Lili Reinhart

Lili Pauline Reinhart (born September 13, 1996)[1] is an American actress. She is known for portraying Betty Cooper on The CW teen drama series Riverdale (2017–2023) and Annabelle in Lorene Scafaria's black comedy crime drama film Hustlers (2019). In 2020, she portrayed Grace Town in Chemical Hearts, a film adaptation of the novel Our Chemical Hearts by Krystal Sutherland.

Lili Reinhart
Reinhart in 2019
Born
Lili Pauline Reinhart

(1996-09-13) September 13, 1996 (age 27)
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active2010–present

Early life

Reinhart was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and raised in the nearby town of Bay Village.[1][2] She is of German and French descent and has stated her surname is of German origin.[3][4] She developed a love for singing, acting, and dancing at the age of 10, and asked her mom to drive her to New York City for auditions.[5] Reinhart moved to Los Angeles when she was 18 years old to pursue acting and almost gave up after five months.[5]

Career

Reinhart starred in the television pilot for Scientastic! (2010) and guest starred on the television series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2011).[6] She also starred in the films Lilith (2011), Not Waving But Drowning (2012), The Kings of Summer (2013), Gibsonburg (2013), Forever's End (2013), Miss Stevens (2016), and The Good Neighbor (2016).[7][8]

On February 9, 2016, Reinhart was cast as Betty Cooper in The CW's teen drama television series Riverdale, based on the characters of Archie Comics.[9] Series creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa originally sought out Kiernan Shipka for the role after seeing her work in Mad Men.[10] Reinhart auditioned twice for the role, first sending in an audition tape from her North Carolina home before appearing in person a month later.[11] The series premiered on January 26, 2017, and in February 2021, it was renewed for a sixth season.[12] Previously, Reinhart worked on the Fox sitcom Surviving Jack.[13]

Reinhart at the 2017 WonderCon

In 2017, Reinhart was cast in Galveston, based on Nic Pizzolatto's 2010 novel of the same name. In the film, directed by Mélanie Laurent, Reinhart plays Tiffany, who was placed for adoption as a child.[14] The film premiered at South by Southwest on March 10, 2018,[15] and received a limited theatrical release through RLJE Films on October 19, 2018.[16] Galveston received mixed critical reviews[17] and grossed only $190,320 at the box office.[18]

Reinhart joined the cast of Lorene Scafaria's Hustlers in March 2019.[19] Reinhart played Annabelle, "the baby of the group," a former stripper who joins Ramona and her crew in drugging and robbing their Wall Street clientele.[20] Reinhart described her character's aesthetic as "slutty Hannah Montana."[21] A running gag shows Annabelle vomiting in times of stress, and the fake vomit was made of animal crackers and Sprite.[22] Hustlers premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2019,[23] and was theatrically released in the United States the next week.[24] The film received positive critical reviews[25] and grossed $157.6 million worldwide.[26] The same year, Reinhart made a cameo appearance during the mid-credits scene of Elizabeth Banks' Charlie's Angels (2019).[27]

In June 2019, it was announced that Reinhart would star as the female lead of Amazon Studios' romantic drama film Chemical Hearts, written and directed by Richard Tanne and based on the 2016 Krystal Sutherland novel Our Chemical Hearts.[28] Reinhart played Grace Town, a physically disabled high school senior who falls in love with school newspaper writer Henry Page.[29] In addition to starring, Chemical Hearts was Reinhart's first executive producer credit.[28][30] The film was released on August 21, 2020, on Amazon Prime Video and received mixed reviews.

In May 2020, Reinhart voiced Bella-Ella, "a ... snooty rich [girl]" in the Simpsons episode "The Hateful Eight-Year-Olds".[31]

In March 2021, it was announced that Reinhart would star in Wanuri Kahiu's Look Both Ways as Natalie, a college student whose life diverges into two parallel realities on the eve of her college graduation. In one reality, she becomes pregnant and must navigate motherhood as a young adult; in the other, she moves to LA to pursue her career. In addition to starring in the film, Look Both Ways will be Reinhart's second executive producer credit.[32]

In June 2021, Reinhart's production company, Small Victory Productions, signed a deal with Amazon Studios.[33] Small Victory Productions will develop original and adapted content for film and television with a focus on modern, young adult content that celebrates diversity and inclusivity, as well as supporting new voices.[33][34]

Other ventures

In October 2019, Reinhart was announced as an ambassador for American Express for the relaunch of its AmexGreen Card.[35][36] That same month, Reinhart became a spokesperson and ambassador for CoverGirl.[37][38]

In September 2020, Reinhart released a book of poetry titled Swimming Lessons: Poems.[39][40] The book explores themes such as "young love, anxiety, depression, fame, and heartbreak".[41] For the week of October 18, 2020, Swimming Lessons: Poems debuted at No. 2 on The New York Times Best Seller list for paperback trade fiction.[42]

Personal life

Reinhart is a Christian. She practices meditation and is training to be a reiki healer.[43][44] Reinhart was diagnosed with depression at age 14.[45] She has also opened up about her experiences with anxiety and body dysmorphia.[46]

She came out as bisexual in June 2020.[47] She was diagnosed with alopecia in January 2024.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2011LilithLilith Wilson[6]
2012Not Waving But DrowningAmy[7]
2013The Kings of SummerVicki[7]
GibsonburgKathy Colaner[48][49]
Forever's EndLily White[7][50]
2016Miss StevensMargot Jensen[7][51]
The Good NeighborAshley[7][52]
2018GalvestonTiffany[7][14]
2019HustlersAnnabelle[19][53]
Charlie's AngelsAngel RecruitCameo[27]
2020Chemical HeartsGrace TownAlso executive producer[28][30]
2022Jennifer Lopez: HalftimeHerselfDocumentary film; interview clip[54][55]
Look Both WaysNatalieAlso executive producer[32][56][57]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2010Scientastic!LeahEpisode: "Sticks and Stones"[6]
2011Law & Order: Special Victims UnitCourtney LaneEpisode: "Lost Traveller"[6]
2014Surviving JackHeather Blumeyer6 episodes[13]
2015CockedMarguerite PaxsonTelevision film[13]
2017–2023RiverdaleElizabeth "Betty" CooperMain role[9]
2020One World: Together at HomeHerselfTelevision special[58]
The SimpsonsBella-Ella (voice)Episode: "The Hateful Eight-Year-Olds"[59]
TBAHal & HarperTBAMain role[60]

Podcast

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2022On Purpose with Jay ShettyHerselfEpisode: "Lili Reinhart ON: Living With Anxiety & Giving Yourself Permission to Feel All of Your Emotions"[61][62]

Discography

List of Lili Reinhart soundtrack appearances
TitleYearAlbum
"Jigsaw"
(with Charity Farrell)
2013Forever's End[63]
"In"
(with KJ Apa, Camila Mendes, Madelaine Petsch, Vanessa Morgan, Shannon Purser, Casey Cott, Emilija Baranac, Cody Kearsley, Ashleigh Murray)
2018Riverdale: Special Episode – Carrie the Musical (Original Television Soundtrack)[64]
"Do Me a Favor"
(with KJ Apa, Camila Mendes, Jordan Calloway)
"The World According to Chris"
(with Camila Mendes, Vanessa Morgan, Shannon Purser)
"You Shine"
(with KJ Apa, Camila Mendes)
"A Night We'll Never Forget"
(with KJ Apa, Camila Mendes, Madelaine Petsch, Vanessa Morgan, Shannon Purser, Casey Cott, Emilija Baranac, Cody Kearsley, Ashleigh Murray, Mädchen Amick, Jordan Calloway)
"Mad World"
(with KJ Apa, Camila Mendes)
Riverdale: Season 2 (Original Television Soundtrack)[65]
"Beautiful"
(with Casey Cott, Madelaine Petsch, Camila Mendes, Ashleigh Murray, KJ Apa, Cole Sprouse, Charles Melton, Jordan Connor, Drew Ray Tanner, Zoé De Grand'Maison, Bernadette Beck)
2019Riverdale: Special Episode – Heathers the Musical (Original Television Soundtrack)[66]
"Candy Store"
(with Madelaine Petsch, Camila Mendes, Vanessa Morgan, Bernadette Beck)
"Big Fun"
(with Zoé De Grand'Maison, Casey Cott, Charles Melton, Madelaine Petsch, Vanessa Morgan, Bernadette Beck, KJ Apa, Camila Mendes, Ashleigh Murray, Jordan Connor, Drew Ray Tanner)
"Seventeen"
(with Cole Sprouse, Vanessa Morgan, Madelaine Petsch)
"Seventeen (Reprise)"
(with Madelaine Petsch, Camila Mendes, Ashleigh Murray, Vanessa Morgan, Cole Sprouse, KJ Apa, Jordan Connor, Casey Cott, Charles Melton, Zoé De Grand'Maison, Drew Ray Tanner)
"Dream Warriors"
(with KJ Apa, Ashleigh Murray, Camila Mendes)
Riverdale: Season 3 (Original Television Soundtrack)[67]
"Wicked Little Town"
(with Riverdale cast)
2020Riverdale: Special Episode – Hedwig and the Angry Inch the Musical (Original Television Soundtrack)[68]
"Random Number Generation"
(with KJ Apa, Camila Mendes, Madelaine Petsch, Casey Cott, Charles Melton, Vanessa Morgan, Drew Ray Tanner, Jordan Connor)
"Wig in a Box"
(with Camila Mendes, Madelaine Petsch, Casey Cott, Vanessa Morgan)
"Exquisite Corpse"
(with KJ Apa, Camila Mendes, Cole Sprouse)
"The Origin of Love"
(with KJ Apa, Camila Mendes, Cole Sprouse)
"Wicked Little Town (Reprise)"
(with KJ Apa)
"Midnight Radio"
(with Riverdale cast)
"Just Another Day"
(with Mädchen Amick, Jacquie Lee, Tyson Ritter)
2021Riverdale: Special Episode – Next to Normal the Musical (Original Television Soundtrack)[69]
"I Miss the Mountains"
(with Mädchen Amick)
"Everything Else"
(with Mädchen Amick, Jacquie Lee)
"It's Gonna Be Good"
(with Mädchen Amick, Jacquie Lee, Tyson Ritter)
"She's Not Here"
"I Am the One"
(with Jacquie Lee, Tyson Ritter)
"I've Been"
(with Casey Cott)
"Make Up Your Mind / Catch Me I'm Falling"
(with Camila Mendes, Vanessa Morgan, Casey Cott)
"A Promise"
"Maybe (Next to Normal)"
(with Mädchen Amick)
"Light"
(with KJ Apa, Camila Mendes, Mädchen Amick, Casey Cott, Vanessa Morgan, Madelaine Petsch, Drew Ray Tanner, Erinn Westbrook, Ryan Robbins, Kyra Leroux)
"Walking in Space"
(with Erinn Westbrook, Madelaine Petsch, Nathalie Boltt)
Riverdale: Season 5 (Original Television Soundtrack)[70]
"Nothin' But a Good Time"
(with Camila Mendes, Erinn Westbrook, Madelaine Petsch, Mädchen Amick)
"You Are What You Wear"
(with Vanessa Morgan, Erinn Westbrook, Camila Mendes, Madelaine Petsch, Caroline Day, Sophia Tatum)
2022Riverdale: Special Episode: American Psycho the Musical (Original Television Soundtrack) - EP[71]
"A Girl Before"
"The End of the World"
(with KJ Apa, Camila Mendes, Madelaine Petsch, Vanessa Morgan, Casey Cott, Drew Ray Tanner, Erinn Westbrook, Caroline Day)
Riverdale: Season 6 (Original Television Soundtrack)[72]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResultRef.
2017Teen Choice AwardsChoice Breakout TV StarRiverdaleWon[73]
Choice TV Ship (with Cole Sprouse)RiverdaleWon
2018Saturn AwardsBest Performance by a Younger Actor in a Television SeriesRiverdaleNominated[74]
Teen Choice AwardsChoice Drama TV ActressRiverdaleWon[75]
Choice Liplock (with Cole Sprouse)RiverdaleWon
Choice TV Ship (with Cole Sprouse)RiverdaleWon
Variety + H&M Conscious AwardConscious AwardWon[76]
2019People's Choice AwardsDrama TV Star of 2019RiverdaleNominated[77]
Female TV Star of 2019RiverdaleNominated
Teen Choice AwardsChoice Drama TV ActressRiverdaleWon[78]
Choice Ship (with Cole Sprouse)RiverdaleWon
2020People's Choice AwardsFemale TV Star of 2020RiverdaleNominated[79]
2021Critics' Choice Super AwardsBest Actress in a Superhero SeriesRiverdaleNominated[80]

Publications

  • Swimming Lessons: Poems (September 29, 2020)
  • September Love (November 3, 2020) (co-written with Lang Leav)

References