Blake Lively

Blake Lively was born in Tarzana in west LA. She is the youngest of five, having two elder sisters, and two elder brothers. Acting is in the whole family’s blood. Both her parents and all her siblings are professional actors – to quote Blake herself My whole family's been in the business. My whole family is crazy.

In 1998 her father, who was directing the children’s fantasy adventure movie Sandman, gave Blake her first part, playing the Tooth Fairy. This was Blake’s first appearance of many on a castlist.

Blake left high school in 2005 to take up an offer of a lead role in the qwirky and sweet comedy The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. In the movie four best girlfriends stay in touch with each other by sharing a magical pair of jeans. Blake, playing Bridget, one of the foursome, put in a natural and attractive performance.

The next two years saw Blake taking small little-noticed parts in the horror Simon Says and the comedy Accepted. In 2007 Blake returned to a starring role in the sequel, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2.

2007 also saw Blake take a part in the new teen TV series Gossip Girl. The series rapidly garnered a huge following, propelling Blake to super-stardom.