Blake a young Jessica ?

Blake Lively has been compared to a young Jessica Lange by writer and director Rebecca Miller.

Gossip Girl star Blake appears in forthcoming movie The Private Lives Of Pippa Lee as the young version of the title character, and the film's director said she wouldn't be surprised if Blake went on to be the next big thing.

Rebecca said: "I don't want to compare her to anyone else because she has her own qualities but there's something about the young Jessica Lange in Blake, with a lot of sensuality and beauty but they are also really substantive actresses."

She continued: "Blake is also very intelligent. So she has this sweetness and an intelligence and a backbone, and a very strong work ethic which I really appreciate because I don't like it when people don't have that.

"And she absolutely held her own - there she was with Alan Arkin, he left that set saying 'this is the best cast film I've done in my life'."

In The Private Lives Of Pippa Lee, Blake plays a troubled teen who starts seeing an older man (played by Alan) and even takes part in a lesbian sadomasochistic photoshoot, orchestrated by a character played by Julianne Moore.

Blake, 21, who plays Serena van der Woodsen in Gossip Girl, can also be seen on the big screen in one of the short films that make up New York, I Love You.

:: The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, which stars Robin Wright Penn as the title character, is out in cinemas on July 10.

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Blake Lively

Blake Lively was born in a showbiz family in California and quickly followed her parents and siblings steps. Her first role was Trixie the Tooth Fairy in 1998 movie "Sandman" directed by her dad, Ernie Lively. Her big break came along a few years later though. Blake was up to finish high school when she got the co-starring role of Bridget in "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" on 2005. Blake was perfect for the part of Bridget, so much that with no big references or even auditioning she landed the part! She revealed she walked in and left a photo of herself and that was it, yet it was clear that she was the Brigit needed. After "The Sisterhood", Blake went back to high school for her senior year to have the life of a regular teenager, a very busy regular teenager. The multi-talented girl was class president, a cheerleader and performed with the choir. Blake has also a movie in the theater starring Justin Long, "Accepted", and has an other project due to be released this year titled "Elvis and Anabelle".