Blake Lively for Marie Claire US July 2012 by Txema Yeste

On the public’s perception of her: “People like to draw parallels between my life and the scandalous stories on Gossip Girl. I dress the same as my character, so they think, She lives this life on and off set. I recently shared how many boyfriends I’ve had [four], and people were like, “That’s impossible!” But it’s true. I’ve been with very few people. If I’m not with somebody who really excites or inspires me, then I’d rather be by myself.”

On preparing for her Savages role: “I went to the gun range and learned how to shoot a gun for the first time. It was awful. I asked myself, ‘Why were these things ever invented? But I did feel good that my first three shots were straight to the heart. It’s good to know – don’t mess with me in a gun battle.”

On why she doesn’t have a stylist: "My assistant will call fashion houses for me, but I always pick the outfit, shoes, jewelry, and a lot of times I do my own hair and makeup for events. Sometimes I think, God, why do I do this to myself? It's so much extra work! Because I love fashion. It’s such an expression of self. I often see people and they look great, but I can identify who styled them. Every stylist has a signature. Maybe it sounds jerky, but I’m lucky to be on such a fashion-centric show [Gossip Girl]. There’s no designer I don’t have access to.”

On if there anyone's style she's currently obsessing over: "I love Florence Welch. She's pure magic. I always admire people who make really strong choices. When you do something bold, it's usually because you feel really good in it."