'Ryan calls me his knight in shining armour'

Actress Blake Lively tells us about her emotional new film role, the struggle to find decent female characters in Hollywood and her close bond with husband Ryan Reynolds’ mother

- JENNY DAVIS/HOTFEATURES

Hollywood power couple Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds — one of the most likeable husband-and-wife teams in showbiz — are certainly keeping busy this summer. While Ryan steps out in superhero blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine, Blake is taking on the lead role of Lily Bloom in the romantic drama It Ends With Us.

Based on Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel, Blake’s latest film is no picnic. It sees Lily overcome a traumatic childhood to begin a new life as a florist in downtown Boston, hoping she can start afresh after her father’s recent funeral and the revelation that he abused her mother. Lily still wonders what happened to her old college friend and one-that-got-away Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar). But suddenly she finds herself swept off her feet by neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid ( Justin Baldoni) — and gets embroiled in a confusing but electrifying love triangle…

Off camera, mum-of-four Blake’s love life is far more settled as the 36-year-old gave birth to her fourth child last February and has been married to Ryan since 2012. Ryan, 47, recently revealed that the newest addition to their family is called Olin, a Nordic name meaning ancestor’s heir (the couple are also parents to James, nine, Inez, seven, and Betty, four). Here, Blake talks about the strength of her character Lily, her preoccupation with food and how Ryan calls her his “knight in shining armour”.

Hi, Blake! How did this incredible story find you?

The original book resonates with so many people. And that’s exciting, and also a huge responsibility. And slightly terrifying because what you have in your imagination is sort of impossible to meet. Then everyone’s imagination is slightly different. But what’s special about this is that if you’ve read the book first, I genuinely believe — and I don’t normally promise this — you will love this movie.