Blake Lively is an American actress and entrepreneur born August 25, 1987, in Los Angeles, California, to actor-director Ernie Lively and talent scout Elaine Lively. She gained international recognition starring as Serena van der Woodsen in CW’s Gossip Girl from 2007-2012, earning $60,000 per episode in final seasons. Her film career includes The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Green Lantern, and It Ends with Us, which she produced and starred in during 2024.
How does an actress shift from a childhood debut in her father’s film to becoming one of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars? Blake Ellender Brown, born August 25, 1987, in Los Angeles, California, represents a quintessential entertainment industry success story, evolving from a brief childhood appearance to sustained mainstream prominence across multiple decades.
The daughter of actor-director Ernie Lively and talent scout Elaine Lively, she entered an environment where entertainment connections were established family assets. During her formative years at Burbank High School, she demonstrated leadership qualities as senior class president while participating in cheerleading and choir activities, suggesting early signs of the public presence that would later define her career.
Her professional trajectory began unconventionally with a debut at age 10 in Sandman (1998), directed by her father, where she portrayed Trixie, the Tooth Fairy. Following a seven-year hiatus from acting, she secured her breakthrough role as Bridget in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005), subsequently returning for the 2008 sequel. This progression established her credibility within the young adult demographic.
Her unconventional path from childhood fairy role to young adult breakout demonstrated early strategic career positioning within targeted demographics.
The defining moment of her career arrived with her casting as Serena van der Woodsen in CW’s Gossip Girl, which aired from 2007 to 2012. This series-defining role generated international recognition and established her as a household name, while simultaneously allowing her to explore film opportunities in projects such as New York, I Love You (2008). Her salary progression reflected her growing popularity, earning $60,000 per episode during the final seasons.
Her filmography expanded to encompass diverse genres, including romantic comedies, thrillers, and action films. Remarkable projects include Green Lantern (2011), The Town (2010), The Age of Adaline (2015), The Shallows (2016), and A Simple Favor (2018). Her most significant commercial achievement came with It Ends with Us (2024), which she both headlined and produced, though the project involved legal disputes with co-star Justin Baldoni.
Beyond acting, she has expanded into directing, particularly helming Taylor Swift‘s music video “I Bet You Think About Me” in 2021. Her business ventures include founding beverage company Betty Buzz and maintaining brand ambassador relationships with fashion and beauty companies. Her entrepreneurial spirit extends to the culinary world, where she attended Le Cordon Bleu workshops in Paris to develop her cooking skills.
Her personal life includes marriage to actor Ryan Reynolds and raising five children. Recognition of her cultural impact includes inclusion in TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people lists in both 2011 and 2025.
Her sustained presence across film, television, fashion, and business demonstrates a calculated expansion from her entertainment industry origins into broader cultural influence.
