In a recently resurfaced interview from the 2022 Forbes Power Women's Summit, actress Blake Lively revealed her aspiration to be more than just a face on screen. The 37-year-old shared that her desire for creative input and "authorship" sometimes created friction with directors and producers who preferred her to stick to a more conventional acting role.

Lively recounted her early experiences in the industry, where she often conformed to the expectations of those in charge, simply fulfilling the assigned role without much creative involvement. However, she expressed a deep desire to contribute to the storytelling process beyond just delivering lines. This desire extended to aspects like writing, costume design, and character development.

While some productions welcomed her collaborative spirit, others pushed back, viewing her input as overstepping the boundaries of her role as an actress. Lively admitted that this created a challenging dynamic, as she felt the need to conceal her desire for creative control during initial meetings to secure roles.

This revelation comes amidst Lively's ongoing legal battle with Justin Baldoni, the director and co-star of her film "It Ends With Us." Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment, while Baldoni countersued for defamation, claiming a staggering $400 million in damages. Baldoni's legal team alleges that Lively exerted undue influence over the film's production, even leveraging her friendship with Taylor Swift to pressure Baldoni into accepting her rewritten scenes.

This complex legal situation adds another layer to Lively's comments about creative control, raising questions about the specific projects she was referencing and the extent to which her desire for authorship played a role in these disputes. The trial is scheduled for March 2026.