Riverdale: Reinhart, Mendes Weigh In on Betty & Veronica's Friendship

CBR

By Meagan Damore

Published Jan 17, 2017

Lili Reinhart -- who plays Betty Cooper -- made it clear that her character and Camilla Mendes' Veronica will be 'friends,' 'not rivals.'

"Riverdale's" Betty Cooper and Veronica Lodge may be in love with the same man, but that's not going to stop them from being friends. During a set visit, Lili Reinhart (Betty) and Camila Mendes (Veronica) made it abundantly clear that the two girls will heave each other's backs, despite the fact that there will definitely be some drama along the way.

Asked if she was surprised by how quickly Betty and Veronica became friends in the pilot, Reinhart said, "I mean, I guess I was. I was expecting it to be maybe a bit more catty, but I'm glad that it wasn't, and I'm glad that -- at the end of the day -- Betty and Veronica aren't rivals. They're friends! There is drama and there's problems between them and they can bicker and fight because they're so different, but they're friends at the end of the day... they're friends and they support each other and that's important."

"They're a lot closer in this version," added Mendes. "I think, throughout the entire season, they're always going to be working their friendship, and whatever rivalry happens is going to happen because of Archie, but it's never going to get in the way of the essence of their friendship."

As to why Veronica is so drawn to Betty, Mendes shared, "I think [Veronica] sees all this potential in [Betty] that is being pushed down because of her mother. Her mother really has a negative effect on her life, and I think Veronica recognizes that and is trying to bring all of the good things about her -- all the strength in Betty -- out, so that the world can see it."

"Betty is strong in her own sense, and you see that throughout the season when she fights against her parents to find out what happened to her sister," Reinhart explained. "You know, she's maybe not as confident and as bold and blunt as Veronica, but she's strong in the sense that she'll do anything for her sister specifically, and she's just a really good friend, but mainly you see how strong she is when it comes to Polly... Family means everything to her."

Starring K.J. Apa as Archie Andrews, “Riverdale” will debut Thursday, January 26 at 9 pm on The CW. The series also stars Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones, Camila Mendes as Veronica Lodge, Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper, Ross Butler as Reggie Mantle and more. “Breakfast Club” alum Molly Ringwald will also recur as Archie’s mother Mary.