Why is Blake Lively so overrated?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Why is her face so tight?

Light fillers plus a lot of Botox.

The neck is too smooth. Looks like a mini facelift.

wtf a facelift at 35???

Changed my mind, went through more pictures. Looks like a regular dose of botox and fillers. No facelift yet

You are forgetting the crucial nose job and brow lift.

How can I forget! Upper blepharoplasty as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think she's over-rated, I think she's vastly under rated.

Did you see the film, The Rhythm Section, where she essentially played a female Bourne? She was fantastic in that movie. I was disappointed it didn't do well and become like the Bourne movies, a franchise.

What is underrated for Blake are her excellent strategic moves since being one of Harvey's girls. She knew that staying in the spotlight is hard for cookie cutter blonde it-girls once they pass 25, and she needed a non-acting angle. Her Goop-esque lifestyle guru ambition (Preserve) was never a huge hit, so she pivoted to a much better choice: selling her relationship. She picked a good other half -- Ryan physically transitioned from hot young guy to cute dad type well, and Deadpool helped solidify his image as hip and snarky.

Also, Blake expertly avoided the public catching onto her on-set romance with Ryan (and thus her being the other woman in his divorce from Scarjo) by having a very public fauxmance with Leonardo DiCaprio before she and Ryan made their relationship public. Scarjo's no dummy, so I hope she took him to the cleaners in exchange for keeping her mouth shut all these years.

Where did you get this info about them having an affair? I haven’t seen that, not even in the blinds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think she's over-rated, I think she's vastly under rated.

Did you see the film, The Rhythm Section, where she essentially played a female Bourne? She was fantastic in that movie. I was disappointed it didn't do well and become like the Bourne movies, a franchise.

What is underrated for Blake are her excellent strategic moves since being one of Harvey's girls. She knew that staying in the spotlight is hard for cookie cutter blonde it-girls once they pass 25, and she needed a non-acting angle. Her Goop-esque lifestyle guru ambition (Preserve) was never a huge hit, so she pivoted to a much better choice: selling her relationship. She picked a good other half -- Ryan physically transitioned from hot young guy to cute dad type well, and Deadpool helped solidify his image as hip and snarky.

Also, Blake expertly avoided the public catching onto her on-set romance with Ryan (and thus her being the other woman in his divorce from Scarjo) by having a very public fauxmance with Leonardo DiCaprio before she and Ryan made their relationship public. Scarjo's no dummy, so I hope she took him to the cleaners in exchange for keeping her mouth shut all these years.

Where did you get this info about them having an affair? I haven’t seen that, not even in the blinds.

Blinds are tricky things these days. They have an air of truthfulness, so publicists use them to spread information the same way they use People. Just be careful which blind sources you believe, and always remember that 99% of the time, if the couple is photographed holding hands in public, it's because they want to be.

Anyway, there were whispers about Ryan and Blake back during Green Lantern. And kudos to them -- they played it well, using other "relationships" to create enough distance between the whispers and their public announcement after Ryan's divorce was final that many people never put it together. But hindsight is 20/20. Consider what we have: two celebrities who were previously fairly secretive about their private lives. Ryan and Scarlett announce their separation in late 2010, after which it is rumored that he is dating Sandra Bullock. Paparazzi conveniently photographs him hiking in Grand Teton (you know, that busy paparazzi hangout in Wyoming) with Sandra's kid on his shoulders. Ryan suddenly becomes the guy who would date an older woman with a kid -- he would NEVER leave his wife for some hot young blonde thing...

And then there's Blake, who goes on to have a whirlwind summer romance with Leonardo DiCaprio. They're photographed in Monte Carlo, Portofino, NYC, Australia... (Hmm... sounds a bit like Tom Hiddleston and Taylor Swift's "relationship," doesn't it?) It's all over the news, just as Ryan and Scarlett are finalizing their divorce. Blake clearly wouldn't have anything to do with that, right? (You may also remember that someone was releasing nude photos of Blake that summer. Who might have had a bone to pick with her, or perhaps would want to exert some pressure during settlement negotiations?) Summer ends, Leo and Blake break up, and she and Ryan announce that they are dating.

Now, which seems more plausible: Two costars are perfectly platonic through filming and promoting the movie, both have suspiciously public romances (each with a celeb that is the subject of certain rumors, shall we say), and let romance cross their minds after Ryan's divorce is final? Or Blake, no stranger to being the other woman (recall her affair with a married Ben Affleck), wants the affair to be something more permanent but doesn't want to be known as the Angelina to Scarlett's Jen for the rest of their lives, so they create a diversion and hope the public doesn't make the connection?

In the end, you can't argue with results. Blake and Ryan have a decade and three kids together, and people hardly remember that he was married to Scarlett. Good job, all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think she's over-rated, I think she's vastly under rated.

Did you see the film, The Rhythm Section, where she essentially played a female Bourne? She was fantastic in that movie. I was disappointed it didn't do well and become like the Bourne movies, a franchise.

What is underrated for Blake are her excellent strategic moves since being one of Harvey's girls. She knew that staying in the spotlight is hard for cookie cutter blonde it-girls once they pass 25, and she needed a non-acting angle. Her Goop-esque lifestyle guru ambition (Preserve) was never a huge hit, so she pivoted to a much better choice: selling her relationship. She picked a good other half -- Ryan physically transitioned from hot young guy to cute dad type well, and Deadpool helped solidify his image as hip and snarky.

Also, Blake expertly avoided the public catching onto her on-set romance with Ryan (and thus her being the other woman in his divorce from Scarjo) by having a very public fauxmance with Leonardo DiCaprio before she and Ryan made their relationship public. Scarjo's no dummy, so I hope she took him to the cleaners in exchange for keeping her mouth shut all these years.

Where did you get this info about them having an affair? I haven’t seen that, not even in the blinds.

Blinds are tricky things these days. They have an air of truthfulness, so publicists use them to spread information the same way they use People. Just be careful which blind sources you believe, and always remember that 99% of the time, if the couple is photographed holding hands in public, it's because they want to be.

Anyway, there were whispers about Ryan and Blake back during Green Lantern. And kudos to them -- they played it well, using other "relationships" to create enough distance between the whispers and their public announcement after Ryan's divorce was final that many people never put it together. But hindsight is 20/20. Consider what we have: two celebrities who were previously fairly secretive about their private lives. Ryan and Scarlett announce their separation in late 2010, after which it is rumored that he is dating Sandra Bullock. Paparazzi conveniently photographs him hiking in Grand Teton (you know, that busy paparazzi hangout in Wyoming) with Sandra's kid on his shoulders. Ryan suddenly becomes the guy who would date an older woman with a kid -- he would NEVER leave his wife for some hot young blonde thing...

And then there's Blake, who goes on to have a whirlwind summer romance with Leonardo DiCaprio. They're photographed in Monte Carlo, Portofino, NYC, Australia... (Hmm... sounds a bit like Tom Hiddleston and Taylor Swift's "relationship," doesn't it?) It's all over the news, just as Ryan and Scarlett are finalizing their divorce. Blake clearly wouldn't have anything to do with that, right? (You may also remember that someone was releasing nude photos of Blake that summer. Who might have had a bone to pick with her, or perhaps would want to exert some pressure during settlement negotiations?) Summer ends, Leo and Blake break up, and she and Ryan announce that they are dating.

Now, which seems more plausible: Two costars are perfectly platonic through filming and promoting the movie, both have suspiciously public romances (each with a celeb that is the subject of certain rumors, shall we say), and let romance cross their minds after Ryan's divorce is final? Or Blake, no stranger to being the other woman (recall her affair with a married Ben Affleck), wants the affair to be something more permanent but doesn't want to be known as the Angelina to Scarlett's Jen for the rest of their lives, so they create a diversion and hope the public doesn't make the connection?

In the end, you can't argue with results. Blake and Ryan have a decade and three kids together, and people hardly remember that he was married to Scarlett. Good job, all.

I find this all highly believable, in part because when I started reading it I was like "oooooh yeaaaaah, I totally forgot Ryan was married to ScarJo way back when."

Agree Blake's primary talents are leveraging her relationship and her looks. Among Hollywood actresses who hardly seem to act at all but are nevertheless considered A-list, I don't hate Blake's approach. I appreciate that she doesn't exploit her kids (though she certainly works her pregnancies to her advantages because she's great at doing pregnant red carpet). I'm glad she pivoted away from the lifestyle brand because, frankly, who needs it. I am tired of the celebrity momfluencer schtick -- Jennifer Garner, Reese Witherspoon. I get they are just making their money and I don't begrudge them, but it's boring AF and plays into so many obnoxious stereotypes about motherhood. I like that Blake's brand has stayed more "hot girlfriend/best friend" than "supermom".

I think it would be fun if she managed to land a slightly surprising indie-adjacent project in the next few years and pull a little focus not her from Ryan. A role akin to Rosamund Pike's in Gone Girl -- something that highlights how hot she is while also giving her some edge. She's not as good of an actress as Pike but she does have charisma and I think with the right script and director it could be interesting. Maybe net her a GG nom or something. I think this is what she's been trying for with her last couple projects but it hasn't hit yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think she's over-rated, I think she's vastly under rated.

Did you see the film, The Rhythm Section, where she essentially played a female Bourne? She was fantastic in that movie. I was disappointed it didn't do well and become like the Bourne movies, a franchise.

What is underrated for Blake are her excellent strategic moves since being one of Harvey's girls. She knew that staying in the spotlight is hard for cookie cutter blonde it-girls once they pass 25, and she needed a non-acting angle. Her Goop-esque lifestyle guru ambition (Preserve) was never a huge hit, so she pivoted to a much better choice: selling her relationship. She picked a good other half -- Ryan physically transitioned from hot young guy to cute dad type well, and Deadpool helped solidify his image as hip and snarky.

Also, Blake expertly avoided the public catching onto her on-set romance with Ryan (and thus her being the other woman in his divorce from Scarjo) by having a very public fauxmance with Leonardo DiCaprio before she and Ryan made their relationship public. Scarjo's no dummy, so I hope she took him to the cleaners in exchange for keeping her mouth shut all these years.

Where did you get this info about them having an affair? I haven’t seen that, not even in the blinds.

Blinds are tricky things these days. They have an air of truthfulness, so publicists use them to spread information the same way they use People. Just be careful which blind sources you believe, and always remember that 99% of the time, if the couple is photographed holding hands in public, it's because they want to be.

Anyway, there were whispers about Ryan and Blake back during Green Lantern. And kudos to them -- they played it well, using other "relationships" to create enough distance between the whispers and their public announcement after Ryan's divorce was final that many people never put it together. But hindsight is 20/20. Consider what we have: two celebrities who were previously fairly secretive about their private lives. Ryan and Scarlett announce their separation in late 2010, after which it is rumored that he is dating Sandra Bullock. Paparazzi conveniently photographs him hiking in Grand Teton (you know, that busy paparazzi hangout in Wyoming) with Sandra's kid on his shoulders. Ryan suddenly becomes the guy who would date an older woman with a kid -- he would NEVER leave his wife for some hot young blonde thing...

And then there's Blake, who goes on to have a whirlwind summer romance with Leonardo DiCaprio. They're photographed in Monte Carlo, Portofino, NYC, Australia... (Hmm... sounds a bit like Tom Hiddleston and Taylor Swift's "relationship," doesn't it?) It's all over the news, just as Ryan and Scarlett are finalizing their divorce. Blake clearly wouldn't have anything to do with that, right? (You may also remember that someone was releasing nude photos of Blake that summer. Who might have had a bone to pick with her, or perhaps would want to exert some pressure during settlement negotiations?) Summer ends, Leo and Blake break up, and she and Ryan announce that they are dating.

Now, which seems more plausible: Two costars are perfectly platonic through filming and promoting the movie, both have suspiciously public romances (each with a celeb that is the subject of certain rumors, shall we say), and let romance cross their minds after Ryan's divorce is final? Or Blake, no stranger to being the other woman (recall her affair with a married Ben Affleck), wants the affair to be something more permanent but doesn't want to be known as the Angelina to Scarlett's Jen for the rest of their lives, so they create a diversion and hope the public doesn't make the connection?

In the end, you can't argue with results. Blake and Ryan have a decade and three kids together, and people hardly remember that he was married to Scarlett. Good job, all.

This makes sense to me. I think in part people still reference Jen and Brad so much because Brad went on to have an obscene number of kids with Angeline and there is this narrative that poor Jen can't land a man and is a baron spinster LOL. I think a lot of people went on to forget Scar Jo was married to him because she went on to have two kids and one is with a pretty big celeb in his own right (cue adorable Superbowl commercial of them bantering back and forth in a huge, gorgeous house).

But you are right, definitely helps that they put distance in between the relationships.

This is so interesting because as cute as Ryan and Blake are, there is something about it that always rubs me the wrong way, like they are trying too hard or something is manufactured. This would explain it!

[Anonymous]

This is a weird thread. Is she overrated? I think of her as that girl from gossip girl who's acting career never really took off but who married awesome Ryan Reynolds and who is now kind of famous for being famous and seems like a good mom and fun person. I don't think anyone is like, OMG Blake Lively!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nose job changed her whole look. She was a little on the homely side before.

Winona Ryder had a nose job too as a teen - it's not that earth shattering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think she's over-rated, I think she's vastly under rated.

Did you see the film, The Rhythm Section, where she essentially played a female Bourne? She was fantastic in that movie. I was disappointed it didn't do well and become like the Bourne movies, a franchise.

What is underrated for Blake are her excellent strategic moves since being one of Harvey's girls. She knew that staying in the spotlight is hard for cookie cutter blonde it-girls once they pass 25, and she needed a non-acting angle. Her Goop-esque lifestyle guru ambition (Preserve) was never a huge hit, so she pivoted to a much better choice: selling her relationship. She picked a good other half -- Ryan physically transitioned from hot young guy to cute dad type well, and Deadpool helped solidify his image as hip and snarky.

Also, Blake expertly avoided the public catching onto her on-set romance with Ryan (and thus her being the other woman in his divorce from Scarjo) by having a very public fauxmance with Leonardo DiCaprio before she and Ryan made their relationship public. Scarjo's no dummy, so I hope she took him to the cleaners in exchange for keeping her mouth shut all these years.

Where did you get this info about them having an affair? I haven’t seen that, not even in the blinds.

Blinds are tricky things these days. They have an air of truthfulness, so publicists use them to spread information the same way they use People. Just be careful which blind sources you believe, and always remember that 99% of the time, if the couple is photographed holding hands in public, it's because they want to be.

Anyway, there were whispers about Ryan and Blake back during Green Lantern. And kudos to them -- they played it well, using other "relationships" to create enough distance between the whispers and their public announcement after Ryan's divorce was final that many people never put it together. But hindsight is 20/20. Consider what we have: two celebrities who were previously fairly secretive about their private lives. Ryan and Scarlett announce their separation in late 2010, after which it is rumored that he is dating Sandra Bullock. Paparazzi conveniently photographs him hiking in Grand Teton (you know, that busy paparazzi hangout in Wyoming) with Sandra's kid on his shoulders. Ryan suddenly becomes the guy who would date an older woman with a kid -- he would NEVER leave his wife for some hot young blonde thing...

And then there's Blake, who goes on to have a whirlwind summer romance with Leonardo DiCaprio. They're photographed in Monte Carlo, Portofino, NYC, Australia... (Hmm... sounds a bit like Tom Hiddleston and Taylor Swift's "relationship," doesn't it?) It's all over the news, just as Ryan and Scarlett are finalizing their divorce. Blake clearly wouldn't have anything to do with that, right? (You may also remember that someone was releasing nude photos of Blake that summer. Who might have had a bone to pick with her, or perhaps would want to exert some pressure during settlement negotiations?) Summer ends, Leo and Blake break up, and she and Ryan announce that they are dating.

Now, which seems more plausible: Two costars are perfectly platonic through filming and promoting the movie, both have suspiciously public romances (each with a celeb that is the subject of certain rumors, shall we say), and let romance cross their minds after Ryan's divorce is final? Or Blake, no stranger to being the other woman (recall her affair with a married Ben Affleck), wants the affair to be something more permanent but doesn't want to be known as the Angelina to Scarlett's Jen for the rest of their lives, so they create a diversion and hope the public doesn't make the connection?

In the end, you can't argue with results. Blake and Ryan have a decade and three kids together, and people hardly remember that he was married to Scarlett. Good job, all.

This makes sense to me. I think in part people still reference Jen and Brad so much because Brad went on to have an obscene number of kids with Angeline and there is this narrative that poor Jen can't land a man and is a baron spinster LOL. I think a lot of people went on to forget Scar Jo was married to him because she went on to have two kids and one is with a pretty big celeb in his own right (cue adorable Superbowl commercial of them bantering back and forth in a huge, gorgeous house).

But you are right, definitely helps that they put distance in between the relationships.

This is so interesting because as cute as Ryan and Blake are, there is something about it that always rubs me the wrong way, like they are trying too hard or something is manufactured. This would explain it!

You're right about Angelina, but this all started in 2010, not terribly long after the big Brad/Jen breakup. Tabloid covers still featured the sad Jen/evil Angelina narrative several times a year. Blake, who was just beginning her movie career, wouldn't risk having every housewife in America turn on her. Remember, while the dark, femme fatale schtick worked for Angie, Blake was trying to push the girl-next-door image -- the girl who loves to bake and doesn't drink, not the girl who steals your husband.

(Not that Blake's desired persona was all that convincing at the time. Take a look back: many people saw her as the girl in the too-short, too-tight dress with her boobs in your face who had gotten a bit too cozy with Ben Affleck when they filmed The Town. A husband and kids can help the public forget, but I think her -- and Ryan's -- association with Taylor Swift has worked wonders as well. Being part of Taylor's squad not only gets her army of Swifties on your side, but it also reinforces the wholesome-but-fun profile that Blake and Ryan love to push. Honestly, Taylor Swift should make big bucks as a Hollywood image launderer.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think she's over-rated, I think she's vastly under rated.

Did you see the film, The Rhythm Section, where she essentially played a female Bourne? She was fantastic in that movie. I was disappointed it didn't do well and become like the Bourne movies, a franchise.

What is underrated for Blake are her excellent strategic moves since being one of Harvey's girls. She knew that staying in the spotlight is hard for cookie cutter blonde it-girls once they pass 25, and she needed a non-acting angle. Her Goop-esque lifestyle guru ambition (Preserve) was never a huge hit, so she pivoted to a much better choice: selling her relationship. She picked a good other half -- Ryan physically transitioned from hot young guy to cute dad type well, and Deadpool helped solidify his image as hip and snarky.

Also, Blake expertly avoided the public catching onto her on-set romance with Ryan (and thus her being the other woman in his divorce from Scarjo) by having a very public fauxmance with Leonardo DiCaprio before she and Ryan made their relationship public. Scarjo's no dummy, so I hope she took him to the cleaners in exchange for keeping her mouth shut all these years.

Where did you get this info about them having an affair? I haven’t seen that, not even in the blinds.

Blinds are tricky things these days. They have an air of truthfulness, so publicists use them to spread information the same way they use People. Just be careful which blind sources you believe, and always remember that 99% of the time, if the couple is photographed holding hands in public, it's because they want to be.

Anyway, there were whispers about Ryan and Blake back during Green Lantern. And kudos to them -- they played it well, using other "relationships" to create enough distance between the whispers and their public announcement after Ryan's divorce was final that many people never put it together. But hindsight is 20/20. Consider what we have: two celebrities who were previously fairly secretive about their private lives. Ryan and Scarlett announce their separation in late 2010, after which it is rumored that he is dating Sandra Bullock. Paparazzi conveniently photographs him hiking in Grand Teton (you know, that busy paparazzi hangout in Wyoming) with Sandra's kid on his shoulders. Ryan suddenly becomes the guy who would date an older woman with a kid -- he would NEVER leave his wife for some hot young blonde thing...

And then there's Blake, who goes on to have a whirlwind summer romance with Leonardo DiCaprio. They're photographed in Monte Carlo, Portofino, NYC, Australia... (Hmm... sounds a bit like Tom Hiddleston and Taylor Swift's "relationship," doesn't it?) It's all over the news, just as Ryan and Scarlett are finalizing their divorce. Blake clearly wouldn't have anything to do with that, right? (You may also remember that someone was releasing nude photos of Blake that summer. Who might have had a bone to pick with her, or perhaps would want to exert some pressure during settlement negotiations?) Summer ends, Leo and Blake break up, and she and Ryan announce that they are dating.

Now, which seems more plausible: Two costars are perfectly platonic through filming and promoting the movie, both have suspiciously public romances (each with a celeb that is the subject of certain rumors, shall we say), and let romance cross their minds after Ryan's divorce is final? Or Blake, no stranger to being the other woman (recall her affair with a married Ben Affleck), wants the affair to be something more permanent but doesn't want to be known as the Angelina to Scarlett's Jen for the rest of their lives, so they create a diversion and hope the public doesn't make the connection?

In the end, you can't argue with results. Blake and Ryan have a decade and three kids together, and people hardly remember that he was married to Scarlett. Good job, all.

I find this all highly believable, in part because when I started reading it I was like "oooooh yeaaaaah, I totally forgot Ryan was married to ScarJo way back when."

Agree Blake's primary talents are leveraging her relationship and her looks. Among Hollywood actresses who hardly seem to act at all but are nevertheless considered A-list, I don't hate Blake's approach. I appreciate that she doesn't exploit her kids (though she certainly works her pregnancies to her advantages because she's great at doing pregnant red carpet). I'm glad she pivoted away from the lifestyle brand because, frankly, who needs it. I am tired of the celebrity momfluencer schtick -- Jennifer Garner, Reese Witherspoon. I get they are just making their money and I don't begrudge them, but it's boring AF and plays into so many obnoxious stereotypes about motherhood. I like that Blake's brand has stayed more "hot girlfriend/best friend" than "supermom".

I think it would be fun if she managed to land a slightly surprising indie-adjacent project in the next few years and pull a little focus not her from Ryan. A role akin to Rosamund Pike's in Gone Girl -- something that highlights how hot she is while also giving her some edge. She's not as good of an actress as Pike but she does have charisma and I think with the right script and director it could be interesting. Maybe net her a GG nom or something. I think this is what she's been trying for with her last couple projects but it hasn't hit yet.

I agree that Blake has been aiming for the career path you describe, but it really has not been working. Her last movie had the worst wide-opening weekend of all time, and she couldn't even blame it on Covid. I admit that I think she's not a great actress who is mostly staying afloat these days due to her marriage to Ryan and her association with Taylor Swift (who basically ran an ad on her instagram for one of Blake's recent movies).

But I think Blake's best shot is to take a break from the movie industry, which is already struggling during the pandemic, and do a limited series for HBO or a streaming service. Something adapted from existing IP that would have a built-in audience, and/or an ensemble project, so she doesn't have to be the main draw. That might allow her a bit of time/space to do something interesting. It could also give her some positive momentum for future projects. Unfortunately, I think she's the type to see television as beneath her, so she likely needs a couple more box-office bombs before she really considers this route.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think she's over-rated, I think she's vastly under rated.

Did you see the film, The Rhythm Section, where she essentially played a female Bourne? She was fantastic in that movie. I was disappointed it didn't do well and become like the Bourne movies, a franchise.

What is underrated for Blake are her excellent strategic moves since being one of Harvey's girls. She knew that staying in the spotlight is hard for cookie cutter blonde it-girls once they pass 25, and she needed a non-acting angle. Her Goop-esque lifestyle guru ambition (Preserve) was never a huge hit, so she pivoted to a much better choice: selling her relationship. She picked a good other half -- Ryan physically transitioned from hot young guy to cute dad type well, and Deadpool helped solidify his image as hip and snarky.

Also, Blake expertly avoided the public catching onto her on-set romance with Ryan (and thus her being the other woman in his divorce from Scarjo) by having a very public fauxmance with Leonardo DiCaprio before she and Ryan made their relationship public. Scarjo's no dummy, so I hope she took him to the cleaners in exchange for keeping her mouth shut all these years.

Where did you get this info about them having an affair? I haven’t seen that, not even in the blinds.

Blinds are tricky things these days. They have an air of truthfulness, so publicists use them to spread information the same way they use People. Just be careful which blind sources you believe, and always remember that 99% of the time, if the couple is photographed holding hands in public, it's because they want to be.

Anyway, there were whispers about Ryan and Blake back during Green Lantern. And kudos to them -- they played it well, using other "relationships" to create enough distance between the whispers and their public announcement after Ryan's divorce was final that many people never put it together. But hindsight is 20/20. Consider what we have: two celebrities who were previously fairly secretive about their private lives. Ryan and Scarlett announce their separation in late 2010, after which it is rumored that he is dating Sandra Bullock. Paparazzi conveniently photographs him hiking in Grand Teton (you know, that busy paparazzi hangout in Wyoming) with Sandra's kid on his shoulders. Ryan suddenly becomes the guy who would date an older woman with a kid -- he would NEVER leave his wife for some hot young blonde thing...

And then there's Blake, who goes on to have a whirlwind summer romance with Leonardo DiCaprio. They're photographed in Monte Carlo, Portofino, NYC, Australia... (Hmm... sounds a bit like Tom Hiddleston and Taylor Swift's "relationship," doesn't it?) It's all over the news, just as Ryan and Scarlett are finalizing their divorce. Blake clearly wouldn't have anything to do with that, right? (You may also remember that someone was releasing nude photos of Blake that summer. Who might have had a bone to pick with her, or perhaps would want to exert some pressure during settlement negotiations?) Summer ends, Leo and Blake break up, and she and Ryan announce that they are dating.

Now, which seems more plausible: Two costars are perfectly platonic through filming and promoting the movie, both have suspiciously public romances (each with a celeb that is the subject of certain rumors, shall we say), and let romance cross their minds after Ryan's divorce is final? Or Blake, no stranger to being the other woman (recall her affair with a married Ben Affleck), wants the affair to be something more permanent but doesn't want to be known as the Angelina to Scarlett's Jen for the rest of their lives, so they create a diversion and hope the public doesn't make the connection?

In the end, you can't argue with results. Blake and Ryan have a decade and three kids together, and people hardly remember that he was married to Scarlett. Good job, all.

This makes sense to me. I think in part people still reference Jen and Brad so much because Brad went on to have an obscene number of kids with Angeline and there is this narrative that poor Jen can't land a man and is a baron spinster LOL. I think a lot of people went on to forget Scar Jo was married to him because she went on to have two kids and one is with a pretty big celeb in his own right (cue adorable Superbowl commercial of them bantering back and forth in a huge, gorgeous house).

But you are right, definitely helps that they put distance in between the relationships.

This is so interesting because as cute as Ryan and Blake are, there is something about it that always rubs me the wrong way, like they are trying too hard or something is manufactured. This would explain it!

You're right about Angelina, but this all started in 2010, not terribly long after the big Brad/Jen breakup. Tabloid covers still featured the sad Jen/evil Angelina narrative several times a year. Blake, who was just beginning her movie career, wouldn't risk having every housewife in America turn on her. Remember, while the dark, femme fatale schtick worked for Angie, Blake was trying to push the girl-next-door image -- the girl who loves to bake and doesn't drink, not the girl who steals your husband.

(Not that Blake's desired persona was all that convincing at the time. Take a look back: many people saw her as the girl in the too-short, too-tight dress with her boobs in your face who had gotten a bit too cozy with Ben Affleck when they filmed The Town. A husband and kids can help the public forget, but I think her -- and Ryan's -- association with Taylor Swift has worked wonders as well. Being part of Taylor's squad not only gets her army of Swifties on your side, but it also reinforces the wholesome-but-fun profile that Blake and Ryan love to push. Honestly, Taylor Swift should make big bucks as a Hollywood image launderer.)

I totally agree with you - my only point was that in hindsight no one would look at Scar Jo as the jilted other woman given how her life turned out, compared to Jen who ended up being single with no kids in her 50s. The superbowl ad was the epitome of "I have a great relationship with a cute celebrity and we have a great home and an adorable new baby."

I agree it was smart PR moves on Ryan and Blake's part to avoid anything like that. But in reality, given how Scar Jo's whole deal turned out, they probably didn't need to worry so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nose job changed her whole look. She was a little on the homely side before.

Winona Ryder had a nose job too as a teen - it's not that earth shattering.

We went thru this so many times - there's hardly any female in Hollywood that didn't have a nose job. It almost seems like this is a mandatory procedure and it includes making one's nostrils really small

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think she's over-rated, I think she's vastly under rated.

Did you see the film, The Rhythm Section, where she essentially played a female Bourne? She was fantastic in that movie. I was disappointed it didn't do well and become like the Bourne movies, a franchise.

What is underrated for Blake are her excellent strategic moves since being one of Harvey's girls. She knew that staying in the spotlight is hard for cookie cutter blonde it-girls once they pass 25, and she needed a non-acting angle. Her Goop-esque lifestyle guru ambition (Preserve) was never a huge hit, so she pivoted to a much better choice: selling her relationship. She picked a good other half -- Ryan physically transitioned from hot young guy to cute dad type well, and Deadpool helped solidify his image as hip and snarky.

Also, Blake expertly avoided the public catching onto her on-set romance with Ryan (and thus her being the other woman in his divorce from Scarjo) by having a very public fauxmance with Leonardo DiCaprio before she and Ryan made their relationship public. Scarjo's no dummy, so I hope she took him to the cleaners in exchange for keeping her mouth shut all these years.

Where did you get this info about them having an affair? I haven’t seen that, not even in the blinds.

Blinds are tricky things these days. They have an air of truthfulness, so publicists use them to spread information the same way they use People. Just be careful which blind sources you believe, and always remember that 99% of the time, if the couple is photographed holding hands in public, it's because they want to be.

Anyway, there were whispers about Ryan and Blake back during Green Lantern. And kudos to them -- they played it well, using other "relationships" to create enough distance between the whispers and their public announcement after Ryan's divorce was final that many people never put it together. But hindsight is 20/20. Consider what we have: two celebrities who were previously fairly secretive about their private lives. Ryan and Scarlett announce their separation in late 2010, after which it is rumored that he is dating Sandra Bullock. Paparazzi conveniently photographs him hiking in Grand Teton (you know, that busy paparazzi hangout in Wyoming) with Sandra's kid on his shoulders. Ryan suddenly becomes the guy who would date an older woman with a kid -- he would NEVER leave his wife for some hot young blonde thing...

And then there's Blake, who goes on to have a whirlwind summer romance with Leonardo DiCaprio. They're photographed in Monte Carlo, Portofino, NYC, Australia... (Hmm... sounds a bit like Tom Hiddleston and Taylor Swift's "relationship," doesn't it?) It's all over the news, just as Ryan and Scarlett are finalizing their divorce. Blake clearly wouldn't have anything to do with that, right? (You may also remember that someone was releasing nude photos of Blake that summer. Who might have had a bone to pick with her, or perhaps would want to exert some pressure during settlement negotiations?) Summer ends, Leo and Blake break up, and she and Ryan announce that they are dating.

Now, which seems more plausible: Two costars are perfectly platonic through filming and promoting the movie, both have suspiciously public romances (each with a celeb that is the subject of certain rumors, shall we say), and let romance cross their minds after Ryan's divorce is final? Or Blake, no stranger to being the other woman (recall her affair with a married Ben Affleck), wants the affair to be something more permanent but doesn't want to be known as the Angelina to Scarlett's Jen for the rest of their lives, so they create a diversion and hope the public doesn't make the connection?

In the end, you can't argue with results. Blake and Ryan have a decade and three kids together, and people hardly remember that he was married to Scarlett. Good job, all.

I find this all highly believable, in part because when I started reading it I was like "oooooh yeaaaaah, I totally forgot Ryan was married to ScarJo way back when."

Agree Blake's primary talents are leveraging her relationship and her looks. Among Hollywood actresses who hardly seem to act at all but are nevertheless considered A-list, I don't hate Blake's approach. I appreciate that she doesn't exploit her kids (though she certainly works her pregnancies to her advantages because she's great at doing pregnant red carpet). I'm glad she pivoted away from the lifestyle brand because, frankly, who needs it. I am tired of the celebrity momfluencer schtick -- Jennifer Garner, Reese Witherspoon. I get they are just making their money and I don't begrudge them, but it's boring AF and plays into so many obnoxious stereotypes about motherhood. I like that Blake's brand has stayed more "hot girlfriend/best friend" than "supermom".

I think it would be fun if she managed to land a slightly surprising indie-adjacent project in the next few years and pull a little focus not her from Ryan. A role akin to Rosamund Pike's in Gone Girl -- something that highlights how hot she is while also giving her some edge. She's not as good of an actress as Pike but she does have charisma and I think with the right script and director it could be interesting. Maybe net her a GG nom or something. I think this is what she's been trying for with her last couple projects but it hasn't hit yet.

You two should have a gossip column, I'd read it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think she's over-rated, I think she's vastly under rated.

Did you see the film, The Rhythm Section, where she essentially played a female Bourne? She was fantastic in that movie. I was disappointed it didn't do well and become like the Bourne movies, a franchise.

What is underrated for Blake are her excellent strategic moves since being one of Harvey's girls. She knew that staying in the spotlight is hard for cookie cutter blonde it-girls once they pass 25, and she needed a non-acting angle. Her Goop-esque lifestyle guru ambition (Preserve) was never a huge hit, so she pivoted to a much better choice: selling her relationship. She picked a good other half -- Ryan physically transitioned from hot young guy to cute dad type well, and Deadpool helped solidify his image as hip and snarky.

Also, Blake expertly avoided the public catching onto her on-set romance with Ryan (and thus her being the other woman in his divorce from Scarjo) by having a very public fauxmance with Leonardo DiCaprio before she and Ryan made their relationship public. Scarjo's no dummy, so I hope she took him to the cleaners in exchange for keeping her mouth shut all these years.

Pure fabrication. Johansson and Reynolds were married from 2008-2010. Johansson has stated on multiple occasions that she romanticized marriage and was not ready at the time, and has married two other times since her divorce from Reynolds. Green Lantern, the film starring Reynolds and Lively, was in 2011 after the split and final divorce of Johansson and Reynolds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nose job changed her whole look. She was a little on the homely side before.

Winona Ryder had a nose job too as a teen - it's not that earth shattering.

Actually, I think the harder thing is to name a celebrity who HASN'T had a nose job. I can't think of one.

[Anonymous]

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