Blake Lively Biography

Summary

"Blake Ellender Lively" (born "Blake Ellender Brown"; August 25, 1987) is an American actress and model who starred as Serena van der Woodsen in the television teen drama series "Gossip Girl". She has also appeared in movies, including "Accepted", "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants", "The Private Lives of Pippa Lee", "The Town", "Green Lantern", and "Savages".

Early life

Lively was born in Tarzana, Los Angeles, California, the daughter of actors Elaine Lively (née McAlpin) and Ernie Lively (born Ernest W. Brown). She was raised as a Southern Baptist. She is the youngest of five children: she has an older brother, Eric, two half-sisters, Lori and Robyn, and a half-brother, Jason. Both of her parents and all of her siblings are, or have been, in the entertainment industry. During Lively's childhood, her parents took her with them to acting classes that they taught because they did not want to leave her with a babysitter. Lively said that watching her parents teach acting classes helped her learn the 'drills' of acting and gain confidence as she got older.

Lively was initially not particularly interested in acting. During the summer between her junior and senior years of high school, her brother Eric asked his agent to send her on a few auditions over a period of a few months. From these few auditions, she got the role of Bridget for "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants". Lively filmed her scenes in "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" between her junior and senior years at Burbank High School.

Career

Lively at the New York premiere of "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2" on August 8, 2008 in New York City

Lively began her acting career at age 11, when she appeared in the 1998 film "Sandman", which was directed by Lively's father. Lively describes her role in the film as having been a 'bit part'. Lively appeared in the film adaptation of the novel of the same name, "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants", in 2005 as Bridget, one of the four female leads. Lively's performance in the film earned her a nomination for a Teen Choice Award for 'Choice Movie Breakout - Female.

In 2006, she co-starred with Justin Long in "Accepted", and Lively had minor roles in the horror film, "Simon Says". While "Accepted" was not well received by critics, Lively's performance was, earning her a 'Breakthrough Award' from Hollywood Life. In 2007, Lively played one of the two title characters in "Elvis and Anabelle" as Anabelle, a bulimic girl who hoped to win a beauty pageant. Lively said of getting into character for the role that she had 'shed serious weight' for her height. Lively 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'.

Lively was cast in the CW's series "Gossip Girl", based on the book series of the same name by Cecily von Ziegesar, which premiered in September 2007. She played Serena van der Woodsen in the teen drama. Her first magazine cover was the November 2007 issue of "Cosmo Girl", where she discussed her time in high school and her career prior to "Gossip Girl".

In 2008, Lively reprised her role in the sequel, "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2". Similar to the first film, Lively was positively received by critics. As of November 2009, the film had earned over $44 million at the box office. In 2009, Lively appeared as Gabrielle DiMarco, a minor role in the romantic comedy, "New York, I Love You", a sequel to the 2006 film "Paris, je t'aime". Despite positive reception from critics, the film had a poor box office performance.

Lively in September 2010

One of Lively's most acclaimed roles to date is her supporting role playing the younger version of the title character in "The Private Lives of Pippa Lee" (2009). Paul Byrnes, of the "Brisbane Times", described Lively's performance in the film as being 'sensational'. In October 2009, Lively began filming her scenes for her role as Krista Coughlin, in the 2010 film "The Town", based on Chuck Hogan's novel "Prince of Thieves". In the film, Lively's role has been described as 'the sister of Jem and Doug's ex-girlfriend who has a 19-month old daughter, Shyne.' The film, which also stars Ben Affleck, was released in the United States on September 17, 2010 to critical acclaim. In an interview with "Marie Claire", Lively stated that she wasn't relying on her career as an actress, that having her own interior decorating firm could be a substitute as a back-up plan, and because of her 'fascination' with 'colors and textures and layering things.'

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. but was considered as a summer flop as it 'failed to perform to expectations' even though it grossed more than its budget. Lively appeared in the music video for The Lonely Island's 'I Just Had Sex' together with Jessica Alba in December 2010.

In 2012, she starred in Oliver Stone's "Savages" alongside Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Johnson, Salma Hayek, and John Travolta. "HitFix" film critic Drew McWeeny was positive of Lively's work which he described as 'smart and sad precisely because she plays O as such a broken, needy little soul'. Lively was originally considered for the lead role in Steven Soderbergh's "The Side Effects". It was later reported that Rooney Mara would replace her. Also in 2012, Lively was chosen as the face of the new Gucci fragrance titled Gucci Premiere. She appeared in a short film ad directed by Nicolas Winding Refn for the fragrance.

Personal life

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 CW, MTV and Comedy Central.

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.

Relationships

Lively dated actor Kelly Blatz from 2004 to 2007; the two had been friends since childhood. Lively dated actor Penn Badgley from late 2007 to mid-September 2010.

Lively began dating her "Green Lantern" co-star, Ryan Reynolds, in October 2011. In June 2012 she and Reynolds purchased a cottage in Bedford, New York, for $2 million. The couple married on September 9, 2012, at Boone Hall in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.

Lively at the 2011 , where she was included as one of the most influential people in the world.