Ageless Elegance: Blake Lively's Timeless Transformation as Serena in Gossip Girl
Discover the captivating journey of Serena van der Woodsen on Gossip Girl as we unveil her true age at the beginning and end of the series, delving into her remarkable growth throughout the show
Summary
At the start of Gossip Girl, Serena van der Woodsen was a 16-year-old teenager. However, as the series concluded with a time-jump in the finale, Serena's age had significantly advanced to around 26-27 years old.
Blake Lively, who was around 20 years old at the time of filming Gossip Girl, was approximately 25 years old when the series concluded. The close age resemblance between Lively and her character allowed for a realistic blend of maturity and youthful energy.
Throughout the show, Serena's character experienced notable personal growth, displaying a decreasing interest in social gatherings and an increasing sense of responsibility and maturity. Her relationship with Dan played a significant role in shaping her character, helping her shed her privileged and snobbish demeanor.
How old was Blake Lively in Gossip Girl? The main characters in the popular teen drama series, including Serena van der Woodsen (played by Blake Lively), appeared older than their actual ages. Gossip Girl, based on Cecily von Ziegesar's novel series, was developed by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage and aired from 2007 to 2012 on The CW. The show followed the lives of privileged teenagers living in Manhattan's Upper East Side and was narrated by the mysterious blogger known as "Gossip Girl" (voiced by Kristen Bell). While Serena van der Woodsen was the lead character, the series explored various storylines involving Blair Waldorf, Nate Archibald, Chuck Bass, and Dan Humphrey. As fans unraveled the mystery of Gossip Girl's identity, questions about the characters' ages, including Blake Lively's age during the show's first season, arose.
Serena's Age At The Start Of Gossip Girl
Serena's Age At The End Of Gossip Girl
: Serena's return to the Upper East Side after mysteriously vanishing from boarding school the previous year proves to be a challenging readjustment, especially considering the multitude of secrets she conceals. As the events of Gossip Girl unfold, Serena is depicted as a 16-year-old, with her birthday falling on July 14, 1991. To simplify tracking everyone else's ages, Blair's birthday celebrations serve as a reliable marker. In season 1, the group gathers to commemorate Blair's 17th birthday, while in season 2, Blair throws a grand affair to ring in her 18th birthday, complete with a surprise appearance by Cyndi Lauper.
Blair's parties in each season of Gossip Girl serve as confirmation that each season covers a year. Thus, by the end of the series, Serena's age is estimated to be 21-22. However, the series finale features a five-year time jump, during which the group reunites for Serena's wedding with Dan, as revealed by Gossip Girl. Taking this into consideration, Serena's age at the (actual) end of Gossip Girl is 26-27. As is common with many movies and TV shows featuring teenage characters, the actors portraying them are often not teenagers themselves. This was also the case for Blake Lively.
Lively was 20 years old during the filming and release of Gossip Girl, which means she was 25 when the series came to an end - around the same age as Serena when she married Dan. The main characters in Gossip Girl didn't really reflect typical 16-year-olds, as they lived in their own distinct world. However, the fact that there wasn't a significant age difference between Serena van der Woodsen and Blake Lively definitely contributed to her performance. It allowed her to strike a good balance between maturity and freshness.
How Serena Grew Over The Course Of Gossip Girl
Throughout the course of six seasons, no character in Gossip Girl experienced as much growth as Serena. By the conclusion of the series, her friends no longer feared the sharpness of her words. Initially introduced as a party-loving socialite, Serena gradually lost interest in lavish events and discovered new passions to occupy her time. Moreover, she became increasingly responsible and mature, learning from her earlier mistakes. Serena's relationship with Dan played a significant role in her transformation, as it led to a decrease in her entitled and snobbish behavior, resulting in a more carefree and enjoyable persona.
