Director Ken Kwapis recently reflected on Blake Lively’s debut film, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and shared behind-the-scenes insights into the now-beloved 2005 coming-of-age classic. In a recent interview, Kwapis revealed how the strong, lasting friendship among the film’s four stars began, and how Lively’s performance immediately stood out, even as a newcomer.
Kwapis praised the tight-knit bond formed between Lively and her co-stars America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Tamblyn, saying that, nearly two decades later, the connection between them remains unshakable. “It’s hard to imagine anyone other than Blake Lively as Bridget, even though it was her first acting job,” Kwapis said, recalling Lively’s casting. “I mean, she was 16 when she came in to audition, and yet she won it in the room.”
He continued, “She had such a sort of intuitive connection to this character.” Although the film’s storyline keeps the four central characters apart for much of the plot, Kwapis wanted the actresses to portray a sense of lifelong friendship that felt authentic on screen, despite the fact that they had never met before filming began, as told to People.
To help establish that chemistry, the director devised a creative rehearsal strategy. He sent Lively, Ferrera, Bledel, and Tamblyn on a thrift-shopping excursion together, giving them a budget and instructing them to shop as their characters.
The unconventional exercise paid off. Kwapis noted that the experience forged a real bond among the young actresses—one that has endured well beyond the production of the film. “It’s so amazing and it’s particularly rare in show business,” Kwapis said. “I think that in show business people have intense relationships for a short time and then go their separate ways.”
But that wasn’t the case for the Sisterhood cast. The four actresses have continued their friendship in the public eye over the years, supporting one another’s careers and personal milestones. They’ve often posted about reunions and special occasions, keeping the spirit of their onscreen sisterhood alive in real life.
Lively’s performance in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants marked the beginning of what would become a successful acting career. But as Kwapis made clear, the film left a lasting legacy beyond its box office success: a genuine friendship that grew out of a story about love, loss, and connection. As the movie nears its 20th anniversary, fans and cast alike continue to celebrate the rare magic it brought to the screen—and behind the scenes.
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