Blake Lively biography, husband, daughters, age, net worth, height 2025

Blake Lively - biography

Blake Christina Lively shot to fame as the star of the hit TV series Gossip Girl. Her role as Serena van der Woodsen launched her career into the spotlight. But this exceptional American actress has delivered many other standout moments and memorable performances throughout her career. Net worth: $30 million.

Blake Lively's smile is totally irresistible

Blake Lively – early years

Blake Lively was born in Tarzana, a small California neighborhood. Her parents - Ernie and Elaine Lively - were actors. While Elaine never broke through as a major actress and eventually became a talent agent, Ernie regularly appeared in popular TV shows, though mostly in roles like guards and motel managers. Besides Blake, the family had four older children (two brothers and two sisters) who all found their way into the entertainment industry to varying degrees.

Blake Lively credits her older brother Eric (known for his starring role in Butterfly Effect 2) with inspiring her to pursue acting. That's how 11-year-old Blake began attending film auditions and landed her first role as the Tooth Fairy in Sandman (1998).

The first film appearance of Blake Lively, Sandman(1998)

Her first job in the film industry was successful. After that, young Blake Lively became a regular at Los Angeles film screenings. She started taking acting classes and learning from her older family members. Despite her best efforts, she had to wait seven years for her next film opportunity. But it was worth the wait – she soon surpassed both her brother and parents in terms of career success.

Blake Lively's first roles

The 2005 film The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants marked the young actress's first major breakthrough. This heartwarming and inspiring film followed four young friends (also starring Amber Tamblyn, Alexis Bledel, and America Ferrera) whose lives are transformed by a pair of magical jeans. The film was a hit with both audiences and critics, leading the actresses to immediately sign on for a sequel released in 2007. Her role as the spirited Bridget earned Blake Lively her first Teen Choice Award nomination, along with widespread recognition and fame. She was now seen as one of the most promising young actresses in teen cinema.

Blake Lively in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Blake decided to build on this success and signed on for the teen comedy Accepted, starring Justin Long. She then appeared in the low-budget horror film Simon Says, which fortunately for Blake never received wide release. However, the drama Elvis and Annabelle (2007) became a genuine sensation.

Vogue: 73 questions to Blake Lively

Gossip Girl and new peaks of Blake Lively's career

The story behind the project that literally turned Blake Lively's life upside down, making her one of Hollywood's most sought-after stars, began quite simply. The creator of Lonely Hearts stumbled upon a book by Cecily von Ziegesar. The book followed the adventures of elite private school students, all closely watched by a mysterious blogger known as Gossip Girl.

Gossip Girl: Blake Lively as Serena van der Woodsen

Initially, producers envisioned the main character – 20-year-old Serena van der Woodsen, the ultimate golden girl – being played by the scandalous Lindsay Lohan, who shared many similarities with bad girl Serena. But when Lohan passed on the role, Blake Lively landed the part after extensive casting sessions. Many felt Blake didn't match the book's description of Serena, but her talent for embodying a spoiled rich girl more than made up for any perceived shortcomings.

Blake Lively's make-up in Gossip Girl

The television series premiered in the fall of 2007 on the Canadian channel CTV, but only a couple of months later it began to be broadcast in the USA and Western Europe. By the second season, the show's popularity had reached incredible heights. Gossip Girl ranked among TV's biggest hits, drawing larger audiences than well-established series like Supernatural and The Big Bang Theory.

As the TV show's popularity soared, so did Blake Lively's fame – she was the one bringing the leading role to life. In the three years since the premiere of Gossip Girl, Lively has been nominated for many prestigious awards and won the Teen Choice Awards twice. After the success of Gossip Girl, Blake Lively made a smooth transition from teen comedies and soap operas to Hollywood blockbusters. This led to her 2009 role in the drama The Private Lives of Pippa Lee alongside Keanu Reeves, Julianne Moore, Winona Ryder and Monica Bellucci.

A shot from The Private Lives of Pippa Lee with Blake Lively

In 2010, Blake Lively added The Town to her filmography; this film was subsequently nominated for the Oscar. Blake read the script right on the Gossip Girl set and was amazed by how different this criminal thriller character was from her usual roles – no more spoiled rich girls or flirty socialites. Intrigued by the challenge, she decided to go for it.

Know It All with Blake Lively

At her first audition, she had to perform a scene with Ben Affleck. She was auditioning for Krista – a single Boston mother, drug addict, and prostitute. From the very first words, her stage partner was impressed with her naturalistic Boston accent. Affleck was shocked to discover that Blake had actually lived her entire life in California. Since Affleck was both starring in and directing the film, Blake got the part immediately. Although the film never won an Oscar, it did bring Blake the National Board of Review award, as well as the Washington Film Critics Association award.

In The Town Blake Lively played a drug addict and a prostitute

In 2011, the young actress appeared in the films Hick and Savages and played the main female role in the Hollywood blockbuster Green Lantern, which would prove to be life-changing. But not because this DC Comics-based action film managed to eclipse her Gossip Girl character. On the set, she met Ryan Reynolds, and sparks flew between them – just like in the movies. However, their relationship was not as simple as it appeared to be at first glance.

For the role in Green Lantern Blake Lively dyed her hair dark

After taking some time off, Blake returned to work with renewed energy, diving into new projects. In 2015, audiences watched her take the lead in the romantic fantasy The Age of Adaline, where Blake gracefully embodied an immortal woman searching for her true love.

Blake Lively in The Age of Adaline

In 2016, Blake Lively starred in the survival thriller The Shallows – not even her pregnancy could stop her from playing a brave surfer trapped by a deadly shark.

In 2016 Blake Lively appeared in the catastrophe movie The Shallows

Next came Café Society, Woody Allen's complete departure from her previous work, where Blake signed on without even reading the script—that's the power of Allen's legendary reputation.

Blake Lively took on another compelling role in 2016 as Gina in the drama All I See Is You. She portrayed a woman born blind who suddenly regains her sight, only to uncover dark secrets about her family.

Blake Lively headlined the dark comedy thriller A Simple Favor in 2018. This is a story about a blogger mother played by Anna Kendrick, who is investigating the disappearance of a friend.

Blake Lively: personal life

Blake Lively didn't date anyone until she was 17. She had plenty of admirers, but according to the actress herself, she was too shy to accept their advances.

The young Blake Lively had a ton of admirers

The actress's first serious relationship was with her high school friend Kelly Blatz. They dated for three years – from 2004 to 2007, before breaking up for reasons they kept private. One possible reason was Blake's move to New York to start filming Gossip Girl.

Blake Lively and Kelly Blatz, her schooltime love

The next boyfriend of the charming blonde was the actor Penn Badgley - aka Dan Humphrey from Gossip Girl. In the show, his character had a crush on the stunning Serena; apparently, the actor carried those feelings over to Blake in real life too. However, three years later, Blake's film career was taking off with new movie roles, while Penn's career stalled. Feeling overshadowed, he ended their relationship as her star continued to rise. After that, Blake was seen in the company of Ryan Gosling: the actress accompanied him to the premiere of Blue Valentine, they were seen in restaurants together several times, but ...

Blake Lively and Penn Badgley dated for three years

Soon after, Blake was spotted with a new boyfriend – one the paparazzi knew all too well. It was the charming Ryan Reynolds, star of psychological thriller Buried and superhero blockbuster Green Lantern. They met on the set of Green Lantern. It turns out that while working together, sparks flew between them, leading Ryan to stray from his marriage to, Scarlett Johannson.

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds met on the set of Green Lantern

They came together to the premiere of Green Lantern in March 2011. This got fans talking, but their relationship hit a snag right from the start: Blake had an affair with Leonardo DiCaprio, while Reynolds was seen with Charlize Theron.

Blake Lively and Leonardo di Caprio had a short affair

So when news broke that Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively had secretly married in Charleston, South Carolina in September 2012, it came as a total shock. Turns out they'd bought a cozy $2 million family home in Westchester County, New York just months before.

Wedding photo of Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds

For their second wedding anniversary, Blake Lively gave her husband the ultimate gift - she was pregnant. Leading up to their first child's birth, the couple regularly attended high-profile social events, and Blake - who looked stunning throughout her pregnancy - consistently wowed tabloid readers with her elegant outfits. In December 2014, baby girl James Reynolds was born. Unfortunately, the private parents chose not to share any photos of their newborn daughter, so pictures of Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds' first child never appeared online.

Fans learned about Blake Lively's second pregnancy in summer 2016, and by the end of September, Blake and Ryan's second daughter was born. In August 2019, Blake and Ryan welcomed another daughter, but they haven't disclosed her name.

Blake Lively now

In 2019, Blake Lively was busy filming the thriller "The Rhythm Section", which follows a woman trying to survive after a plane crash. The film premiered in 2020.

She continues to stay active on Instagram, regularly delighting fans with charming photos featuring her husband, Ryan Reynolds. Lovers often make fun of each other in the comments.

Annie Robinson

I am so moved by her alliance with Reynolds - the most adorable couple in Hollywood! Even if she is an average actress, it means a good wife and mother

2021-05-06 14:55:10
Adam Bryan Johnson

«Gossip girl» ensured her success, as she starred there immediately went up the hill. Well, marriage with Reynolds :) otherwise it is not known what kind of fate would have been

2021-05-02 23:50:48
Brenda Smith

Lively starred in the teenage «Gossip Girl» before, and now it`s time to appear in TV series for housewives

2021-04-19 09:26:45
Xavier Joshua Reed

It is strange to see her in a serious movie, she is more suitable for comedy

2021-04-13 09:09:40
Deborah Ortiz

Bright, everywhere she shines, but it seems to me too much with plastic

2021-03-17 10:43:15

Photos: Blake Lively