Blake Lively is a name that needs no introduction. One of the most iconic actresses of this generation, Blake has had a successful career spanning 18 years. She is best known for her role in the 2008 hit series Gossip Girl. She began her career in 2005 with the film The Girl Who Knew She Was…
As Lively celebrates her 37th birthday today, we’re marking the occasion by ranking some of her best movies and TV shows.
10. Accepted (2006)
Accepted is a comedy-drama series about Bartleby Gaines (Justin Long), who, after being rejected by all the colleges he applied to, creates a fake university with his friends to fool his parents. However, their deception works too well and every other student rejected by conventional colleges begins enrolling in his fake university. B. This leaves Bartleby with the challenge of providing his students with a meaningful education while also winning the heart of the girl next door.
Blake plays the role of Bartleby’s love interest Monica Moreland. She brings her unmistakable charm to the character and makes Monica more than just your average campus beauty. Although Lively didn’t play a major role in Accepted, she was an integral part of the plot. Shortly after that film, she got her big break in Gossip Girl.
9. The Private Life of Pippa Lee (2009)
The Private Lives of Pippa Lee is a romantic drama that tells the story of Pippa (Robin Wright), a woman with a turbulent past who meets and marries a publisher. Years later, after accompanying her husband to a retirement home, Pippa enters a period of reflection on her past that brings her closer to a nervous breakdown.
Blake plays the younger version of Pippa, a bohemian dancer neglected by her drug-addicted mother. She perfectly captures the wild and untamed side of Pippa in her youth, bringing a new facet to the complicated character. Her performance was dark and hauntingly beautiful, showcasing Blake’s incredible acting ability.
8. Wild Things (2012)
“Savages” is an action thriller about two best friends, Chon (Taylor Kitsch) and Ben (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), who run a marijuana business and set out to rescue their mutual friend Ophelia, who has been kidnapped by a Mexican drug cartel.
Blake Lively plays Ophelia Sage, a woman who is in an open relationship with Chon and Ben. Her character is vulnerable, scared, yet strong. Although she is not a central character, Lively’s role in this film was quite important as she guided the film through her narrative and the entire plot of the film revolved around her rescue from the drug cartel.
7. Café Society (2016)
Café Society is a romantic comedy that tells the story of Bobby Dorfman (Jesse Eisenberg), a young man who moves to Hollywood in the 1930s to work for his uncle. There he falls in love with his uncle’s secretary, Vonnie (Kristen Stewart), who is dating a married man.
Blake plays the role of Veronica, a woman Bobby meets and eventually marries in New York later in the film. Blake’s character may not have been the central one in this film, but it was certainly memorable. Her character is sophisticated, graceful and seductive, perfectly capturing the essence of 1930s beauty.
6. One for 4 – One for 5 (2005)
The film that launched Blake Lively’s career, A Pair of Pants is a coming-of-age film about four best friends who buy a pair of pants that surprisingly fit all of them despite their different sizes and pass them on to each other to maintain their connection as they go their separate ways for the first time.
Blake plays the role of Bridget Vreeland, the athletic member of the group who goes through emotional turmoil after a brief relationship with her soccer coach. Bridget’s character is strong but vulnerable, struggling to cope with her past loss. Blake’s portrayal is both heartfelt and relatable, adding to the storyline that celebrates the magic of female friendships.
5. The Shallows (2016)
The Shallows is a survival thriller about the life of medical student Nancy Adams, who travels to a remote beach after the death of her mother and ends up stranded 200 meters from shore after a shark attack. She tries to outsmart a great white shark in order to stay alive.
Blake plays the main character Nancy, who is strong and determined and uses clever tactics to save herself from the shark attack. Blake’s raw portrayal perfectly captures the feeling of being surrounded by danger and finding ways to escape it. It is one of her most powerful performances.
4. The City (2010)
The Town is a heist thriller that tells the story of four Boston bank robbers who rob a bank and take the manager (Rebecca Hall) hostage during the robbery. However, things get complicated when one of the robbers, Doug (Ben Affleck), falls in love with the manager.
Blake Lively plays a supporting role in the film as Krista Coughlin, Doug’s ex-girlfriend and sister of one of the bank robbers, Jem. Her portrayal of Krista is raw and heartbreaking, unlike her otherwise glamorous and charismatic characters. She manages to bring a lot of emotional depth to the film, which further enhances the plot.
3. Adaline and the Age of Superlatives (2015)
The Age of Adaline is a romantic fantasy that tells the heartbreaking story of Adaline Bowman, a young woman who stops aging after an accident and spends decades in eternal youth. Years later, she meets Ellis and falls in love with him. However, things get complicated when she meets Ellis’ father and her secret is threatened.
Blake plays the title character Adaline Bowman, whose life is filled with loneliness and secrets. Her performance brings a certain rawness and grace to the role, perfectly capturing the essence of Adaline’s bittersweet journey. This role is one of Blake’s most acclaimed roles and establishes her as a talented actress.
2. A Simple Favor (2018)
A Simple Favor is a comedy thriller that tells the story of Stephanie (Anna Kendrick), a single mother and vlogger who befriends Emily, a glamorous and mysterious woman whose child goes to the same school as her. When Emily disappears one day, Stephanie sets out to find the truth behind her disappearance.
Blake plays the role of Emily. Her performance is stunning and perfectly captures Emily’s mysterious aura and unpredictable personality. Emily’s character combines sophistication with evilness and the entire plot revolves around her disappearance. It is one of Blake’s most successful films. A sequel is also in the works, with Blake Lively returning as Emily.
1. Gossip Girl (2007–2012)
Blake has starred in countless successful films, but it was her portrayal of Serena Van Der Woodsen in the hit series Gossip Girl that made her a household name in the industry. Gossip Girl is a teen drama series that follows life on Manhattan’s privileged Upper East Side. The series begins with Serena Van Der Woodsen’s return to New York, after which she is reunited with her best friend and eventual enemy Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester).
Both Serena and Blair’s characters were considered the “It Girls” of the 2010s. As the golden girl of the Upper East Side, Serena was the epitome of style, sass and scandal. Her designer clothes were as memorable as her dialogue. Her portrayal of a mysterious, dramatic and spoiled teenager from a wealthy family made Serena a character that remains iconic and beloved to this day.
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