5 Little Known Secrets from Blake Lively’s Relationships Before Meeting Ryan Reynolds

Blake Lively is one of Hollywood’s finest actresses. Due to her incredible good looks, undeniable acting prowess, and charisma, she is loved by fans worldwide. As an actress, she is known for her iconic role as Serena Van der Woodsen in the popular TV show Gossip Girl. Apart from her exceeding professional achievements, Lively’s personal life is also discussed in detail.

Her enviable marriage with Ryan Reynolds draws significant attention. This Hollywood power couple is loved immensely by fans. With their social media banter and gestures of love, they often make headlines. However, before settling down with the Deadpool star, Lively had had her share of relationships and intriguing lessons that shaped her view of love. Here are five lesser-known secrets about Blake Lively’s dating history before she met Ryan Reynolds.

A teenage romance before stardom

Kelly Blatz from The Walking Dead | Credits: AMC

Before she became a household name, Blake Lively was just another teenager figuring out love and life. She had just started as an actor. And was working on the film Simon Says, where she started dating her co-star, Kelly Blatz. The former couple got together in 2004, a year before Lively gained fame with her movie Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

Both Lively and Blatz were on the edge of something big. Sharing dreams of making it big as actors and chasing those dreams together; theirs was a union of youth and friendship. After being together for three years, the pair called it quits in 2007. The break-up came just as things had started looking up for Lively. This news coincided with her getting cast in Gossip Girl.

Although the relationship lasted for three years, it certainly shaped Lively as a person. However, many people were not aware of this relationship.

When life imitated art

Penn Badgley and Blake Lively in Gossip Girl | Credits: CBS

Blake Lively and Penn Badgley played onscreen beaus, Serena Van der Woodsen, and Dan Humphrey on Gossip Girl. And life imitated art on this one. Although the co-stars knew each other as children, having been home-schooled together, (via Watch Mojo), they didn’t start dating until 2008. Being cast together as onscreen sweethearts allowed them to rekindle their relationship.

They dated for two years, breaking up sometime in 2010. However, the lack of drama surrounding their relationship was surprising to fans and everyone around them. Their chemistry was not limited to the characters they played on the show. Even after breaking up Badgley and Lively were able to work cordially together. Although it was challenging. Badgley even said that their on-screen kisses after the split were the worst of his life. But overall, they did not let their tumultuous dynamics affect their professional lives and those who worked with them.

They valued their work so much that they did not let the crew find out about the breakup. The show producer Joshua Safran revealed this in an interview (via CheatSheet):

They kept the breakup hidden from the crew, which you could never do now. I don’t even know how they did it.

This is a testament to Lively and Badgley’s acting prowess.

A brief romance with Ryan Gosling

Ryan Gosling in La La Land | Credits: Lionsgate Films

Ryan Reynolds was not the first Ryan in Lively’s life. It is rumored that the Savages actress briefly dated Hollywood heartthrob Ryan Gosling in 2010. There were reports of them going out and being into each other at the time. They were even allegedly spotted at Disneyland together while Gosling was filming Drive. Both Lively and Reynolds continue to be one of the most desirable stars of the generation. Although there was never any confirmation of their romance, the mere idea of them being together was enough to send fans and tabloids into a frenzy.

This rumored romance fizzled out quite quickly as by 2011 Gosling had begun dating his now-wife Eva Mendes. And Lively also moved on to another high-profile relationship.

A summer fling with Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio in Inception | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

2011 saw Lively in a whirlwind romance with Leonardo DiCaprio. But it turned out to be just a summer fling. The two were first linked when spotted on a yacht during the Cannes Film Festival. Theirs was a short-lived romance but perhaps one that fans were most eager to see unfold. One of the most high-profile couples at the time, Lively and DiCaprio’s relationship gained a lot of media attention.

Ultimately, the reports of the relationship fizzling out started to emerge. Insiders claimed that it was due to “distance and timing”. However, it is noteworthy that the reports of the break up came out the same days as Lively’s connection with Reynolds became public. (via E! News)

Real-life friends to lovers

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds | Credits: Ryan Reynolds (@vancityreynolds) on Instagram

Having first met on the set of their film Green Lantern, Lively and Ryan Reynolds started out as friends. They were both involved with other people at the time. Lively was in a relationship with Badgely and Reynolds was married to Scarlett Johansson.

It took the couple an entire year and going on a double date with other people as their dates to realize that they have great chemistry romantically as well. Reynolds shared this in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, saying:

We were buddies then. I remember it was funny because, for about a year after ‘Green Lantern’ had come and gone and all that stuff, we were both single. We went on a double date. She was on a date with another guy, and I was on a date with another girl.

After dating for a little over a year, they tied the knot in 2012. And soon embraced parenthood. Now they are Hollywood’s most loved couple.

In her journey to find love, Lively went through multiple ups and downs. There were times when fans speculated multiple things, but her bond with Reynolds came as a lovely surprise to everyone.