Actor and activist Sophia Bush has no intention of retreating from political engagement, even as some celebrities second-guess the value of speaking out. In a recent interview, Bush dismissed the notion that her outspokenness could hurt her career, saying, "What would I do? Silence myself? Take away one of my most important rights to be more palatable or more hirable to people I don't know? That's not something that I'm interested in."
Reflecting on her early political involvement, which began when she campaigned for Barack Obama in 2008, Bush said those experiences made her a better advocate and a better actor. "I connect with people in a very real way and feel like I can tell their stories no matter where they're from," she explained, adding that showing up and listening to people's struggles is essential to understanding what they need from the country.
Bush, 44, opened up about her new book, And I Will Tell You Mine, which blends personal memoir with reflections on activism. The book traces her journey from a reluctant acting student at USC to a passionate advocate. "After years of advocating for other people and for community, it felt really special to turn that patient attention inward," she said.
One chapter describes a frantic dash to a farewell party at the White House during Obama's final days in office. Bush missed an email about the event and had to scramble, landing in D.C. in sweatpants and shopping for a last-minute outfit at a discount store. The evening was beautiful, but it also prompted her to reflect on the political shift that followed.
Bush did not mince words about the current president, whom she refuses to name. "I think someone who chooses to exemplify and bolster the very worst of human tendency doesn't really deserve to have their name spoken," she said, likening it to not naming school shooters. She argued that Trump "has made things so much worse for women in the last 10 years" and called his leadership "absolutely abhorrent."
Looking ahead, Bush is focused on the upcoming midterm elections, which she sees as a critical opportunity. "I think the midterms are really an opportunity for us to leave it all on the field and hopefully claw back some of the democracy that our great republic is meant to operate with," she said. She predicted that if sentiment holds, "we should see greater than a blue wave — we should see a blue landslide."
Bush's comments come as some celebrities, like Jennifer Lawrence, have questioned whether public political statements are productive. But Bush remains steadfast, insisting that staying silent is not an option. "I'll be one of the voices that continues to call out his bad actions until he's out of office proudly, because I love my country," she said.
Her book and her advocacy reflect a belief that art and activism are intertwined. As she wrote, activism "truly felt like a calling." For Bush, that calling includes using her platform to push for change, even when it comes with personal risk.
