Blake Lively

Blake Ellender Lively (born August 25, 1987) is an American actress. Born in Los Angeles, Lively is the daughter of actor Ernie Lively, and made her professional debut in his directorial project Sandman (1998). She had her breakthrough role in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005) and its 2008 sequel. Lively achieved international recognition for her portrayal of Serena van der Woodsen in the CW teen drama television series Gossip Girl (2007–2012).
Lively had supporting roles in the romantic comedies New York, I Love You (2008), The Private Lives of Pippa Lee (2009), and Café Society (2016), the thrillers The Town (2010) and Savages (2012), and the superhero film Green Lantern (2011). She starred in films such as the romantic fantasy The Age of Adaline (2015), the survival film The Shallows (2016), the comedy thriller A Simple Favor (2018), and the romantic drama It Ends with Us (2024). She has also directed Taylor Swift's music video "I Bet You Think About Me" (2021).
== Early life ==
Blake Ellender Brown was born on August 25, 1987, in the Tarzana neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Her mother, Elaine, worked as a talent scout, and her father, Ernie Lively, was an actor. Lively was named after her grandmother's brother. She has an older brother, Eric, and three half-siblings from her mother's previous marriage, Lori, Robyn, and Jason. Her parents and siblings have all worked in the entertainment industry.
During her childhood, Lively accompanied her parents to the acting classes they taught, as they did not want to leave her with a babysitter. She said that watching her parents teach helped her learn the "drills" and gain confidence as she got older and began working in the industry. She made her professional debut at age 10, when she appeared in the 1998 film Sandman, directed by Lively's father. She describes her role as a "bit part".Allure "The Anti-Gossip Girl" (May 2009). She was initially not particularly interested in acting and wanted to attend Stanford University.
She attended Burbank High School and graduated in 2005, where she was a cheerleader, a member of the championship choir, and class president. Her elder brother asked his talent agent to send her to several auditions in the summer months. She was subsequently cast as Bridget in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005) and filmed her scenes between her junior and senior years of high school.
== Career ==
===2005–2006: Career beginnings===
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was released in 2005. Lively's performance earned her a nomination for a Teen Choice Award for "Choice Movie Breakout – Female". In 2006, Lively co-starred with Justin Long in Accepted, and she had minor roles in the horror film, Simon Says. Accepted was not well received by critics, but Lively's performance was, earning her a 'Breakthrough Award' from Hollywood Life. Lively starred in Elvis and Anabelle (2007) as Anabelle, a bulimic girl who hoped to win a beauty pageant. She said of getting into character for the role that she had "shed serious weight" for her height. She stated that that process was difficult for her because food is "the No. 1 love of my life." MovieLine.com praised her performance in the film and credited it as having been her "breakthrough role".
===2007–2012: Gossip Girl===
Lively was cast in The CW's series Gossip Girl, based on the novel series of the same name by Cecily von Ziegesar, which premiered in September 2007. Already having deferred college for a year, Lively intended to turn the role down and become a student, but was told that she could attend college part-time while filming the show (she later said "This is advice to anyone: when they say, 'We promise, but we can't put it in writing,' there's a reason they can't put it in writing"). She played the role of Serena van der Woodsen in the teen drama until 2012 when the show ended. Her first magazine cover was the November 2007 issue of CosmoGirl, where she discussed her time in high school and her career prior to Gossip Girl.CosmoGirl. (November 2007).
In 2008, Lively reprised her role as Bridget in the sequel The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. Similarly to the first film, Lively's performance was positively received by critics. As of November 2008, the film had earned over $44 million at the box office. In 2009, she appeared as Gabrielle DiMarco in the romantic comedy New York, I Love You, a sequel to the 2006 film Paris, je t'aime. Despite positive critical reception, the film failed at the box office.
Lively portrayed the younger version of the titlular character in The Private Lives of Pippa Lee (2009) to critical acclaim. Paul Byrnes, of the Brisbane Times, described her performance in the film as "sensational". In October 2009, she began filming her scenes for her role as Kristina "Kris" Coughlin in the 2010 film The Town, based on Chuck Hogan's novel Prince of Thieves. The film, which was directed by and starred Ben Affleck, was released in the United States on September 17, 2010. On her performance, Variety wrote that Lively was "almost unrecognizable [and] has fierce, pained moments as the moll and single mother .. tossed aside."Chang, Justin. "The Town Review" . Variety September 9, 2010. Retrieved September 18, 2010. In December of that year, she appeared in the music video for The Lonely Island's "I Just Had Sex" together with Jessica Alba. Lively played Carol Ferris, the female lead and love interest of Hal Jordan in the superhero film Green Lantern, which was released in June 2011. The film grossed a worldwide total of $219,851,172. In 2011 she was featured in the annual Time magazine 100 influential people. Additionally, AskMen.com named her the most desirable woman of 2011 and People magazine named her one of 2012's Most Beautiful at Every Age.
In 2012, Lively starred in Oliver Stone's Savages alongside Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Johnson, Salma Hayek, and John Travolta. She replaced Jennifer Lawrence as Ophelia, after the latter dropped out to do The Hunger Games. HitFix film critic Drew McWeeny said Lively's performance was "smart and sad precisely because she plays O as such a broken, needy little soul". Also that year, she was selected as the face of the new Gucci fragrance, Gucci Premiere. She appeared in a short film ad directed by Nicolas Winding Refn for the fragrance.
===Since 2013: Film career===
In October 2013, Lively was named the new face of L'Oreal, marking her first major makeup campaign. She starred in the film The Age of Adaline (2015), opposite Michiel Huisman and Harrison Ford, playing a woman who "stops aging after recovering from a near-fatal accident." The film was a modest commercial success, grossing $65.7 million from a production budget of $25 million. The Atlantic stated that she showed her "potential as a leading lady" primarily in the second half of the film, citing her "clipped delivery and coy restraint" as well as her "capable perform[ance]" within the emotional intensity of the film. In 2016, Lively starred in the survival horror film The Shallows. It received positive reviews and her performance was praised by critics. That year, she also starred in Woody Allen's romantic comedy film, Café Society which premiered at the 69th Cannes Film Festival and received critical acclaim. Lively enjoyed her experience working with Allen stating, "It's really cool to work with a director who's done so much, because he knows exactly what he wants", adding that he was "very empowering".
Lively starred opposite Jason Clarke in psychological drama All I See Is You (2016), which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival to mixed reviews. In 2018, she starred in the mystery-thriller A Simple Favor, alongside Anna Kendrick and Henry Golding, and directed by Paul Feig. The film was released on September 14 and Lively's performance was acclaimed. Variety wrote that "She has her moments .. many of them physical .. Lively's Emily is both repellent and irresistible." Many critics believed Lively could achieve her first Academy Award nomination for the role, however a nomination never eventuated.
Lively next played the lead, a drug-addicted prostitute turned assassin, in The Rhythm Section, the film adaptation of the Mark Burnell novel of the same name, produced by Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, and directed by Reed Morano. The film was released by Paramount Pictures on January 31, 2020. Variety noted Lively's performance as "display[ing] a realistic near-incompetence in the face of danger [that] makes her relatable in ways very few cinematic assassins have ever been."
In May 2021, it was announced that Lively will star in Lady Killer as the lead character, Josie Schuller. She made her directorial debut as the co-writer and director of the music video for Taylor Swift's song "I Bet You Think About Me" featuring American singer-songwriter Chris Stapleton, released on November 15, 2021, from Swift's re-recorded album Red (Taylor's Version) (2021). In April 2022, it was announced Lively would make her feature directing debut with an adaptation of the graphic novel Seconds by Bryan Lee O'Malley, with Edgar Wright writing the screenplay and producing. In January 2023, it was announced that she will star in the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover's novel It Ends with Us as the lead character, Lily Bloom.
In August 2024, Lively and Reynolds became the first married Hollywood couple to have two separate films which they starred in top the box office on the same weekend since Bruce Willis and Demi Moore in 1990, as their respective films It Ends With Us and Deadpool and Wolverine would occupy the number one and number two spots at the box office during the August 9–11 weekend.
== Other ventures ==
Lively describes herself as a "foodie and cook", and has said Martha Stewart is her "idol". She is also a fan of Nigella Lawson's work. In 2008, Lively baked a cake with Stewart during an episode of The Martha Stewart Show. In 2009, Lively stated that she "hoped one day to have an interior decorating company", citing her love for antiques and fascination with "colors and textures and layering things". In 2010, she attended a tailor-made workshop at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, and has spoken of her desire to return to the culinary school for further instruction.
She has remarked that, when travelling, she always takes cookery classes to immerse herself in the local culture. In 2010 and again in 2011, Lively spoke publicly of her desire to become a restaurateur. In 2011, she created a s'mores cupcake to be sold at Sprinkles bakeries. In 2012, Lively's wedding reception was featured in Martha Stewart Weddings; food photography was the focal point of the picture spread. In 2013, she appeared in Elle Decor to recount her experiences designing a custom La Cornue oven for her newly purchased Bedford home. In 2013, she filmed a cooking segment for Vogue website, demonstrating how to make a brie pastry. In 2014, she launched Preserve, a digital magazine and e-commerce website with hand-made one-of-a-kind items all selected by Lively; on October 9, 2015, Lively closed the site, stating that it had been launched before it was ready, and that she plans to rebuild and relaunch it properly.
In 2021, Lively launched Betty Buzz, a line of non-alcoholic drink mixers. In 2023, Lively launched Betty Booze, a line of alcoholic canned cocktails. In 2024, Lively launched Blake Brown, a haircare line.
== Personal life ==
From 2007 to 2010, Lively was in a relationship with her Gossip Girl co-star Penn Badgley.
Lively first met Ryan Reynolds in early 2010 while filming Green Lantern, in which they co-starred. They began dating in October 2011 and married on September 9, 2012, at Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. They have four children: born December 2014, September 2016, October 2019, and February 2023. The family resides in Pound Ridge, New York. Lively and Reynolds are close friends with singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, who named the characters in her song "Betty" after their daughters.
In a 2012 conversation with Allure, Lively said that she does not drink and has never tried drugs.
===Advocacy===
During the 2008 United States presidential election, Lively expressed her support for Barack Obama. Lively and Penn Badgley appeared in a pro-Obama commercial, as part of MoveOn.org's Youth Vote program. The commercial, directed by Doug Liman, aired during Gossip Girl on the CW, MTV and Comedy Central. In 2013, she appeared in a video clip for Gucci's "Chime for Change" campaign that aims to raise funds and awareness of women's issues in the areas of education, health, and justice. In addition, Lively has worked to heighten public awareness of missing and exploited children and on-going efforts of law enforcement on their behalf.
== Filmography ==
* A Simple Favor Sequel
* The Husband's Secret
* The Making Of
* Proxy
* It Ends with Us
* Deadpool & Wolverine
* IF
* The Rhythm Section
* A Simple Favor: Gag Reel
* A Simple Favor
* All I See Is You
* The Shallows
* Café Society
* The Age of Adaline
* Savages: The Interrogations
* Savages
* Hick
* Green Lantern
* The Town
* The Private Lives of Pippa Lee
* New York, I Love You
* The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2
* Elvis and Anabelle
* Simon Says
* Accepted
* The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
* Sandman
== Television ==
* When You Wish Upon a Pickle: A Sesame Street Special
* Gossip Girl
* Saturday Night Live
== Music videos ==
* Jay-Z feat. Beyoncé: Part II (On the Run)
* The Lonely Island Feat. Akon: I Just Had Sex
== Produced ==
* The Husband’s Secret
* It Ends with Us
== Directed ==
* Taylor Swift: I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor's Version)
== Gallery ==
== Videos ==
== Trivia ==
* On Live with Kelly and Mark (1988), she stated that her older brother Eric Livelydidn't want to go to school alone when it came time for him to start first grade. At the time, she was 3 but very tall for her age, so her mother lied and said that she was 6. She attended first grade and the school reported that she was "slow", when actually she was three years old and couldn't talk very well yet. She claims that it made her brother happy, so she was happy.
* On September 9, 2012, she married her boyfriend of 11 months, Ryan Reynolds, at Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. They first met in early 2010 while filming Green Lantern (2011), in which they co-starred.
* When auditioning for The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005), she walked in and gave them only her photo, since she had never done anything before. They all thought she was joking, but when she left the room, they knew that she was definitely the Bridget that they wanted.
* She stands a little over 5'10" and has stated that she is rather self-conscious about being tall and dislikes wearing heels.
* She doesn't drink alcohol.
* Is close friends with actress Emily Blunt, Anna Wintour, and Florence Welch.
* The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005) was her first job ever, not just in acting.
* During high school she was involved in many activities, including cheerleading, choir, and student government; she was president of her class.
* Florence + the Machine performed at her wedding to Ryan Reynolds.
* Has stated that she has known her Gossip Girl (2007) co-star Penn Badgley since she was 11 years old.
* She received her first kiss on the big screen.
* Blake was fitted for Serena's wedding dress on Gossip Girl (2007) the day after her actual wedding to Ryan Reynolds.
* She often visited Disneyland twice a week with her mother when she was growing up, and she still enjoys going there.
* Long before starring together on Gossip Girl (2007), Penn Badgley and Blake Lively were homeschooled together as children.
* Went to 13 different schools before she graduated from high school.
* Her husband Ryan was present for the deliveries of their first two children. When their daughter James was being delivered, Ryan played Marvin Gaye's song "Let's Get it On.".
* Played in Guitar Hero competitions and made it to the semi finals.
* Created a S'mores cupcake to be sold at Sprinkles Bakeries which raised $35,000 for Oxfam.
* Was one month pregnant with her daughter Inez when she completed filming on The Shallows (2016). When Inez was 11 months old, she returned to work to start filming A Simple Favor (2018).
* She is close friends with Taylor Swift Taylor Swift, who named the character in her song "Betty" after Blake's third daughter. Further, Taylor Swift Taylor Swift is godmother to daughter James whom Blake Lively Blake had with Ryan ReynoldsRyan Reynolds.
* Has said that she was the exact opposite of her character on Gossip Girl as a teenager.
* Is her own stylist for formal events.
* Leonardo DiCaprio gave her a Toyota Prius as a gift.
* When filming wrapped on Savages (2012), Blake bought every member of the crew a T-shirt that reads, "I Survived Oliver Stone.".
* Her older half-sister Robyn Lively is the godmother of her firstborn daughter James.
* For her album "Folklore," Taylor Swift used the names of Blake and Ryan Reynolds' daughters (James, Inez, and Betty) as the characters for a story she told over the course of three songs: "Cardigan", "August", and "Betty".
* Was five months pregnant with her daughter James when she completed filming The Age of Adaline (2015). She returned to work six months after giving birth to James to begin filming on All I See Is You (2016).
* Martha Stewart and her personal team helped with last-minute details for her wedding to Ryan Reynolds.
* Her engagement ring was designed by Lorraine Schwartz and is reportedly 12 carats.
* Blake's favorite movies include The Wizard of Oz (1939), Holiday Inn (1942), It's a Wonderful Life (1946), Vertigo (1958), Breathless (1960), Annie Hall (1977), Return to Oz (1985), Claymation Christmas Celebration (1987), When Harry Met Sally... (1989), Romeo + Juliet (1996), Waiting for Guffman (1996), Moulin Rouge! (2001), The Lives of Others (2006), Volver (2006), and Ratatouille (2007).
* Loves cooking
* Had once dreamed to go to Stanford after graduating high school.
* Blake's influences include Katharine Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Jean Seberg, Martha Stewart, Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Meg Ryan, Jennifer Aniston, Beyoncé, Marilyn Monroe, Bette Davis, Angelina Jolie, Kate Moss, Sienna Miller, Florence Welch, Diane Kruger, Emma Stone, Jessica Alba, and Zoe Saldana.
* Lively was chosen by designer Karl Lagerfeld as the "face" of Chanel's new "Mademoiselle" handbag line on the January 5, 2011. The ad campaign, shot by Lagerfeld, is expected to premiere mid-March 2011.
* Before her brother Eric encouraged her to go into acting, she'd had no intention to be an actress.
* Daughter of actor Ernie Lively and talent manager Elaine Lively, younger sister of Eric Lively, and younger half-sister of Lori Lively, Jason Lively, and Robyn Lively.
* Ranked #1 on "Ask Men"'s Top 99 "Most Desirable" Women of 2011.
* Ranked as having one of "The Most Beautiful Faces" by "The Annual Independent Critics List of the 100 Most Beautiful Famous Faces From Around the World." She was ranked #39 in 2010, #68 in 2009, and #85 in 2008.
* She stayed busy juggling duties as class president and cheerleader as well as performing with her national championship show choir.
* Her second name Ellender is a variant of Allender. Respelling of German Elender, a nickname for a stranger or newcomer, from Middle High German ellende 'strange', 'foreign', or a habitational name for someone from any of twenty places named Elend, denoting a remote settlement, as for example in the Harz Mountains or in Carinthia, Austria.
* Is considering creating her own fashion line in the future.
* She is of English, Scottish, German, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, and Welsh ancestry. On her father's side, she is the granddaughter of Ernest Wilson Brown, Sr. and Beatrice Gray/Grey Walton. On her mother's side, she is the granddaughter of James Olin McAlpin and Willie Inez Thrash.
* Does not eat anything with gluten or soy.
* She was very close to her The Shallows (2016) co-star Sully Seagull and admitted that she occasionally turned to him for acting advice.
* Her name originates from a surname which was derived from Old English blæc "black" or blac "pale".
* Calls Martha Stewart her idol.
* Ranked #4 on "Maxim" magazine's Hot 100 Women of 2010 list.
* Graduated from Burbank High School in Burbank, California.
* Ranked #13 on "Ask Men"'s Top 99 "Most Desirable Women of 2013".
* Sister-in-law of Bart Johnson, Adam Johnson, and Brad Johnson.
* Ranked #30 in the 2011 FHM Australia list of "100 Sexiest Women in the World".
* Drives a Lexus SC430.
* Ranked #32 on "Ask Men"'s Top 99 "Most Desirable" Women of 2012.
* Ranked #43 on "Maxim" magazine's Hot 100 Women of 2008 list.
* Born at 5:07AM-PDT.
* Born on the same date as Liu Yifei.
== External links ==
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== References ==
Category:Actresses
Category:1987 births
Category:1980s births
Category:20th-century American actresses
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:Actresses from Los Angeles