Sophia Bush Blends Hollywood Truths With History's Most Famous Art Crime

Sophia Bush joined Ed Helms on his podcast "SNAFU" for a candid conversation that blended personal reflection with one of history’s most infamous art crimes: the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa.

Early in the episode, Bush pushed back on the idea that actors are natural liars. "People think you must be a good liar," she joked. "But I just memorize other people's words." The honesty set the tone for a discussion about her career, activism, and navigating fame at a young age.

Bush explained that speaking out was never a calculated career move. "It was probably the most unstrategic thing I could do," she said of her advocacy work. "The system needs to be agitated. It’s a s****y system." She added that while acting fuels her creativity, activism is her true calling.

Reflecting on her early days on One Tree Hill, Bush described fame as "a baptism by fire," admitting she didn’t initially realize she could set boundaries with the media.

The conversation eventually turned to the Mona Lisa, which Bush once experienced alone in the Louvre. "No ropes, no lines, no humans," she recalled. "It actually made me emotional." As Helms explained how the theft helped turn the painting into a global icon, Bush drew parallels to celebrity culture, noting how public narratives can overshadow reality.

By the end of the episode, "SNAFU" proved once again that history’s biggest mistakes can spark some of the most meaningful conversations. Listen to Sophia Bush on "SNAFU" on iHeartRadio.