Lili Reinhart is an American actress who became widely known for playing Betty Cooper in the hit television series Riverdale. Her performance in the show turned her into a familiar face for millions of viewers and opened the door to many opportunities in movies, television, writing, and producing.

Since Riverdale ended, Reinhart has continued to build her career outside the character that made her famous. She has appeared in films such as Hustlers, Chemical Hearts, and Look Both Ways, while also taking on work behind the camera. In 2026, she is again receiving attention for her role as Olive Smith in The Love Hypothesis.

But there is more to Lili Reinhart than one television character. Her career began years before Riverdale, and her journey from a young performer in Ohio to a Hollywood actress has included both major successes and new creative challenges.

Who Is Lili Reinhart?

Lili Reinhart was born on September 13, 1996, in Cleveland, Ohio. Her full name is Lili Pauline Reinhart. She grew up in Ohio with her family and developed an interest in performing at a young age.

According to IMDb, Reinhart took dance classes for around ten years and performed in local musical productions before getting her first agency representation as a child. She and her mother also traveled from Ohio to New York for auditions.

That early interest eventually became a professional acting career. Before becoming internationally recognized, Reinhart appeared in smaller film and television projects. Those early roles gave her experience and helped her prepare for the opportunity that would eventually change her career.

Lili Reinhart and Her Early Acting Career

Lili Reinhart did not become famous overnight. Like many young actors, she spent years auditioning and looking for opportunities.

Her early credits included appearances in projects such as The Kings of Summer and other independent productions. These roles may not have attracted the same level of attention as her later work, but they were important steps in her development as an actress.

Reinhart’s early career also showed that she was interested in more than simply becoming a television star. She continued to take different types of roles and gradually expanded her experience.

Her persistence eventually paid off when she auditioned for Riverdale.

Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper in Riverdale

For many fans, the name Lili Reinhart is closely connected with Betty Cooper.

Riverdale premiered in 2017 and offered a darker, modern interpretation of characters from the Archie Comics universe. Reinhart played Betty Cooper, a smart and determined teenager whose life becomes increasingly complicated as the story develops.

The CW describes Betty as a sweet, studious and eager-to-please girl-next-door character. Reinhart became one of the central members of the show’s cast.

Her performance helped make Betty one of the show’s most recognizable characters. Over the course of the series, viewers saw Betty deal with friendships, family problems, romance, mystery and many unexpected situations.

Riverdale ran for seven seasons from 2017 to 2023. IMDb lists Reinhart as appearing in 137 episodes of the series.

The role gave Reinhart worldwide recognition, but it also became a major part of her public identity. Years after the series ended, people still strongly associate her with Betty Cooper.

Lili Reinhart’s Movies

While Riverdale was her biggest television role, Lili Reinhart also developed an impressive movie career.

Hustlers

One of Reinhart’s notable film appearances came in Hustlers, the 2019 crime drama starring Jennifer Lopez, Constance Wu, Keke Palmer and other well-known performers.

Reinhart played Annabelle, a young woman who becomes involved with a group of dancers involved in a financial scheme. The film received significant attention and gave Reinhart an opportunity to work with a large movie ensemble.

The CW notes that Hustlers premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2019 and went on to earn more than $150 million worldwide.

Chemical Hearts

In 2020, Reinhart starred in Chemical Hearts, a romantic drama based on Krystal Sutherland’s novel Our Chemical Hearts.

She played Grace Town, a teenager dealing with emotional difficulties while developing a relationship with another student. The role was different from Betty Cooper and allowed Reinhart to explore a more serious dramatic character.

Reinhart also served as an executive producer on the project. The CW identifies Chemical Hearts as her executive-producing debut.

Look Both Ways

Another important project in Reinhart’s career was Look Both Ways, released in 2022.

The movie follows Natalie, a young woman whose life takes two different paths based on what happens after a particular night. The film explores relationships, career choices, friendship and the idea that life can develop in unexpected directions.

Reinhart played the lead role and also received an executive producer credit. IMDb lists Look Both Ways among her major film credits.

Lili Reinhart in The Love Hypothesis

In 2026, Lili Reinhart took on another major movie role in The Love Hypothesis.

The romantic comedy is based on Ali Hazelwood’s bestselling novel. Reinhart plays Olive Smith, a Stanford PhD student who becomes involved in a fake relationship with professor Adam Carlsen, played by Tom Bateman.

The role is quite different from Betty Cooper. Reinhart has also talked about how different she is from Olive. In an interview with PEOPLE, she explained that she did not attend college and did not relate personally to Olive’s background as a science graduate student.

The movie premiered on Prime Video on September 23, 2026.

The project also gave Reinhart the opportunity to work in the romantic-comedy genre. Her recent promotional appearances have shown a strong interest in the style and feel of classic romantic comedies from the early 2000s.

Lili Reinhart as an Author

Acting is not the only creative field that interests Lili Reinhart.

She is also a published author. Her Poetry collection Swimming Lessons was published by Simon & Schuster’s St. Martin’s Press imprint. Macmillan describes the book as Reinhart’s first collection of poetry.

Writing gives Reinhart another way to express thoughts and experiences outside of acting. It also shows why her career cannot be defined only by her work on television.

For fans who discovered her through Riverdale, her poetry provides a different look at her creative side.

Lili Reinhart as a Producer

Reinhart has also explored producing.

Her executive producer credits include Chemical Hearts and Look Both Ways. This side of her career allows her to become involved in projects beyond simply performing in front of the camera.

Producing can give actors a greater role in the development and presentation of a project. For Reinhart, it has become another part of her career as she moves beyond the years of Riverdale.

Why Lili Reinhart Became So Popular

There are several reasons Lili Reinhart has developed such a large fan base.

First, her performance as Betty Cooper connected her with a huge television audience. Riverdale became a major part of youth and pop culture during its run, and Reinhart was one of its central stars.

Second, she has taken on different kinds of projects instead of staying with only one type of role. Her film work includes crime drama, romance, coming-of-age stories and comedy.

Third, Reinhart has built a public image that is closely connected with creativity and openness. She has spoken publicly about different aspects of her life and career, which has helped many fans feel connected to her beyond her acting roles.

Lili Reinhart After Riverdale

Leaving a successful long-running show can be challenging for any actor because audiences often continue to associate them with their famous character.

Reinhart has acknowledged the lasting connection between herself and Betty Cooper. In a recent discussion about her Riverdale years, she reflected on the intense experience of becoming famous through the series and the difficulty of moving completely away from such a recognizable role.

At the same time, her post-Riverdale projects show an effort to explore different characters and genres.

Chemical Hearts, Look Both Ways, and The Love Hypothesis all gave her opportunities to play people who are very different from Betty Cooper.

Lili Reinhart’s Career Today

As of 2026, Lili Reinhart remains active in entertainment. Her recent work on The Love Hypothesis represents another stage in a career that began with childhood performances and grew through television and film.

She is now an actress, producer and author, with experience across several areas of entertainment.

Her career also demonstrates how an actor can use one major breakthrough as a starting point rather than an ending point. Betty Cooper introduced Reinhart to a global audience, but her later work has allowed her to build an identity beyond Riverdale.

Conclusion

Lili Reinhart’s career has grown far beyond her breakout role as Betty Cooper. From performing in local productions as a young girl to becoming one of the best-known faces of Riverdale, she has built a career through persistence and a willingness to try different creative projects.

Her work in Hustlers, Chemical Hearts, and Look Both Ways helped establish her as a film actress, while her producing credits and poetry collection showed other sides of her creativity. Now, with The Love Hypothesis, she is taking on another new role and continuing to expand her career.

For fans who first discovered her as Betty Cooper, it is clear that Lili Reinhart’s story does not end with Riverdale. Her acting, writing and producing work continue to shape the next chapter of her career.

FAQs

How old is Lili Reinhart?

Lili Reinhart was born on September 13, 1996. She turned 30 in September 2026.

What is Lili Reinhart famous for?

Lili Reinhart is best known for playing Betty Cooper on Riverdale. She has also appeared in movies including Hustlers, Chemical Hearts, and Look Both Ways.

What movies has Lili Reinhart been in?

Some of Lili Reinhart’s notable movies include The Kings of Summer, Hustlers, Chemical Hearts, Look Both Ways, and The Love Hypothesis.

Did Lili Reinhart write a book?

Yes. Lili Reinhart is also an author. Her poetry collection Swimming Lessons was her first published collection of poetry.

Is Lili Reinhart still acting?

Yes. Reinhart continues to work as an actress and producer. In 2026, she stars as Olive Smith in The Love Hypothesis.

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