A Blake Lively x 'The Shallows' appreciation post.

To celebrate the release of Blake Lively’s new film, ‘The Shallows’, we’ve compiled a list of things that we’re currently loving about her - and not just the fact that she was Serena Van Der Woodsen from ‘Gossip Girl’.

But first, here’s the official low-down on what ‘The Shallows’ is about:

“In the taut thriller, The Shallows, Nancy Adams (Blake Lively) is surfing on a secluded beach when she finds herself in the feeding ground of a great white shark.  Though she is stranded only two hundred yards from shore, survival proves to be the ultimate test of wills, requiring all of Nancy’s ingenuity, resourcefulness, and fortitude.”

Now without further ado, here are five things that we currently appreciate about Blake Lively:

#1. Blake had to train super intensely for the film, and she was also super involved with all the stunts for the film - there was no stunt-double used until the last two weeks on set. Blake said:  “I had to train – not only to learn how to surf as best as I could, but there was a lot of endurance training for my body to keep up with the physicality of the role. I didn’t even have a stunt double until the last two weeks on the film – I did all the heavy stunts myself leading up to that. Except for the surfing, of course! I was lucky to have the incredible Isabella Nichols, the #1 junior surfer in the world, as my surfing hero. As for the other heavy stunts, I had my share of ‘battle wounds,’ but it made me proud to be able to do that work.”

As well as her involvement in the stunts, she also prepared for the film by learning more about sharks - “I went diving with great white sharks in Gansbaai, South Africa. I was face-to-face with those majestic creatures.  It was incredibly eye opening, because I was always terrified of great white sharks, but being in the water with them, being within their habitat, they don’t look like big, monstrous creatures – they’re beautiful, peaceful and serene.  That was helpful, because in this movie, I’m not thinking of the shark as an attacker – the shark is a remarkable creature, simply trying to survive. As is Nancy.”

#2. Blake’s performance in ‘The Shallows’ has received praise from both critics and crew alike, with director Collet-Serra saying: “Blake is not only very likable, she’s very tough, very smart, and very resourceful. Those are the traits we wanted to come through in Nancy.”

Speaking about her own character, Lively had the following to say: “She’s very practical, she’s type A, she likes things a certain way. Imagine this woman thrown into the most chaotic circumstance you could fathom. Not a great fit. That’s what’s so interesting – her experience tests her character on every front. You see both the strengthening and disassembling of this woman as she fights to survive. It’s a neat examination. As responsible as she is though, she must have a thrill-seeking desire in her heart, or she wouldn’t be such a bad a-double-s surfer!”

#3. While filming ‘The Shallows’ in Australia, her trip also coincided with Taylor Swift’s 1989 World Tour stop in Australia - and the pair hung out together multiple times, ‘cuz they’re totally friendship goals. Check out the adorable photos of them hanging out (with a kangaroo) below…

#4. In a behind-the-scenes interview with Blake, she spoke about the ongoing intensity of the film, and the outright drama that the film provides from the outset. It really shows her passion about the film and her role as Nancy, watch the sound bites below:

#5. In an adorable interview with USA Today, Blake spoke about how her and her husband Ryan Reynolds would survive shark-infested waters, and it’s super cute. Watch the interview:

‘The Shallows’ is out in New Zealand cinemas today - watch the official trailer for the film below (and click here to learn more about the film)…