Lili Reinhart says she will always carry pride in her role as Betty Cooper on Riverdale, the CW series that concluded its seventh and final season in 2023. In a recent interview with Evolve, the actress reflected on the character that defined much of her twenties and on how she is moving forward in her career.
“I know I’ll walk around and people will call me Betty probably until I die, which is fine,” Reinhart told the outlet. She added that playing Betty, the seemingly girl-next-door character with hidden depth, is something she views as “a badge of honor.” Reinhart described Riverdale as “beloved and crazy,” emphasizing she has “great pride in it.”
At the same time, Reinhart has been deliberate about redefining herself professionally. Instead of pursuing mainstream franchises, she has gravitated toward projects that she described as smaller, riskier, and more unsettling. Her latest film, American Sweatshop, directed by Uta Briesewitz, may be her boldest choice yet. The movie, which premiered at SXSW and will release on demand September 19, follows a content moderator who becomes obsessed with uncovering a possible crime after encountering disturbing footage online.
Reinhart said she was immediately drawn to the script when she received it in 2024 and quickly signed on after meeting with Briesewitz. She noted the unusual speed of the project’s turnaround compared to her past work.
The actress also spoke about being intentional in her post-Riverdale career, choosing roles that challenge her and working with women directors, especially first-time filmmakers. While acknowledging that fans may always associate her with Betty, Reinhart stressed that she is eager to explore characters who are more complex, flawed, and unconventional.
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