Blake Lively Doesn't Need a Ring to Be Powerful

For Blake Lively, “Green Lantern’s” real power lies in the woman behind the superhero.

“I grew up watching comic book movies like this and I never saw a woman who was equal to the man,” says the 23-year-old actress, who plays Carol Ferris, the longtime love interest – and boss – of Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds).

“I think that Carol is very unique in this genre,” says Lively. “She's an incredibly powerful woman and she's also a fighter pilot along with Hal. She runs her father's aviation company and it's rare to see such strong women existing as equals amongst men in film, especially in this genre.”

Lively thinks the character is a more active iteration of the typical faithful girlfriend/damsel-in-distress, and something she wants to see more of. “She’s a bit of a real life hero in her own right. She has the strength and the power of the men who surround her, but she’s also able to the balance the femininity and be the heart for the man that she loves. I think that women will appreciate that.”

Another selling for the female audience? “Ryan is half naked," jokes Lively.

The actress, who is an accomplished amateur chef, admits she did her best to undermine Reynolds’ ab-tastic workout regimen by constantly baking sugary treats on the New Orleans set. “It was just a way to sabotage Ryan,” she laughs. “It was not fair – he was working out and I’m the girl and supposed to look better, and I didn’t think it was right and fair, so I tried to sabotage him with cupcakes.”

Lively learned her lessons in female wiles and willpower early on, she explains. “My mom would always say to me and all my siblings when we were growing up ‘Where there’s a will, there’s a way.’ And she would always make the impossible happen. She definitely instilled that in us. I remember when I was in high school, I took on way too many clubs and activities and extracurriculars, and they brought me into the office and said “You can’t do all of these things.” And I said “Why not?” and they said “Because it’s never been done before.” I said “Okay, well then, great – you get to see it be done for the first time.” I should not have done that. It was a terrible idea. I went to school from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day and I was miserable, but I had to prove that I could do it because of this willpower thing. I do believe where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

And if the willful Lively has her way, Carol Ferris will be back in a sequel, exploring her dark side – as fans of the comic book lore know, she occasionally morphs into the sultry, scantily-clad and sinister Star Sapphire (think Serena van der Woodsen with a purple power stone, a barely there magenta super-suit and a very bad attitude).

“I loved that if this franchise continued that she does become a villain!” says Lively.

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