“I Went Hot-Girl-Meets-Punk-Rock,” – Sophia Bush Recalls ‘One Tree Hill’ Executives Rejecting Her Audition Look

Published 10/15/2026, 9:34 PM CDT

ONE TREE HILL, Chad Michael Murray, Sophia Bush, The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows , (Season 2, epis. 214), 2003-, photo: Fred Norris Warner Bros. Courtesy: Everett Collection Warner Bros Courtesy Everett Collection !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT! PUBLICATIONXNOTxINxCANxCHNxFRAxITAxJPNxNORxPOLxRUSxESPxUKxUSA Copyright: xWarnerxBros CourtesyxEverettxCollectionx TCDONTR EC039

Sophia Bush reveals she had a tough time auditioning for One Tree Hill, as executives kept rejecting her outfit choices for the role. Although the actress initially believed she was not a good fit for Brooke Davis, she embraced the role, and it became one of the beloved characters in the show. She has opened up about several such experiences of her career in her memoir, And I Will Tell You Mine: Notes From a Life in Progress.

One such story is how the actress struggled to find the right outfit while auditioning for her hit show, One Tree Hill.

Sophia Bush reveals struggle with outfit for One Tree Hill audition

Ahead of the book’s release, an excerpt from Sophia Bush’s memoir, And I Will Tell You Mine: Notes From a Life in Progress, was shared by Variety. The actress recalled that while the executives were impressed with her audition, they initially sent feedback through her agent that she was not s*** enough to play Brooke. This led her to try a completely new look for her next audition, only to receive a similar response.

“For the second audition, I went hot-girl-meets-punk-rock—a military miniskirt, stilettos with sharp gold heels, a dark, low-cut tank top, and smudgy eyeliner. The response? “This is too much. We want high school s***, not college s***,” she wrote in her memoir. 

February 1, 2025, New York, Ny, United States: Ashlyn Harris and Sophia Bush attend the 2025 HRC Greater NY Dinner at the Marriott Marquis in New York. Dinara Khairova Zuma Press February 1, 2025. New York United States - ZUMAp281 20250201_zea_p281_035 Copyright: xPhotoxImagexPressx

As per the book excerpt shared by Variety, the actress further explained that she was not an expert at picking outfits for a character. She further added that shows usually have a costume department to help select the right outfits based on the character. The actress opened up about how the entire process caused her anxiety. But to her relief, Bush was able to get help from a woman in the costume department, who helped her pick an outfit, allowing fans to see her as Brooke Davis on the show.

‘The Diplomat’ Season 4 Ending Explained: Why Kate Walked Away and What’s Next for Grace Penn?

Now, the origin of Brooke Davis’ character is also quite interesting.

What inspired the creation of Brooke Davis in One Tree Hill

The show One Tree Hill follows the characters Peyton Sawyer, Lucas Scott, Nathan Scott, and Haley James. However, as many know, these characters had tough lives and past tragedies that concerned the show's executives. And that reportedly led to the birth of a new character, Brooke Davis, whose joyful personality brought a much-needed contrast, as Sophia Bush shared in her memoir, And I Will Tell You Mine: Notes From a Life in Progress.

“A fiery addition who could offer comic relief and stir the pot. A little bit of sass, a little bit of joy!” she wrote. “Thus, Brooke Davis was born.”

February 1, 2025, New York, Ny, United States: Ashlyn Harris and Sophia Bush attend the 2025 HRC Greater NY Dinner at the Marriott Marquis in New York. Dinara Khairova Zuma Press February 1, 2025. New York United States - ZUMAp281 20250201_zea_p281_035 Copyright: xPhotoxImagexPressx

Bush also shared in her book that she did not think she would be a good fit for the role, but after her pilot show for ABC did not get picked up, she decided to explore her opportunities in One Tree Hill. She secured the role and went on to appear on the show for nearly nine seasons, even expecting to appear in the sequel. And that seemingly worked out for the actress, as she later went on to star in Chicago P.D., Good Sam, and more to build her career.

Netflix Greenlights New Polish Period Drama Series ‘Nights and Days’ as Follow-Up to ‘The Doll’

What do you think about Sophia Bush's outfits in One Tree Hill. Let us know in the comments.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Pritha Debroy

1364 articles

Pritha Debroy is an Entertainment writer at NetflixJunkie who can seamlessly switch between breaking down an NBA play and obsessing over the latest K-drama twist. She has written over 3,400 NBA and NFL articles, but her true joy lies in diving into Netflix’s trendiest shows—unpacking themes, stories, and yes, the occasional celebrity chaos. When she is not writing, you’ll find her devouring thrillers (anything by Freida McFadden is an instant yes), revisiting comfort classics like 10 Things I Hate About You and 27 Dresses, or hunting for her next binge-worthy series.

Edited By: Itti Mahajan

EDITORS' PICK