Blake Lively, best known for her portrayal of Serena van der Woodsen in the iconic teen drama series Gossip Girl, has revealed her internal conflict regarding her character’s influence as a role model.
Blake Lively’s Reservations:
In a 2015 issue of Allure magazine, Lively shared her reservations about her character, Serena van der Woodsen. While Serena’s character was undeniably glamorous and immensely popular, Lively found herself grappling with the character’s not-so-stellar role-model status. She recognized that Serena’s on-screen decisions and behavior didn’t necessarily align with her personal values.
“People loved it,” Lively acknowledged it, but she felt personally compromised by the character’s choices. She stated, “But it always felt a little personally compromising. You want to be putting a better message out there.”
Balancing personal values and professional duties:
As an actress, Blake Lively aspired to use her platform to convey messages that resonated with her beliefs and ideals. Serena’s character, known for her complex relationships and occasional reckless behavior, often left Lively torn between her professional duty and her desire to set a better example.
Blurred Lines Between Fiction and Reality:
One challenge Lively faced was the blurred lines between fiction and reality. Fans of the show sometimes struggled to differentiate between the actress and her on-screen persona. She explained, “The lines become blurred. It doesn’t help when everybody is dating who they’re dating on the show, and you’re also saying to the costume designer, ‘Hey, can I take that home?’ It’s a weird thing when people feel like they know you really well, and they don’t.”
Concerns About Impressive Viewers:
One of Blake Lively’s most significant concerns was the potential impact of Serena’s behavior on impressionable viewers. The character’s actions, including drug use, romantic entanglements, and conflicts, raised questions about the responsibility of portraying such a figure in the world of entertainment. Lively expressed, “I would not be proud to be the person who gave someone the cocaine that made them overdose and then shot someone and slept with someone else’s boyfriend.”
Despite the conflicting feelings, Blake Lively’s portrayal of Serena van der Woodsen left an indelible mark on the world of television and continues to be celebrated by fans of Gossip Girl.