Blake Ellender Brown was born on August 25, 1987,[2] in theTarzana neighborhood ofLos Angeles, California.[3] Her mother, Elaine Lively (née McAlpin), worked as a talent scout, and her father,Ernie Lively (né Brown), was an actor.[4] Lively was named after her grandmother's brother.[5][6] She has an older brother,Eric, and three half-siblings from her mother's previous marriage,Lori,Robyn, andJason. Her parents and siblings have all worked in theentertainment industry.[7][8]
During Lively's childhood, her parents took her along to the acting classes they taught, rather than leave her with babysitters. She later said that watching her parents teach helped her learn the "drills" and gain confidence as she got older and began working in the industry herself.[8][9] She made her professional debut at age 10, appearing in the 1998 filmSandman, directed by her father. Lively describes her role as a "bit part."[10] She was initially not interested in acting and wanted to attendStanford University.[5]
She is a 2005 graduate ofBurbank High School,[11] where she was a cheerleader, a member of the championship choir, and class president.[12] Her elder brother asked his talent agent to send her to several auditions during the summer months.[4] Subsequently, cast as Bridget inThe Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005), she filmed her scenes between her junior and senior years of high school.[13]
Career
2005–2006: Career beginnings
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was released in 2005. Lively's performance earned her a nomination for aTeen Choice Award for "Choice Movie Breakout – Female".[14] In 2006, Lively co-starred withJustin Long inAccepted, 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' fromHollywood Life.[15] Lively starred inElvis and Anabelle (2007) as Anabelle, abulimic girl who hoped to win a beauty pageant.[16] She saidof 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 was "the No. 1 love of my life."[17]
2007–2012:Gossip Girl
Lively was cast inThe CW's seriesGossip Girl, based on the novel seriesGossip Girl byCecily von Ziegesar, which premiered in September 2007.[18] 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").[19] She played the role ofSerena van der Woodsen in the teen drama until 2012 when the show ended.[20][21] Her first magazine cover was the November 2007 issue ofCosmoGirl, where she discussed her time in high school and her career prior toGossip Girl.[22]
In 2008, Lively reprised her role as Bridget in the sequelThe Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. Similarly to the first film, Lively's performance was positively received by critics.[23] As of November 2008, the film had earned over $44 million at the box office.[24] In 2009, she appeared as Gabrielle DiMarco in the romantic comedyNew York, I Love You, a sequel to the 2006 filmParis, je t'aime. Despite positive critical reception, the film failed at the box office.[25][26]
Lively portrayed the younger version of the titlular character inThe Private Lives of Pippa Lee (2009) to critical acclaim.[27] Paul Byrnes, of theBrisbane Times, described her performance in the film as "sensational".[28] In October 2009, she began filming her scenes for her role as Kristina "Kris" Coughlin in the 2010 filmThe Town, based onChuck Hogan's novelPrince of Thieves.[29] The film, which was directed by and starredBen 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."[30] In December of that year, she appeared in the music video forThe Lonely Island's "I Just Had Sex" together withJessica Alba.[31] Lively playedCarol Ferris, the female lead and love interest ofHal Jordan in the superhero filmGreen Lantern, which was released in June 2011.[32] The film grossed a worldwide total of $219,851,172.[33] In 2011 she was featured in the annualTime magazine 100 influential people.[34] Additionally,AskMen.com named her the most desirable woman of 2011[35] andPeople magazine named her one of 2012's Most Beautiful at Every Age.[36]
She starred in the filmThe Age of Adaline (2015), oppositeMichiel Huisman andHarrison Ford, playing a woman who "stops aging after recovering from a near-fatal accident."[39][40][41]The Atlantic stated that she showed her "potential as aleading 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.[42] In 2016, Lively starred in thesurvivalhorror filmThe Shallows.[43] It received positive reviews and her performance was praised by critics.[44] That year, she also starred inWoody Allen's romantic comedy film,Café Society which premiered at the69th Cannes Film Festival. 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".[45]
Lively next played the lead, a drug-addicted prostitute turned assassin, inThe Rhythm Section, the film adaptation of the Mark Burnell novelThe Rhythm Section, produced byBarbara Broccoli andMichael G. Wilson, and directed byReed Morano.[52] The film was released byParamount Pictures on January 31, 2020.[53]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."[54][55]
In May 2021, it was announced that Lively would star inLady Killer as the lead character, Josie Schuller.[56] 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-songwriterChris Stapleton, released on November 15, 2021, from Swift's re-recorded albumRed (Taylor's Version) (2021).[57] In April 2022, it was announced Lively would make her feature directing debut with an adaptation of the graphic novelSeconds byBryan Lee O'Malley, withEdgar Wright writing the screenplay and producing.[58] In January 2023, it was announced that she would star in thefilm adaptation of Colleen Hoover's novelIt Ends with Us as the lead character, Lily Bloom.[59]
In August 2024, Lively and her husbandRyan Reynolds became the first married Hollywood couple to have two separate films in which they starred top the box office on the same weekend sinceBruce Willis andDemi Moore in 1990, when their respective filmsIt Ends With Us andDeadpool & Wolverine occupied the number one and number two spots at the box office during the August 9–11 weekend.[60][61]
In response, Justin Baldoni filed a libel lawsuit for $250 million againstThe New York Times accusing them of pushing an "unverified and self-serving narrative" using “cherry-picked and altered communications stripped of necessary context and deliberately spliced to mislead,” and allegedly ignoring evidence disputing her claims.[74]The New York Times defended itself: "The role of an independent news organization is to follow the facts where they lead...To date, Wayfarer Studios, Mr. Baldoni, the other subjects of the article and their representatives have not pointed to a single error."[75]
On the same day Baldoni filed suit against theNew York Times, Lively filed a federal suit against Baldoni for the same issues from her complaint to the Civil Rights Department (which had not yet been an official lawsuit, but merely a complaint to a department).[76] Journalist Matt Schimkowitz argued that "ironically, Baldoni's lawsuit all but challenged Lively to do this, arguing that her filing a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department last week was to avoid scrutiny of a lawsuit. Unfortunately for Baldoni, this latest filing makes much of Baldoni's defenses murkier."[77]
On January 16, 2025, Baldoni's attorney,Bryan Freedman, toldNBC that his client filed a $400 million counter suit against Lively and Reynolds for defamation, extortion, and invasion of privacy.[78][79][80] The original suit againstThe New York Times was dismissed after the paper was also named as a defendant in the new suit.[81] On January 31, Baldoni filed a 168-page timeline of events, including several text messages and contemporaneous details that provided more context into the environment during production, to dispute the notion that either sexual harassment or a smear campaign took place and to support the assertion that Lively had conducted a smear campaign against him.[82][83]
On June 9, Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed Baldoni's entire suit. While he did not evaluate any facts of the case, he found Lively's accusations of sexual harassment "legally protected" due to being part of a legal proceeding and thus immune from a lawsuit.[84] He also wrote thatThe New York Times "reviewed the available evidence and reported, perhaps in a dramatized manner, what it believed to have happened".[81] However, Liman allowed Baldoni to "amend and refile a couple of allegations regarding interference with contracts." Lively’s original complaint is currently set to go to trial March 2026.[84]
On July 16, the judge dismissed alleged "social media guru" Jed Wallace from Lively's case.[85]On August 8, Lively filed a motion against Baldoni arguing that she should be awarded several million dollars for her attorney's fees and costs for the frivolous defamation lawsuit filed by Baldoni.[86]
Other ventures
Lively has described herself as a "foodie and cook",[87] and has said thatMartha Stewart is her "idol". She has also said that she is a fan ofNigella Lawson's work.[88] In 2008, Lively baked a cake with Stewart during an episode ofThe Martha Stewart Show.[89] Lively attended a 2010 tailor-made workshop atLe Cordon Bleu in Paris, and has spoken of her desire to return to the culinary school for further instruction.[90]
She has remarked that, when travelling, she always takes cookery classes to immerse herself in the local culture.[91][92] Lively has also spoken publicly of her desire to become a restaurateur.[93][94] In 2011, she created as'mores cupcake to be sold atSprinkles bakeries.[95] In 2012, Lively's wedding reception was featured inMartha Stewart Weddings; food photography was the focal point of the picture spread. In 2013, she appeared inElle Decor to recount her experiences designing a customLa Cornue oven for her newly purchased Bedford home.[96] She filmed a cooking segment in 2013 forVogue's website, demonstrating how to make a brie pastry.[97]
Lively launchedPreserve in 2014, a digital magazine and e-commerce website with hand-made one-of-a-kind items all selected by Lively.[98] In October, 2015, Lively closed the site, stating that it had been launched before it was ready and that she planned rebuild and relaunch it properly.[99] In 2025, six former staffers of Preserve alleged that they experienced a "toxic" working environment resulting in one allegedly receiving a settlement of up to $300,000 after threatening legal action.[100]
In 2021, Lively launched Betty Buzz,[101] a line ofnon-alcoholic drink mixers. In 2023, Lively launched Betty Booze, a line of alcoholic canned cocktails.[102] In 2024, Lively launched Blake Brown, a cruelty-free haircare line.[103][104]
Personal life
Lively with future husband Ryan Reynolds, promotingGreen Lantern at Comic-Con 2010
From 2007 to 2010, Lively was in a relationship with herGossip Girl co-starPenn Badgley.[105][106]
Following thecivil rightsprotests in 2020, Lively's husband Reynolds publicly apologized and expressed regret for their use of the Boone Hall Plantation due to its association withslavery, stating: "What we saw at the time was a wedding venue onPinterest. What we saw after was a place built upon devastating tragedy. Years ago we got married again at home—but shame works in weird ways. A giant fucking mistake like that can either cause you to shut down or it can reframe things and move you into action...Re-patterning and challenging lifelong social conditioning is a job that doesn't end."[119][120]
In a 2012 conversation withAllure, Lively said that shedoes not drink and has never tried drugs.[121]
Advocacy and endorsements
During the2008 United States presidential election, Lively expressed her support forBarack Obama. Lively andPenn Badgley appeared in a pro-Obama commercial, as part ofMoveOn.org's Youth Vote program. The commercial, directed byDoug Liman, aired duringGossip Girl on the CW,MTV andComedy Central.[122] In 2013, she appeared in a video clip forGucci's "Chime for Change" campaign that aims to raise funds and awareness of women's issues in the areas of education, health, andjustice.[123] In addition, Lively has worked to heighten public awareness of missing and exploited children and on-going efforts of law enforcement on their behalf.[124]
In 2011, Lively became a spokeswoman forChanel and their new Mademoiselle handbag.[125] In October 2013, she became a spokeswoman forL'Oreal.[126]
^Tabouring, Franck (October 12, 2009)."Movie Review: 'New York, I Love You'".Screening Blogs. Archived from the original on October 19, 2009. RetrievedNovember 13, 2009.
^"Blake Lively is a contraband cook".The Irish Independent. September 4, 2012. Archived from the original on July 2, 2013. RetrievedMay 28, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^Blowers, Brendan (May 11, 2018)."Ryan Reynolds And Blake Lively's Pastoral New York Paradise". Haute Media Group.Archived from the original on June 6, 2019. RetrievedJune 6, 2019.When they do manage to escape the seemingly endless press junkets and paparazzi shutterfests, Ryan and Blake recoup and re-center their family on 1.8 acres of a bucolic garden estate in Pound Ridge, NY.
^"The 2010 WAFCA Award Winners" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The Washington, D.C. Area Film Critics Association. December 6, 2010.Archived from the original on July 8, 2015. RetrievedMay 23, 2018.
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