Joy Lenz Dishes on Joining 'Grey's Anatomy' and Why Her Arc Will 'Really Resonate' (Exclusive)
Joy Lenz is heading to Grey's Anatomy!
ET's Katie Krause spoke with the One Tree Hill alum at the Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries winter Television Critics Association red carpet at Tournament House in Pasadena, California, on Saturday, where she opened up about her mysterious new role.
"It's a great character. It's a really important story line," shared Lenz, who recently dropped the Bethany from her stage name. "I think it's something that will really resonate with a lot of people, [because] it's an issue that a lot of people don't talk about openly. So I think it will be really important."
"And I can't tell you more because I'll get fired!" she added, jokingly.
News first broke that Lenz would be joining Grey's in October, and the actress, whose first appearance on the show starts on Thursday, Jan. 18, couldn't be more excited.
"It was just such a thrilling opportunity that came my way," she gushed. "I mean, to get in that environment is incredible. They're all so supportive."
While Lenz is clearly looking forward to the future, she also opened up about her past and coming together with her former OTH co-stars and crew in speaking out about the alleged sexual misconduct they endured from showrunner Mark Schwahn. Schwahn, who was fired from The Royals in December, has yet to comment on the allegations.
"I feel like that's the best thing that could have ever happened to him," Lenz candidly told ET of Schwahn's termination. "People who make bad choices sometimes need to run into a really strong brick wall before you wake up and go, 'Is this the person I still want to continue to be?' So, I hope he has that reckoning with himself and maybe can turn things around."
As for how women can further the conversation of gender inequality in the workplace, Lenz offered up a few ideas.
"I think that's the question of the day, isn't it?" she said. "I think the Time's Up fund is a huge step in that direction. I'm thrilled about that, and I think a lot of it's also gonna be connecting through social media and having conversations with people who believe things, see things differently than you."
"Listen, listen, listen to someone whose opinions drive you crazy, and then be willing to have a conversation with them about it," she added.
See more from ET's interview with Lenz in the video below.
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