Blake Lively

Sure, she's gorgeous and talented, but Blake Lively has had a career in front of the camera firmly mapped out for her since she was a little girl. Born into a family of successful actors, Blake is a shoo-in to be the 'next big thing'.

Blake Christina Lively was born to Ernie and Elaine Lively in Tarzana, California. Both of her parents, plus her siblings Eric, Jason, Lori and Robyn, are actors in the film industry.

Blake made her acting debut in the movie Sandman when she was just 10 years old. While she shone in her role, after this movie she steered away from acting for a while to concentrate on being a regular school student. She was class president, a cheerleader and was part of her school's nationally recognised choir. However, school began to take a backseat role to her true passion - acting.

While she was a high school senior, Blake auditioned for a part in the movie The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, and she got it! This was the break she needed to get recognised.

Now, Blake is best known for her role as wild "it" girl Serena van der Woodsen in the hit new show Gossip Girl. Check her out as she stars opposite Chace Crawford and Penn Badgley.

Useless facts:

• Blake has known her Gossip Girl co-star Penn Badgley since she was 11 years old.
• She's accident prone. "I'm a klutz. Every dance I've ever gone to my date waits at the bottom of my stairs as I walk down. I have not gone to one dance that I have not fallen down the stairs," Blake said.
• Blake says she was teased on the set of The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants because she's a fan of Britney Spears.
• Her favourite colour is pink.
• She's not a party girl. "I had a lot of friends in high school, but I was never the wild party girl. Never have been, never plan to be!" says Blake.
• Blake loves going to Disneyland.