Peyton Sawyer (Hilarie Burton) initially seemed to be just a shallow, brooding teenager. However, viewers later learned that she was a talented artist with a sensitive side. A frequent lack of parental authority significantly affected her life. Peyton's adoptive father was often absent, her adoptive mother was dead, and her biological parents were out of the picture. As a result, Peyton depended on her friends to offer a support system. She hung out with her best friend, Brooke Davis (Sophia Bush), and went through many romantic entanglements. Her main love interest was Lucas Scott (Chad Michael Murray), with whom Peyton had an on-again, off-again relationship. At times, she and Brooke were rivals for Lucas's affections. Despite this conflict, their friendship managed to survive.

When "One Tree Hill" premiered, Peyton was a sixteen-year-old cheerleader who was dating school basketball star Nathan Scott (James Lafferty). She soon realized their relationship was unfulfilling and split up with him. Peyton then struggled to define her feelings for Lucas. Although she wanted to be with him, she stepped aside after he became involved with Brooke. Depressed, Peyton took cocaine for a brief period before quitting. Her life took an upturn when she fell in love with Jake Jagielski (Bryan Greenberg), but disappointment occurred when he left town.

Peyton briefly experienced happiness after she reconciled with her biological mother, Ellie Harp (Sheryl Lee). She was devastated when Ellie died of cancer, and met more trouble when a stalker pretended to be her half-brother, Derek. Fortunately, the real Derek (Ernest Waddell) showed up and established a sibling relationship with Peyton. Meanwhile, she continued to compete with Brooke over Lucas's love. In the end, Lucas and Peyton decided they wanted to be together and graduated from high school as a couple.

"One Tree Hill" then skipped ahead four years in time. During that gap, Peyton and Lucas broke up. At age twenty-two, they and most of their friends ended up back in Tree Hill. With Brooke's financial support, Peyton started a music label and began to recruit artists. Even though Lucas was engaged to another woman, he and Peyton could not deny their love for one another and reconciled. Fresh problems arose when Peyton became pregnant and learned that carrying the baby could result in her death. Although Lucas initially wanted her to terminate the pregnancy, Peyton refused. The two stayed together and had a lakeside wedding. Following the wedding, Peyton needed a caesarean section. Although the situation was critical, she and her daughter, Sawyer Brooke Scott, both survived. Lucas and Peyton then decided to leave Tree Hill. Since that time, they have traveled and visited with Lucas's mother.

Character Overview

Although Peyton started out as an unpopular character, she evolved and became a favorite with viewers. Together, she and Lucas turned into arguably the most popular couple on the show. Peyton and Brooke also provided a strong example of a female friendship that endured despite the stress that was placed upon it.

Significant Quotes

"Every song ends, but is that any reason not to enjoy the music?"

"You have one chance, one life, and what you do with it is up to you."

"People always leave. But sometimes they come back."