Lili Reinhart Almost Wasn’t Betty Cooper on ‘Riverdale’

Lili Reinhart almost didn’t get the role of Betty Cooper on Riverdale.

The Look Both Ways star “was told no” at first when she tried out for the iconic blonde in the CW adaption of the ‘Archie Comics’ – which also stars her ex Cole Sprouse, KJ Apa, and Camila Mendes – but kept pushing to finally get cast.

The 25-year-old actress told E! News: “It’s weird because when I auditioned for Riverdale at first, I was told no. I didn’t get the role. They said no. And then I moved to L.A. and they still hadn’t cast the role of Betty. So I was able to go in in-person because the first time was a self-tape. I went in in-person. And I made it past the first round, second round, third round, and then did my test. And I got the role.”

Reinhart is unsure where she “would have ended up” if she hadn’t snagged the role.

“There was a very big chance and a moment where I didn’t have that role and if I hadn’t, I don’t know where I would have ended up. I think I still would have moved to LA, but I don’t think I’d be sitting here.” Reinhart confesses.

Lili Reinhart on social Media

In the interview, Reinhart also admitted she’s “very guilty” of being opinionated on social media.

“I definitely go on rants on social media, I’m very guilty of that. I don’t like to just sit idly by, I don’t like to keep my mouth shut.” Reinhart states.

She adds: “I know people on Twitter hate me. There are articles and everyone is like, ‘God, does this girl ever shut up and stop complaining?’ No, actually, I don’t. Because I’ve got a lot to say and no one else really seems to be.”

For example, after the recent Met Gala, Reinhart took aim at Kim Kardashian, who detailed the restrictive diet she went on fit into the Bob Mackie gown Marilyn Monroe donned to sing President John F. Kennedy “Happy Birthday” in 1962.

She tweeted: “To openly admit to starving yourself for the sake of the Met Gala. When you know very well that millions of young men and women are looking up to you and listening to your every word.”

Reinhart explained that her comments were partly motivated by the desire for “better resources for mental health” that are accessible for people unable to fork out for fancy rehabs.

“I’ve certainly been to the point where I thought, I need help, that I’m not OK mentally, that I wish I could go somewhere. Unfortunately, a lot of the resources are $90,000 retreats in Malibu. And I’m not about to just go sit on a lounge chair and have therapy for five days and be like, ‘Cool! I’m better!’ I wish there were better resources for mental health. And in the sense that people need to be taken more seriously when they’re struggling.” Reinhart states.