Category: Articles & Interviews

Cosmopolitan – September 2008

Thanks to a starring role on the addictive Gossip Girl, a new movie, and a high-profile romance, she’s Hollywood’s proverbial It Girl. One more thing: You know you love her.

Blake Lively is starving. She slides into a booth at a charming restaurant in New York City’s West Village and immediately buries her head in the menu. “Let’s share a bunch of stuff,” she says, then adds, “On average, I order about three meals for myself in one sitting.” She isn’t kidding. Two bread baskets, two appetizers, two pasta entrées, and three desserts later, she decides that’s enough food…to start with.

But there’s good reason for Blake’s ravenous appetite. As one of the breakout stars of television’s most buzzed-about show, Gossip Girl, she’s spent the last several months working 18-hour days. And that’s in addition to promoting her new flick, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, in which she plays a college student coming to terms with her mother’s death. Though she looks every bit the chosen Hollywood starlet (she’s dressed in skinny jeans, black ballet flats, and a leather bomber jacket), she hardly acts it. “I don’t drink. I don’t do drugs. But I do sleep around a lot,” she deadpans, before busting into laughter.

The fact is, her own high school experience in Burbank, California, was a far cry from her character’s ultraprivileged existence. While Serena van der Woodsen spends her time sipping champagne at the Palace Hotel dressed in designer clothes, Blake, now 21, was more of a gung-ho overachiever. “I was class president, on the cheerleading squad, in a competitive show choir, and in, like, six different clubs,” she says. She even sported a bulldog costume to act as mascot for some football games. That up-for-anything attitude is what helped her break into acting. She got her first gig (in the original Sisterhood movie) because her brother, also an actor, thought she would like performing and asked his agent to send her on a couple auditions.

On being nothing like her on-scre­en persona Serena van der Woodsen: “I was class president, on the cheerleading squad, in a competitive show choir, and in, like, six different clubs.”

On what she sees in a boyfriend: “I don’t want to date someone just to date someone. I want to be with a guy who’s going to be better my quality of life, better me.”

On kissing and telling: “I’ve kissed just three people, other than stuff I’ve done for TV or movies. I know — I’m weird.” ­

On her steady relationship with costar Penn Badgley: “I hope Brad Pitt doesn’t hear this. He’s never going to want to marry me.”

The Blake Lively Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants Interview

Fresh from her huge Teen Choice win and a bunch of awards for Gossip Girl to brag about, Blake Lively hits the big screen nearly simultaneously, with Sisterhood 2. In the movie, those gossipy girlfriends in their own right have moved on from high school to higher education, leaving the past behind except for those pants that cling in more ways than one.

Blake stopped by to drop hints about the movie, and what may be new and different juicy stuff on the show regarding her small screen persona, that preppy party girl Serena van der Woodsen. The lanky lady was also emphatic about shooting down all those rumors concerning just how tall she may or may not be.

First things first. What was Jesse Williams wearing when he dropped his drawers in the movie?

BLAKE LIVELY: Some underwear, I’m sure!

Speaking of clothes or the lack of them, is your own fashion sense anything like the characters you play?

BL: Well Bridget is like Indiana Jones, and I don’t dress like that. And I don’t wear soccer oufits. So mine is very different. That was an easy answer for me!

Yeah, I was like Indian Jones in this movie, and that’s crazy for me. You know, those swooping hats. It was awesome. But I dress a little different than that.

Continue reading The Blake Lively Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants Interview

Seventeen – August 2008

Blake Lively is the cover girl on Seventeen’s August issue, witch hits newsstands on Tuesday, July 8th. The interview and the shoot is all new and I can’t wait to get my hand on scans and outtakes that I can share with you guys, if anyone wants to contribute you can email me at fansitesdotcom [at] gmail.com.

On her real-life high school compared to Gossip Girl: “Oh, my goodness, my real-life high school experience could not be more different than Gossip Girl. Burbank feels like a small town in the big city of L.A. So for a fun night out, we would go to school fund-raisers. I was very involved in school – I was class president! And all of my friends were good – nobody was too wild. The kids on Gossip Girl enjoy getting a great education, but they couldn’t care less about school itself. But I think at the core, everyone deals with similar things in high school: jealousy, people making up rumors, dating someone you shouldn’t, or wanting to be with someone who’s unattainable.”

On her most awkward moment on Gossip Girl: “Chace and I had to do that scene in the first episode when I’m sitting on his lap on the barstool. Then they call, ‘Cut!’ and I just have to sit on the lap of this guy I met two weeks before! And I’m like, ‘So, you want to get some pizza tonight or something?’ What do you even talk about?!? It’s not as romantic as people think it is.”

On playing Guitar Hero: “I play in tournaments in Brooklyn. I’ll cover myself in sailor tattoos and dress like a rock star. Everyone else dresses totally normally and must think I’m a complete freak!”

On being compared to a hotel heiress: “I once heard someone say that I’m similar to Paris Hilton – since I have a dog and blonde hair, that must mean we’re alike. “It’s a dumb thing to say. I dont think that makes Paris and me similar … I don’t go to clubs, I don’t party, I don’t dance on tables, and I don’t like sex tapes.”

On her relationship with her on-and-off-screen boyfriend and how actors fall for each other: “Penn [Badgley]does these silly dance moves, and he’s very witty and quick, so it’s fun to have sharp banter with him… When you’re saying these words [from the script] that people are making you say to one another, nothing about it is real or genuine. So if two people connect outside their characters, then that’s how they get together.”

On being passionate: “When I care about somebody, whether it’s my best friend or somebody who I would date, I give them all of my heart. I’ve just been so loved, and I’m used to really loving people and trusting them.”

Teen Vogue – March 2008

Blake is on the cover of Teen Vogue magazine. Hopefully I’ll get my hand on the magazine very soon, so I can scan the pages. Here’s what I found on their webpage:

TOP SHOPPER: This chic actress has developed quite an eye for style. She took copious notes on some of her favorite pieces—such as a Richard Chai white-striped waistcoat, a black leather and elastic Burberry belt, and Manolo Blahnik for Alexander Wang white cutout pumps—so she could buy them in New York!

NOT TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL: Blake couldn’t wait to get home to spend QT with her Gossip Girl cast. “We do everything together. It’s like being freshmen in college,” she says. “I found my passion when I started acting, but I was sad that I had to miss out on school. So it’s nice to have a collegiate experience.”

BLAKE, ON SERENA: “Everyone thinks I’m like her. Hello, it’s called acting. My idea of a good time in high school was going to Fuddruckers for a show-choir fund-raiser, not hanging out at the Palace Hotel sipping martinis.”

BLAKE, ON FAME: “My life is no longer anonymous. A few days ago, we were filming, and by the time we came outside, six hundred people were waiting for us. I felt like a Spice Girl!”

BLAKE, ON RUMORS: “They make up stuff about me and Leighton [Meester] ‘feuding.’ There’s always going to be drama on set, but it’s just not true that we dislike each other. Or that we’re all dating each other!”

BLAKE, ON DATING CO-STAR PENN BADGLEY: “I try not to talk about my dating life. I want to, but once you start, it’s all downhill from there.”

Staying grounded priority for lively Gossip Girl star

Another little intreview with oyr girl Blake, found it at NWAnews.com.

NEW YORK — Wide-eyed teens excitedly watch as Gossip Girl star Blake Lively films a scene with co-star Penn Badgley.

Take after take in New York’s Stuyvesant Park — a perfect setting with its stately gates and statues — the youthful onlookers linger on this cold day, providing some evidence that the low-rated CW series holds interest for its target demographic: BlackBerry-holding, DVR-using Gen-Yers.

Lively, who got her big break as a soccer-loving teen in 2005 ’s The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, plays Serena van der Woodsen on the glossy soap, based on the popular youngadult novels about rich Manhattan private-school kids whose scandals and trysts are dishy fodder for an anonymous blogger.

Serena captures the most attention: the Queen Bee hooked up with her best friend’s man — OMG ! — and now has a budding romance with brainy black-sheep-on-campus Dan Humphrey (Badgley ).

Continue reading Staying grounded priority for lively Gossip Girl star

Want a “Ladylike” Sense of Style

I found this online article over at Fametastic, it’s about Blake’s great style.

Gossip Girl star Blake Lively is loving living in New York to film the new hit show – because the extreme weather changes help her to justify lots of new clothes.

She told Lucky magazine recently: “I grew up in California, so winter is this entirely new, exciting thing for me – I’ve already justified buying seven coats!”

She added that working on the fashionable show has also turned her head – but she’s always had a certain older-than-her-years style in mind: “Growing up, I was constantly borrowing clothes from my older sisters, or I’d pick out something from Urban Outfitters and my mom would tailor it to my size — I don’t think I ever dressed like a kid.”

“Now that I’m on Gossip Girl, the wardrobe is so amazing and inspiring, it’s opened a whole new style gateway for me.”

“I’m having so much fun, but I’m trying to keep my head together too, stylewise. There are so many young women out there dressing like young girls; I want to be more ladylike and classic.”

“My style has been totally influenced by Audrey Hepburn and Kate Moss equally – they’re such fashion icons. But Sienna Miller’s young urban style is also totally what I’m going for.”

‘Gossip Girl’ stardom and ‘Guitar Hero’ skills

I just found this litlle interview over at The Canadian Press.

NEW YORK – Wide-eyed teens excitedly watch as “Gossip Girl” star Blake Lively films a scene with co-star Penn Badgley.

Take after take in New York’s Stuyvesant Park – a perfect setting with its stately gates and statues – the youthful onlookers linger on this cold autumn day, providing some evidence that the low-rated CW series holds interest for its target demo: BlackBerry-holding, DVR-using Gen-Yers.

Lively, who got her big break as a soccer-loving teen in 2005’s “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” plays Serena van der Woodsen on the glossy soap, based on the popular young-adult novels about rich Manhattan private school kids whose scandals and trysts are dishy fodder for an anonymous blogger.

Continue reading ‘Gossip Girl’ stardom and ‘Guitar Hero’ skills

Blake Gives the Straight Poop on Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt

Just some more gossip and small article about Blake that I found over at National Ledger.

With so much speculation on Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie it is finally good to hear it from someone that will give the straight poop on everything and spread some bathroom humor on Brangelina. And who better than a hot blonde that lives on high definition screens as a professional gossip. Blake Lively is in charge on “Gossip Girl” on the CW. She spoke to “Cosmo Girl” magazine about this insane asylum we call show business.

Us Weekly has some excerpts and notes that Lively reveals what it’s really like to become an overnight star, her celeb crushes, and why the Britneys and the Lindsays of Hollywood deserve a break. Oh c’mon now do they really?

On fame: “It is a crazy and completely insane business. I’ll go to an event wearing some designer gown and tens of thousands of dollars in jewels that were lent to me for the night, and I’ll walk around and meet people who I always thought were such a big deal…Stars really are like anyone else. At the end of the day, Brad Pitt poops — as handsome as he may be–and so does Angelina Jolie. I’m still baffled by how odd this job is.”

On Hollywood’s “bad girls”: “I think some people who bash on the girls in Hollywood who are struggling with addiction or going into rehab aren’t being totally fair; it’s not solely their fault. When you don’t have someone to model yourself after, you’re going to make mistakes. There’s no one there to tell them what’s right or wrong or who is a positive example.”

Buzz-Worthy ‘Gossip Girl’ Star Blake Lively

I found an interview over at Hollywood.com with Blake and she’s talking about Gossip Girl and som other projects.

The beautiful, willowy blonde Blake Lively, best known for her debut as Bridget in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants two years ago, is following her co-stars in that film–America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel and Amber Tamblyn–to small screen stardom this fall in the CW’s Gossip Girl.

Lively, 20, heads an ensemble in the series from O.C. creator Josh Schwartz about rich, beautiful Manhattanites–and a few outsiders looking into that world–whose lives are chronicled by the unseen but all-knowing blogger Gossip Girl.

As Serena van der Woodsen, the California native shines as a young woman whose return after a mysterious year away is the talk of the town. She gave us the scoop on the show and next summer’s Sisterhood sequel.

Hollywood.com: How did you get the role?

Blake Lively: Josh Schwartz called me about it. Maybe he watched The Sisterhood, I don’t know. I hear a lot of fans of the Gossip Girl books had seen me, and maybe because I had long blonde hair, they were blogging, ‘She has to be Serena.’ He told me “I wrote the show for you. You have to do this. I will not give it to anyone else.” We sat down and we talked about it. I thought about it for a little while. It felt right. Josh has so much heart in everything he does, from his locations to the actors he uses, to the wardrobe, and that was very important to me. That’s the reason I did the show.

Continue reading Buzz-Worthy ‘Gossip Girl’ Star Blake Lively