts and work with an actor the caliber of Sean Bean. In any case, we’re confident that someday soon Sophia will branch out beyond “One Tree Hill.”
Sophia on the Screen
While we like Sophia, and there’s no denying her gorgeosity, we’ve got to admit that she has yet to really knock our socks off, acting wise. It doesn’t help that a show like “One Tree Hill” just kind of lends itself to annoying acting. Still, there is her kissing scene with her pal Brittany Snow in “John Tucker Must Die.” She’s a hard worker; give her time. We have a feeling she’ll surprise us soon.
Sophia Says
On relationships:
“The hardest situation to stay happy in, I think, is when you’re trying to find love, and yourself at the same time. It just doesn’t seem to fit well.”
On dressing up:
“Fashion is in my blood. Growing up, I was always clacking around the house in my mother’s shoes.”
On her quirks:
“I’m a bit of a worrier, to an extreme. I’ll crack a joke, then worry if I’ve offended someone—even when they’re laughing.”