Blake Lively Is Going to Play an MMA Fighter in Her Most Intense Role Yet
Blake Lively’s suggested less than a month ago that she’s open to playing Serena Van Der Woodsen in a reboot of Gossip Girl, but it turns out that her latest role is far away from the Upper East Side. In fact, it’s less multi-million dollar Manhattanite heiress, and more along the lines of Million Dollar Baby.
According to Deadline, Lively just signed on to star as an Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter in the upcoming film Bruised. It will be her first major project since giving birth to her second daughter, Ines, last September.
Lively will play Jackie, a single mother and MMA fighter who works two jobs and has faced difficult odds her entire life, Deadline reports. When the police threaten to take her son away, she’s forced to get back into the ring and fight for redemption to give her son the life she always wanted. If there was any question as to whether or not Bruised will be a tearjerker, the project is set to be directed by Nick Cassavetes, the man behind The Notebook and My Sister’s Keeper. So, yes, tissues may be required.
Last month, Lively hinted that she would be working on another physically demanding film in the wake of her role in The Shallows, where she played a surfer who gets stuck in a great white shark’s feeding ground. “I’m about to do a movie in a couple months where I’m playing a woman who is a fighter,” she told Variety, but she revealed the intense boxing training hasn’t started just yet. “I’m not there yet. I’m getting my back strong,” she said, and admitted that she hopes the fitness prep won’t be as hardcore as it was for The Shallows, because she’s “not ready to go work out like that again.”
Throughout her career, the actress has played all kinds of different characters who have one thing in common. “I look for interesting women,” she said. “It can be a woman in every frame of the movie or it could be a woman that’s in one scene, but I look for characters that I connect with. “
Related: Blake Lively Is Open to Doing a Gossip Girl Reboot
See What’s Trending in W Video:
Blake Lively’s Limitless Wardrobe
Blake Lively started her “Age of Adeline” press tour with a bang—a crimson red Monique Lhuiller bang, that is. Though her dress was quite formal, a Judith Leiber Koi Fish clutch and a smattering of Lorraine Schwartz jewels added a bit of the actress’s signature quirk.
Photo by Getty Images
Later that evening after the film’s New York premiere, the actress opted for yet another daring Monique Lhuillier ensemble, this time a sheer, star-printed jumpsuit and long overcoat. While the onyx jewels were unusually matchy for the star, she succeeded in making a statement either way.
Photo by Getty Images
Aside from promoting her film, Lively showed off her quick-change abilities with a variety of appearances on April 21st. The first: a matching overcoat and dress from the Marc Jacobs Fall 2015 collection and silver Christian Louboutin pumps (though she changed into a black pair for the show) for a taping of Good Morning America.
Photo by Getty Images
Immediately after filming, Lively changed into a Roksanda Resort 2015 dress and coat, catching our eye as the Best Dressed of the day.
Photo by Getty Images
After donning another two looks to another television appearance (a pink and black Kristinit dress and a Sam and Lavi jumpsuit), Lively tried on a more mod look at Sirius Radio with a John Galliano Fall 2015 dress and jacket and Sophia Webster “Lacey” sandals.
Photo by Getty Images
A monochromatic pink look from Cushnie et Ochs’s Fall 2015 collection was just the ticket for a dramatic exit, but the star wouldn’t stop there…
Photo by Getty Images
Arriving at the New York Hotel, Lively donned an off-the-shoulder Zuhair Murad Fall 2015 dress. Textured white heels, pearls, and a chic updo made for one very ladylike look.
Photo by Getty Images
Lively chose an embellished Antonio Berardi LBD and metallic Sophia Webster heels for an appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” Note how the star’s hair and makeup continues to change throughout the day.
Photo by Getty Images
For her tenth and final public appearance for the day, the actress stunned in a black camisole and color blocked palazzo pants from Balmain Fall 2015. Talk about saving the best for last.
Photo by Getty Images
Somehow not exhausted from the previous day, Lively started the second day of her press tour with an Antonio Berardi Fall 2015 dress, a pale pink Jenny Packham coat, and hot pink Malone Soulier heels.
Photo by Getty Images
For an appearance on the ABC show “The Chew,” Lively chose a colorful Lindsey Thornburg printed dress, tons of bangles, and baby blue heels perfect for spring.
Photo by Getty Images
Lively looked cool and modern at the film’s Q&A at the Apple Store in SoHo. Her Valentino Fall 2015 coat, dress, and shoes were such a strong look, it was sad to see them go.
Photo by Getty Images
For an appearance on “The Late Show with Seth Meyers,” the actress gave the disco trend a modern feel, tucking a navy turtleneck into a sparkling red and blue pencil skirt.
Photo by Getty Images
Her fifth and final look of the day was perhaps her best of the entire tour. In a hand-crafted, off-the-shoulder dress from Ralph & Russo Spring 2015 Couture, Lively was the picture of modern elegance.
Courtesy of Ralph & Russo
