Blake Lively facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Blake Lively
Lively at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival
Born	Blake Ellender Brown (1987-08-25) August 25, 1987 (age 37) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1998–present
Spouse(s)	Ryan Reynolds ​ (m. 2012)​
Children	4
Parent(s)	Ernie Lively (father)
Family	Eric Lively (brother) Lori Lively (half-sister) Robyn Lively (half-sister) Jason Lively (half-brother)
Signature

Blake Ellender Lively (born August 25, 1987) is an American actress. She is the daughter of actor Ernie Lively. Blake started acting in 1998 in a movie called Sandman, which her father directed.

She became well-known for her role in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005) and its sequel in 2008. Many people also know her as Serena van der Woodsen from the popular TV show Gossip Girl (2007–2012).

Blake has also been in many movies. These include comedies like New York, I Love You (2008) and Café Society (2016). She also starred in thrillers such as The Town (2010) and Savages (2012). Later, she played the main role in The Age of Adaline (2015) and the survival film The Shallows (2016). She also appeared in A Simple Favor (2018) and It Ends with Us (2024).

In 2011, she played Carol Ferris in the superhero movie Green Lantern. On set, she met her future husband, Ryan Reynolds. They got married in 2012 and have four children together. Blake also directed Taylor Swift's music video "I Bet You Think About Me" in 2021.

Early Life and First Roles

Blake Ellender Brown was born on August 25, 1987, in Los Angeles, California. Her mother, Elaine, was a talent scout, and her father, Ernie Lively, was an actor. Blake was named after her grandmother's brother. She has an older brother, Eric, and three half-siblings: Lori, Robyn, and Jason. All of her family members have worked in the entertainment business.

When Blake was a child, she often went with her parents to their acting classes. Her parents did not want to leave her with a babysitter. She said watching them teach helped her learn acting skills and feel more confident. She made her first acting appearance at age 10 in the 1998 film Sandman, directed by her father. She has said it was a small part. At first, she was not very interested in acting. She wanted to go to Stanford University instead.

She went to Burbank High School and finished in 2005. While there, she was a cheerleader, sang in the championship choir, and was class president. Her older brother asked his agent to send her to auditions during the summer. She was then chosen to play Bridget in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005). She filmed her scenes between her junior and senior years of high school.

Career Highlights

Starting Out: 2005–2006

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants came out in 2005. Blake's acting in the movie earned her a nomination for a Teen Choice Award. In 2006, Blake also starred with Justin Long in Accepted. She had smaller parts in the horror film Simon Says. While Accepted did not get great reviews, Blake's acting was praised. She won a 'Breakthrough Award' from Hollywood Life.

Blake then starred in Elvis and Anabelle (2007) as Anabelle. For this role, she worked hard to understand her character. She said it was challenging because she loves food so much. Many critics praised her performance in this film.

Becoming Famous: Gossip Girl (2007–2012)

In 2007, Blake was cast in The CW's TV series Gossip Girl. This show was based on a popular book series. Blake had already put off college for a year. She wanted to turn down the role to go to school. However, she was told she could attend college part-time while filming. She played Serena van der Woodsen in the teen drama until the show ended in 2012. Her first magazine cover was CosmoGirl in November 2007. In the magazine, she talked about her high school days and her career before Gossip Girl.

Lively at the 2011 Toronto Film Festival

In 2008, Blake played Bridget again in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. Just like the first movie, her acting was well-received. The film made over $44 million at the box office. In 2009, she appeared in the romantic comedy New York, I Love You.

Blake played a younger version of the main character in The Private Lives of Pippa Lee (2009). Critics really liked her performance. One critic called her acting "sensational". In 2009, she also started filming her role as Kristina "Kris" Coughlin in The Town (2010). This movie was directed by and starred Ben Affleck. It was released in the United States in September 2010.

In June 2011, Blake played Carol Ferris in the superhero film Green Lantern. She was the female lead and love interest of Hal Jordan. The movie earned over $219 million worldwide. In 2011, Time magazine included her in their list of 100 influential people.

In 2012, Blake starred in Savages. She played Ophelia, replacing Jennifer Lawrence who left to film The Hunger Games. A film critic said Blake's acting was "smart and sad". Also in 2012, she became the face of the new Gucci fragrance, Gucci Premiere. She appeared in a short ad film for the perfume.

Focusing on Movies: Since 2013

Blake starred in The Age of Adaline (2015). She played a woman who stops aging after an accident. Critics said she showed her "potential as a leading lady" in the film. In 2016, Blake starred in the survival horror film The Shallows. The movie received good reviews, and her acting was praised. That same year, she also appeared in a romantic comedy film, Café Society. Blake enjoyed working with the director, saying he knew exactly what he wanted and was "very empowering".

Lively in 2018

Blake also starred in the psychological drama All I See Is You (2016). In 2018, she starred in the mystery-thriller A Simple Favor. She acted alongside Anna Kendrick and Henry Golding. The movie was released in September, and Blake's performance was highly praised.

Blake then starred in The Rhythm Section, which came out in January 2020. Her acting in this film was noted for showing a realistic struggle in dangerous situations.

In May 2021, it was announced that Blake would star in Lady Killer. She made her directing debut as the co-writer and director of the music video for Taylor Swift's song "I Bet You Think About Me". This video was released in November 2021. In April 2022, it was announced that Blake would direct her first feature film. It will be an adaptation of the graphic novel Seconds. In January 2023, it was announced she would star in the film It Ends with Us as Lily Bloom.

In August 2024, Blake and her husband Ryan Reynolds made history. Their movies, It Ends With Us and Deadpool & Wolverine, were the top two films at the box office on the same weekend. This was the first time a married Hollywood couple had two separate films do this since 1990.

Other Interests

Blake Lively loves food and cooking. She has called herself a "foodie and cook". She looks up to Martha Stewart and Nigella Lawson. In 2008, Blake baked a cake with Martha Stewart on her TV show. Blake also attended a cooking workshop at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris in 2010. She has said she wants to go back for more lessons.

When she travels, Blake always takes cooking classes. She believes it helps her learn about the local culture. Blake has also said she wants to open her own restaurant. In 2011, she created a special s'mores cupcake for Sprinkles bakeries. In 2012, her wedding reception was featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, with many pictures of the food. In 2013, she appeared in Elle Decor to talk about designing a custom oven for her home. She also filmed a cooking video for Vogue's website, showing how to make a brie pastry.

In 2014, Blake launched Preserve. It was a digital magazine and online store that sold unique, handmade items she chose. In October 2015, Blake closed the site. She said it was launched too soon and she planned to rebuild it later.

In 2024, Blake launched Blake Brown, a haircare line that does not test on animals.

Personal Life

From 2007 to 2010, Blake was in a relationship with her Gossip Girl co-star Penn Badgley.

Blake first met Ryan Reynolds in early 2010 while filming Green Lantern. They started dating in October 2011. They got married on September 9, 2012, in South Carolina. They have four children, born in December 2014, September 2016, October 2019, and February 2023. The family lives in Pound Ridge, New York. Blake and Ryan are good friends with singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. Taylor Swift named characters in her song "Betty" after their daughters. In November 2024, it was announced that Taylor Swift is the godmother to Blake's three daughters.

After the civil rights protests in 2020, Ryan Reynolds apologized for their wedding location. He said they chose it because it looked nice on Pinterest. But they later realized it was a place with a sad history related to slavery. He said they later got married again at home. He expressed regret and said it made them want to take action.

Helping Others and Endorsements

During the 2008 United States presidential election, Blake Lively supported Barack Obama. Blake and Penn Badgley appeared in a commercial to encourage young people to vote for Obama. In 2013, she was in a video for Gucci's "Chime for Change" campaign. This campaign raises money and awareness for women's issues in education, health, and justice. Blake has also worked to help raise awareness for missing and exploited children. She supports law enforcement efforts to find them.

In 2011, Blake became a spokeswoman for Chanel and their new Mademoiselle handbag. In October 2013, she became a spokeswoman for L'Oreal.

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Blake Lively para niños