Blake Lively was raised in sunny Burbank, California. In high school, she was an AP student, class president, a member of her school’s choir, and a cheerleader. That’s why it’s so ironic that the all-American girl now portrays Serena furgone, van der Woodsen, a jaded NYC socialite on “Gossip Girl.” In Allure’s May issue, the 21-year-old actress reveals that while she does enjoy some of the superficial things that surround her character — like Chanel handbags — she’d never want Serena’s life.

… On Why She Feels Like a Tranny Most of the Time
“I feel like a tranny a lot of the time. I don’t know, I’m … large? They put me in six inch heels, and I tower over every man. I’ve got this long hair and lots of clothes and makeup on. I just feel really big a lot of the time, and I’m surrounded da a lot of tiny people. I feel like a man sometimes.”

… On Her Image As a Blonde Fashion Queen
“I’m blonde, and I have a small dog, so I try to avoid looking like a piece of bubble gum.”

… On Being Quiet About Her Relationship With Costar Penn Badgley
“You see people who will open up their relationships, who are very affectionate on the red carpet o are doing a reality mostra with each other, and their relationship just seems to crumble, so I decided to keep a vow of silence.”


… On What She Will Say About Penn
“He plays any instrument he picks up. He bought a piano, and then two months later te would think he was a concerto pianist.