Time released its list of 100 Most Influential People of 2011 today. Heads of state, business people, politicians, scientists, celebrities, Justin Bieber, it’s the usual…

And then…

There’s Blake Lively.

With an intro written by Baz Luhrmann:

Every now and then, an actor or actress manages to somehow channel the vitality of youth — that indefinable, natural, unprocessed glamour full of possibility and filled with anticipation for an endless future. I've known Blake the actress, and I've known Blake the person, who would surprise many with her down-to-earth coolness. She makes you feel that she, and life, are going to go on forever.

Well, when you put it that way…

I don’t disagree. There is indeed a permanent beach smell, eternal youth, free and easy spirit that Blake carries with her. I’m not sure if that’s how I define influential, but Baz’s description of her isn’t wrong. Interesting too that he contributed a piece like this about a girl he essentially rejected in the role of Daisy for his next major project The Great Gatsby. Sometimes you can’t give them what they want, but you do give them something. And also, if he likes her so much, you have to figure that if she could just act… you know?

On the subject of Gatsby, Baz had been pursuing Ben Affleck for Tom Buchanan – click here for a refresher - and I thought that was actually quite inspired but Ben has to direct a movie and can’t find time in his sched so they’re still looking. (Source)

To see the fill Time Influential list, click here.

Attached – Blake at WonderCon earlier this month promoting The Green Lantern.


Photos from Max Morse/Gettyimages.com