Growing up in a small Ohio town, Lili Reinhart always had big ambitions. From an early age, she knew she wanted to perform. But behind the dream was a difficult reality — panic attacks, depression, anxiety, and eating disorders threatened to derail her path long before fame found her.
Today, Reinhart is best known for playing Betty Cooper on Riverdale, the teen drama inspired by the Archie Comics universe. The role turned her into a global star with more than 34 million social media followers. Yet beyond the glossy red carpets and cozy pink sweaters associated with her character lies a far more complex story.
Big dreams in a small town
Born in Cleveland and raised in Bay Village, Ohio, Reinhart discovered her love for singing, dancing, and acting around age 10. She would stage performances for her family and choreograph dances with her younger sister. Determined to make it in entertainment, she convinced her mother to drive her eight hours to New York City for auditions.
But chasing Hollywood dreams in a small town came with isolation. She often felt misunderstood and labeled as “different.” While classmates may have perceived acting as glamorous, Reinhart remembers feeling like an outsider with a dream that seemed nearly impossible.
Mental health battles began early
Her struggles started young. Reinhart experienced her first panic attack in eighth grade. School frequently triggered overwhelming anxiety, forcing her to hide in bathrooms to calm herself. Eventually, her condition became so severe that she asked her parents about homeschooling.
With their support, she began therapy, psychiatric treatment, and antidepressants. Still, trying to build an acting career while battling depression proved incredibly difficult. Casting feedback often asked her to bring more energy to auditions — something she felt incapable of at the time.
Leaving — and returning to — Hollywood
At 18, Reinhart moved to Los Angeles with no industry connections. The experience was overwhelming. Living in a crowded shared house, isolated without a car, her mental health deteriorated further. She suffered nightly panic attacks and physical symptoms caused by stress.
After just five months, she left LA and returned home to focus on healing. A year later, she gave herself one final chance. If acting didn’t work out, she planned to attend makeup school instead.
Only a month after returning to Los Angeles at 19, she landed the role that would change her life: Betty Cooper on Riverdale, which premiered in 2017 and ultimately ran for seven seasons until 2023.
Fame, exhaustion, and worsening health
Although the show made her famous, the pressures of sudden stardom were intense — especially for someone who identifies as an introvert. As the seasons progressed, her body began showing signs of strain.
While filming Season 5, Reinhart contracted COVID-19 and experienced extreme fatigue. She later tested positive three times, with each infection worsening her exhaustion. At one point, she was sleeping 13 hours on weekends and taking frequent naps. Doctors conducted numerous tests to rule out autoimmune diseases, but no clear answers emerged.
By Season 6, she began facing unexplained digestive problems and weight gain. Tests for Celiac and Crohn’s disease came back negative. Around the same time, she struggled with an eating disorder and body image issues. She also developed hair loss and was diagnosed with alopecia, likely autoimmune-related.
Some medical experiences left her feeling dismissed, including a doctor who suggested pregnancy might help stimulate hair growth — advice she found deeply frustrating.
The medical mystery revealed
In July 2024, while working in Germany, Reinhart developed symptoms resembling a urinary tract infection. Yet repeated hospital visits found no infection. Back in Los Angeles, a specialist finally diagnosed her with interstitial cystitis (IC), a chronic bladder condition that causes inflammation and severe pain.
IC affects about 1% of people in the U.S., primarily women, and is often misdiagnosed because it mimics UTIs. There is no cure, and symptoms can flare unpredictably. Reinhart now undergoes weekly treatments to manage the condition.
Why she chose to speak out
Her decision to discuss her health struggles publicly was influenced by her grandmother’s experience. In 2024, her 85-year-old grandmother’s cancer symptoms were initially dismissed as minor digestive issues, delaying diagnosis. She passed away in early 2025.
That loss reinforced Reinhart’s determination to advocate for women’s health and encourage people to push for answers when something feels wrong.
Life beyond acting
Reinhart has expanded her creative pursuits beyond television. She published a poetry collection, Swimming Lessons: Poems, exploring love, anxiety, heartbreak, and fame. In 2024, she launched her skincare brand Personal Day, shaped by her own struggles with cystic acne and unrealistic beauty standards.
Professionally, she remains selective about her roles, eager to prove she can do more than what audiences saw on Riverdale. In 2025, she stars in Hal & Harper, created by Cooper Raiff and co-starring Betty Gilpin and Mark Ruffalo.
Despite years of health battles, Reinhart continues to use her platform to raise awareness about mental health, chronic illness, and the importance of self-advocacy — proving that her strength extends far beyond the screen.
