Everyone knows that actors sometimes end up dating their co-stars, especially if they star in an on-screen romance. Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds first met on the set of Green Lantern, and are now happily married with three children.
However, Lively had been in a relationship with a co-actor in the past as well, but kept it under wraps. The Gossip Girl star was in a relationship with Penn Badgley, and the pair were together for three years before splitting up.
Why Blake Lively and Penn Badgley Kept Their Romance a Secret
Fans loved the on-screen equation of Blake Lively and Penn Badgley on hit teen drama Gossip Girl. The pair played the roles of Serena van der Woodsen and Dan Humphrey, who are shown to have an on-again, off-again relationship that kept fans eager for more.
While their on-screen chemistry was received very well, in 2007 fans began to speculate that the couple was together in real life too. Their relationship was confirmed after the lovebirds were spotted kissing on the set of Gossip Girl. Though they made it a point to keep their relationship very private, fans enjoyed following what they got to see of their off-screen romance.
“I remember there was one point where we were just afraid of how our personal lives overlapping our work life could be perceived by our bosses,” Lively said. “[But then] we were like, ‘Oh no, that’s exactly what they want.’ They wanted us all to date. They wanted us all to wear the same clothes that we’re wearing on the show. They wanted that, because then it fed their whole narrative. People could buy into this world.”
When co-stars end up together, the downside is their professional life may be affected if they break up. To avoid any drama or criticism from the show producers, The couple didn’t tell any of their other cast members about their breakup.
Badgley also spoke up about their split later, “Beyond our relationship,” the You star recently told Variety, “I don’t think anybody was going to be interested in me publicly.”
Penn Badgley Opens Up About His Struggle
The hit series Gossip Girl had a run of six seasons, and while it was a commercial success, Badgely recalled those years to be fun and fast-paced, as well as a “dark undercurrent that would bottom out in my later 20s.”
He also credited Lively for being a positive influence in his life.
“Blake didn’t drink, and I think our relationship in some ways saved me from forcing myself to go down that road.”
The You star finally got his act together, and now belongs to the “Baha’i faith”, which encourages members to be engaged in thinking about and attempting to meet the needs of the age you live in.
Gossip Girl is available for viewers to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
Source: The Things
