What To Know About Beth Behrs
Beth Behrs entertained us for six glorious seasons as the rich girl-turned-poor Caroline Channing on "2 Broke Girls," opposite real-life BFF Kat Dennings, but there's much more to her than just her career. The actress and trained singer (a lifelong Broadway wannabe) is also known for being a fitness advocate thanks to her health and lifestyle book. However, you'll be surprised to learn she isn't a natural in the kitchen.
For Behrs, self-care comes first, and she strives to spread that message to other women through her book, and through her work with the not-for-profit organization SheHerdPower. As a long-time sufferer of panic attacks, Behrs is passionate about helping others who are struggling. Via SheHerdPower, she advocates for female survivors of sexual assault, utilizing equine therapy to help sufferers regain control of their lives.
Caroline Channing is just chapter one of a long and fascinating story. Here are some things you might not have known about Beth Behrs.
A 'mortifying' rash scared Beth Behrs into getting healthy
Beth Behrs is the epitome of healthy living, but that wasn't always the case. When she landed her big break as an actress on "2 Broke Girls," she was an actual, real-life broke girl. As a result, Behrs found herself snacking on unhealthy foods and not taking proper care of her body. "I was eating all the junk food they kept on set," she told Self back in 2017.
The change came not from her paychecks, but a skin rash that lasted over six months, causing Behrs to have to cover up almost her entire body on red carpets and at public appearances. The doctors told her it had happened as a result of stress, bad diet, and a lack of exercise.
She confessed to Yahoo! Lifestyle that her "mortifying" rash was more than likely related to her "go-to breakfast [of] two sugar doughnuts," while she was also "eating mac and cheese from the box" for dinner. Behrs learned to change her diet, incorporate exercise, and get fit, healthy, and happy. Soon, her skin cleared up.
She is best friends with Kat Dennings for real
Although "2 Broke Girls" might not be everyone's cup of tea, we're confident no one would deny how believable the central friendship between Beth Behrs' Caroline and Kat Dennings' Max is on the show. As it turns out, the two actresses didn't have to force their chemistry. "From the moment I met Kat, it was like instant friendship," Behrs told Backstage.
The feeling is clearly mutual as, in a joint interview with Entertainment Tonight, the two BFFs gushed at length about each other. "Beth and I genuinely love each other and are best friends in real life, and that probably reads," said Dennings, when asked about the show's appeal. Behrs concurred, telling the outlet, "Kat and I are really great friends and I think you can see that chemistry onscreen." When Behrs got engaged, Dennings was one of the first people to congratulate her publicly. She was also, naturally, a shoo-in for bridesmaid.
The actress suffers from panic attacks
Beth Behrs is open about the fact that she has suffered from debilitating anxiety and panic attacks most of her life — and it got worse when she landed her dream role as part of the cast of "2 Broke Girls." Through much trial and error, the condition no longer rules her life. She has discovered some tools that have helped her counteract the effects.
Namely, she practices transcendental meditation regularly — particularly on days when eating super healthy or getting to the gym for a sweat sesh isn't possible. "I notice a massive difference in how my whole day goes if I don't do it," the self-described Type-A personality told Self. The "2 Broke Girls" star is also a keen horse-rider and practices equine therapy twice weekly to assuage her panic attacks, crediting doing so with helping her to ground herself "when I feel panicky."
Behrs practices what she preaches: This is the same method utilized by her non-profit organization to help female survivors of sexual assault.
She is a voice for female survivors
Warning: This slide contains references to sexual assault
"2 Broke Girls" is a defiantly female-focused show, with Beth Behrs and Kat Dennings in the leading titular roles and iconic female comedian Whitney Cummings working behind the scenes as a producer. But Behrs isn't simply a voice for change — the proud feminist took action, co-founding the non-profit organization SheHerdPower, which organizes free equine-guided empowerment weekends for survivors of sexual assault.
The origin story of the charity began with Behrs' debilitating panic attacks on the set of "2 Broke Girls." Cummings referred her to Cassandra Ogier, who provides equine therapy. Behrs found the therapy incredibly helpful, and the two became friends. It turns out that Ogier is a survivor of child sexual abuse — a subject Behrs feels strongly about given that one of her close friends was sexually assaulted and she witnessed her struggle to get back to normal in the wake of the assault. Through Ogier and Behrs' joint commitment to the cause, the two founded SheHerdPower together.
"Women work out how to be clear, direct and confident, as well as learn tools to become grounded and in tune with their bodies, distinct from the mind. They learn to set boundaries and step into authentic leadership," Behrs explained to The New Potato in an interview.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
Behrs was working three jobs before 2 Broke Girls
Beth Behrs was an unknown entity prior to landing "2 Broke Girls," with the star-making role of Caroline Channing instantly propelling her to well-deserved international fame. Prior to bagging it, she had just two small acting jobs on her resume. And, right up to when they shot the pilot for the show, the actress was still working her day job. Or rather, day jobs.
"I was working as a nanny five days a week and then as a bartender and concierge at The Geffen Playhouse on the weekends," she revealed in an interview with PopSugar. Behrs credits this packed schedule with helping her get in touch with the role, telling the site, "I can definitely relate to being broke, right out of college and working tons of odd jobs to just pay the rent." What she struggled with, though, was portraying a rich kid who had never worked a day in her life.
She is really good at knitting
A multi-talented singer, actress, comedian, and athlete like Beth Behrs, whose Type-A personality means she can hardly sit still on a good day, is likely to have multiple hidden talents. And, indeed, she does! She's revealed in various interviews over the years that, in addition to being a self-confessed (and very proud) workout addict, Behrs loves cooking, playing tennis, and generally keeping as active as possible.
When not running lines at an acting gig, Behrs tries to unwind by, among other things, knitting. As she revealed in a between-takes interview with Good Housekeeping, it was an activity Behrs learned from an unlikely source. "I learned to knit [on set] from [costars] Kat [Dennings] and Sally Field, so my knitting skills, thanks to them, are getting really good!" she shared. Anything to keep an anxious mind calm. Plus, imagine what she could make!
She learned about the value of money from her parents
As a genuine broke girl, Beth Behrs didn't have to try too hard to get into the "2 Broke Girls" spirit. Unlike her riches-to-rags character, Caroline, however, she didn't come from wealth. "My parents both work in education — my mom's a teacher and my dad's a headmaster of a private school," she told PopSugar of her humble upbringing in small-town Virginia.
As a result of her super-normal family, Behrs was taught the value of money from a young age, explaining how her parents gave her a weekly allowance and that once it was gone, it was gone. They instilled in her the value of saving, of planning ahead, and of counting her blessings. As a result, the actress still finds it difficult to spend money, confessing that Kat Dennings had to convince her to splurge on a pair of designer shoes after she became a big TV star.
Behrs is all about self-care
After learning how to get fit and healthy, Beth Behrs turned her attention to other women, realizing she could help them through her own experience. The actress wrote a book, entitled "The Total ME-Tox," loaded with recipes and advice. The tome encourages readers to take it easy, making changes gradually, as she did. They can start off by incorporating short walks into their daily routine, or swapping out sweets for fruit when sugar cravings hit.
The main message, however, isn't about weight loss. Behrs teaches self-care above all else. "As I've started to make self-care a priority in my life, I've noticed a massive shift in my happiness and my overall state of well-being. I wrote 'The Total ME-Tox' in the hopes that it will empower women to be authentic and the best version of themselves, without striving for perfection. I wanted to bring it back to what TRULY matters: loving yourself, serving others and enjoying the journey," she explained to Her Campus.
She co-created a YA webcomic
A woman as multi-talented as Beth Behrs couldn't possibly allow herself to get bored, so the revelation that she was instrumental in the creation of a webcomic should come as no surprise. Behrs co-created "Dents," a dystopian, young adult webcomic exploring themes of sexuality, feminism, and environmental issues, with friend and Broadway vet Matt Doyle.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Behrs explained that she and Doyle discussed the idea over dinner years beforehand, but she thought of it in terms of TV a show or movie. Years later, she got into comics. Soon after, an opportunity presented itself, so they jumped at the chance. Although she found it a challenge, Behrs relished the opportunity to work in a new medium and to include issues both she and Doyle care deeply about.
"Matt and I ... are both very passionate about the outdoors. ... The series includes elements of climate change, which was really important for us. We wanted to include sociopolitical elements into it, too," she explained of the comic's real-world focus.
She learned to cook relatively recently
Although Beth Behrs is a super-healthy eater and an exercise fanatic, the one thing she's still learning about is cooking. In fact, she joked in a 2015 interview with People that she didn't even know where to locate kale in the supermarket before she met her partner Michael Gladis — let alone how to cook.
She explained that he opened her eyes to the world of delicious cooking. "We cook together. He actually has taught me about cooking," she admitted, revealing one of the couple's favorite activities is to create a healthy meal together from scratch.
Behrs also credits cooking with helping keep her mind at ease, comparing it to meditation. "In cooking you're allowing your mind to just focus on the task at hand, and you're able to escape and put your mind at rest," she explained in an interview with Self. Well, she is all about self-care!
Beth Behrs keeps honey bees
As fans of Beth Behrs may already know, she's a huge animal lover. But what you may not have realized is that love extends to bees. In 2022, the actor revealed to Us Weekly that she and her husband Michael Gladis had been "keeping bees for over eight years."
In fact, Behrs is so passionate about bees that she even helped out with the #BeeKind awareness campaign on "The Ellen Show" in 2018. "I'm here to tell you about honeybees and why we should be helping them," she shared in a video for the campaign. She continued to explain the benefits of bees for humanity. "One-third of the world's food supply is pollinated by bees, but they have been severely affected by humans," she explained. In another video, Behrs gave a few bee tips, such as planting "bee-friendly flowers," leaving out small bowls of water, and avoiding the use of pesticides. One video even saw Behrs visiting a beehive. Clearly, she loves her bees!
Behrs had a bee-themed wedding
In keeping with her environmentally conscious lifestyle, Beth Behrs chose an unconventional theme for her wedding to longtime partner Michael Gladis. According to HuffPost, they tied the knot in July 2018 in a stunning outdoor wedding in Victor, Idaho. The bride wore a Monique Lhuillier dress, while her groom chose a custom blue Brooks Brothers suit.
As described by Martha Stewart Weddings, the big day was personalized from the vows to the gift bags, which were filled with locally-sourced huckleberry jam. Guests were also given jars of honey from the couple's own hive, and the bee theme was also present in the design of their invitations and even the flavor of their cake.
Behrs took to Twitter after their magical day to share a photo of the happy couple, writing alongside it, "I do, we did. Best day of my life." Gladis' proposal had been nothing short of spectacular, either, with Behrs telling E! News at the time, "He proposed on our friends Christina Hendricks and Geoffrey Arend's rooftop at sunset with a private jazz band playing my favorite Miles Davis/John Coltrane song overlooking Manhattan! It was magical. I was sobbing!"
She messed up her first big job... on her first day
Nowadays, she's a comedic actress, but Beth Behrs struggled just like everybody else upon first arriving in Hollywood. As she recounted in an interview with Thrive Global, her first big job taught Behrs one of her biggest lessons in the business. "My first film set was 'American Pie 7' ... yup #7. I had done theater my whole life but never film," she admitted.
On her first day, they were shooting on a ski lift. Behrs was ready to impress, but, as she shared, "First take. The director screams over the megaphone: 'Hey Beth. How about the next take you DON'T SHOW US THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR YOUR MARK.'"
Behrs was understandably mortified about messing up in front of the entire cast and crew on her very first shoot. However, she can look back now and see it as the educational experience it really was — even if, at times, the shoot was a baptism by fire. "I had to learn really quick and, on the fly, which I think ultimately really served me. I know how to act gracefully under immense pressure," she reasoned.
She chose her first post-2 Broke Girls TV role very carefully
After "2 Broke Girls" was canceled, Beth Behrs was eager to get back to work as soon as possible. However, as she told CineMovie during a set visit on her follow-up show "The Neighborhood," not just any show would do. "I knew I wanted to be a part of a show that had some sort of social impact as my next show because I think our country is so divided right now and I think as artists, one of the main things we can do, is try to help bring people together because comedy is universal and feeling is universal ... " she explained.
Behrs stars alongside actor Max Greenfield as a young couple living in a predominantly black neighborhood. Although Behrs noted her character is similar to Caroline Channing because they're both nerds, there are a lot of important differences too. "Tichina [Arnold] ... is teaching me how to be a little bit cooler," she explained.
On her first big role after "2 Broke Girls," Behrs gushed to Decider, "This is my favorite job I've ever had. It's really been my favorite group of all time, everybody's such good humans."
She got her first lap dance on television
Being a comedic actress, Beth Behrs isn't shy about making a bit of a fool of herself. But there are still certain situations that make her a little uncomfortable. The actress stopped by "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" to discuss her TV show "The Neighborhood" and, after dancing her way onto the stage, admitted to the host that her very first lap dance experience happened while on set. "You know, it's interesting, that's my job, I got paid to do this," she explained.
Dancers from "Magic Mike Live" stopped by for an episode during which her character and co-star Tichina Arnold's character receive some sexy lap dances. Arnold made fun of Behrs for being awkward while the men were trying to perform, but the "2 Broke Girls" star argued, "If someone's gonna get up in your grill like that, I like to get to know them, so they're trying to do their job, and I'm like 'But where you from? What are your dreams? Do you love animals?'" Meanwhile, her co-star was like "'Shut up! You're making them more nervous!"
She got into slow jogging
No stranger to a good workout, Beth Behrs revealed during an interview with Kelly Clarkson that she'd stepped up her game and explored various new sports during quarantine. First telling the "Since U Been Gone" singer that she'd initially attempted to play golf for several weeks, Behrs noted that she'd ultimately realized she literally couldn't take the heat. "But now, I've discovered something that is amazing, and a real thing called slow jogging," the "2 Broke Girls" star said. Clarkson then joked that she was personally familiar with the concept. Excited to share info about her new hobby, Behrs explained that slow jogging is a Japanese practice and added that there was an entire book that explained the exercise in detail.
"They say to run it in niko pace," she informed Clarkson before telling the host that the term meant to "smile as you run." Behrs explained that the entire purpose of the low-impact movement is to always "put a smile on your face." Much to the audience's amusement, Behrs then demonstrated her new practice for everyone and admitted that she frequently slow-jogs through her neighborhood. Despite the initial laughter, the star wasn't put off by the response and said that the practice is incredibly beneficial for her. "It makes me so happy," Behrs declared before adding that she's already gotten her slow jog in that morning prior to the show.
She's all about cold plunging
During her 20th appearance on "The Ellen Show," Beth Behrs revealed her love of cold plunging. "Do you do it every day?" Ellen DeGeneres asked the star as she began to explain her calming routine. "Not every day, I wish," Behrs exclaimed before admitting that she couldn't due to her location. Behrs explained that her anxiety and panic attacks worsened during the pandemic, which led her to try the self-care routine. "It was like 40 degrees in the morning at 6 a.m., and I just like drove to the beach, no one was there, and I started cold plunging in the winter."
The "2 Broke Girls" star admitted that cold plunging was a life-changing experience for her. Additionally, sharing one of her memorable moments, Behrs announced that one of the times she went cold plunging in the early morning, "a pool of dolphins came and swam with me." The star admitted that she became emotional before saying, "It was magical." Similarly, during an interview with Glamour, Behrs went into detail about cold plunging. Stating that she goes to the ocean about two or three times a week, Behrs explained her early-bird routine stating that she heads out at 5:30 a.m., arrives at 6, and then takes the plunge, all without the warmth of a wetsuit.
Beth Behrs loves animals
While Beth Behrs is a big fan of using equine therapy to alleviate panic attacks, riding horses is hardly her only connection with animals. As revealed in a Facebook post by The Gentle Barn, the actor took a trip back in 2014 to visit some special farm friends and truly made sure to show them affection. "She loved all the animals and hugged, pet, and fed them all," the nonprofit wrote.
The animal sanctuary also revealed that the star found a favorite in her new group of companions: a turkey. "Beth and our turkey Marsha bonded yesterday and are now life long [sic] friends," The Gentle Barn wrote.
In 2021, Behrs uploaded a short clip of herself on Instagram cuddling up with a pig. Offering her four-legged friend plenty of kisses, the actor cozied up to the farm animal and said, "I love you." She captioned the video, "Animals are just the best. I highly recommend pig snuggles."
Her hero is Carol Burnett
Not unlike us, every actor has that special star who truly inspires them with their talent, and Beth Behrs is no exception. In a Facebook clip posted by CBS for the 50th-anniversary special of "The Carol Burnett Show," the "2 Broke Girls" star explained why the legendary actor, comedian, singer, and writer Carol Burnett is her hero. "The Carol Burnett Show was my grandmother's favorite show," Behrs announced before going on to state that during her childhood, watching Burnett was a tremendous inspiration that encouraged her dreams of being a comedian.
"She really, not only paved the way for us, but was also a master class in comedy and physical comedy," Behrs declared. The star said that she gained plenty of knowledge from watching Burnett, adding that she could truly tell that there was genuine happiness in everyone on the show. Similarly, during an interview with IndieWire, Behrs reaffirmed her love for the iconic comedian and her television series, saying, "Talk about live audience and comedy, you can't get better than that ensemble." Additionally, the star revealed that when Burnett's specials were initially put up on YouTube, she "watched those hundreds of times."
Beth Behrs had her first child in 2022
In 2022, Beth Behrs welcomed her first child to the world with her husband Michael Gladis. The actor announced the birth of their daughter on Instagram. "Welcome to the world Emma George Gladis," she wrote. "Our hearts are so full. We are overjoyed!"
Behrs later opened up about her daughter during an appearance on "The Kelly Clarkson Show." "It's the best thing ever," she gushed. "She just started giggling and laughing, and I can make her laugh, which, as a comedian, it's like the most exciting thing." Behrs went on to explain how her co-star on "The Neighborhood," Max Greenfield, gave her a few tips after her daughter's birth. Apparently, he texted her after her baby was born to ask how she was. When Behrs replied, "I want a hundred kids," he quickly assured her that she probably didn't. Sound advice if you ask us.
Although Behrs quickly realized that one child was enough work, she found ways to cope with the stress of raising a baby. In fact, she even recommended other new mothers try yoga nidra meditation. "It's been life changing for me since baby girl," she wrote on Instagram.
She will star in FAME-ish
As of 2023, Beth Behrs is set to appear in another season of "The Neighborhood" — but that's not the only project she has lined up. In July 2023, Behrs will be performing in "FAME-ish" at New York's 54 Below. The comedic show will also star Tichina Arnold, Behr's co-star on "The Neighborhood," and will be directed by Mia Walker. The play is written by Behrs, Arnold, and screenwriter and producer Wayne Conley.
According to the official website of 54 Below, "FAME-ish" is a cabaret-style show, complete with songs, dances, conversation, and drinks. "Join the lovely ladies in 'FAME-ish' where no topic is off-limits and a grand time is sure to be had," the description reads. If you're a fan of "The Neighborhood" and you happen to be in New York, this show is a must-see. Let's just hope Behrs continues writing and performing in more shows like this one.
Behrs tries to stay plastic-free
Beth Behrs lives a very sustainable, eco-conscious life. As the actor explained to Us Weekly, she makes little adjustments around her home to ensure that she and her family live as plastic-free as possible. "We try to be a plastic-free house," she told the magazine, explaining that her passion for the environment led to her becoming a spokesperson for Schick's Intuition Bamboo razors. Behrs appeared in an advertising campaign for the razors in 2022, in which she explained the importance of living a green life. "The rush I get from helping our gracious Mother Earth — it's indescribable," she said in the ad. While the ad may be a little tongue-in-cheek, it's clear that Behrs really is passionate about our climate.
Of course, professional ad deals aren't Behrs' only way of attaining sustainability. "Food waste is a huge no-no in [my] house," she told Us Weekly. "We also always use reusable sandwich, grocery, produce bags, etc."