“She won it in the room” - Blake Lively’s The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants director recalls her first audition

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, starring Blake Lively, Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera, and Amber Tamblyn in the lead, celebrated its 20th anniversary on June 1, 2025.

In an exclusive conversation with People, published on June 1, 2025, the iconic coming-of-age film director, Ken Kwapis, spoke about how he realized the lead cast was the perfect fit for their on-screen roles.

He shared:

"I met a lot of good actors, but I feel like the moment I met each of the four, that was it."

Recalling Blake Lively's first-ever audition, Kwapis reflected on selecting her to portray the popular character of Bridget Vreeland, a soccer star. He added:

"It's hard to imagine anyone else other than Blake Lively as Bridget, even though it was her first acting job. I mean, she was 16 when she came in to audition and yet she won it in the room. She had such a sort of intuitive connection to this character."

Ken Kwapis discussed working with Blake Lively, Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera & Amber Tamblyn

While opening up about his experience of being associated with this renowned film, Ken lauded each star, appreciating their performances and admitting how he knew the actors were the best choices for their respective roles.

Kwapis further continued:

"I felt the same [about the rest]. Amber and Alexis and America obviously had more experience. Amber and Alexis were in hit TV series. America had just come off of a fantastic independent feature, Real Women Have Curves, so they had more experience. But [it was] the same thing when I met with each of them. It was clear that they had 'it' — that was it. We were done looking."

Following the film's release, fans appreciated the beautiful bond that Blake Lively, Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera, and Amber Tamblyn shared off-screen. However, the director played a major role in strengthening their friendship behind the cameras.

Kwapis revealed in his recent interview that none of the lead actresses "had never met before this film," and it was a "challenge" too. He had a short time to bring them together and let them bond to reflect their friendship on-screen.

He later chimed in,

"The challenge was that the four actors had never met before this film, and the characters don't have a lot of scenes together. Basically the four of them are in scenes at the beginning and the end. They bookend the film."

In the pre-production process, he focused on Blake Lively, Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera, and Amber Tamblyn bonding "toward each other and turn them into lifelong friends quickly."

Remembering those days, Ken said:

"One of the things I tried to do is create certain exercises that would help the four of them bond. I mentioned this one in my book, that I sent the four actors off to a thrift store with, I don't know, $75 or $100 apiece with the instructions to buy something in character and to also advise the others in character as well."

Ken detailed his journey of approaching an "interesting way to rehearse without actually rehearsing a scene." Recounting that experience, he noted,

"It was an exercise that gave them a chance to create a shorthand that they were able to use to, again, create that sense that these were friends from birth."

The pre-production efforts by the director surely showed great results. Blake Lively, Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera, and Amber Tamblyn showcased their strong friendship magnificently in the movie. Also, they share a wonderful bond, even after two decades since their film.

Ken further remarked during the interview:

"It's so amazing and it's particularly rare in show business. I think that in show business people have intense relationships for a short time and then go their separate ways. But in this case, these four actors came together, played four best friends and then have remained best friends. So actually, it's rare and wonderful."

Ken Kwapis spoke candidly about staying in touch with the film's cast and crew. Sharing about his relationship with everyone, he acknowledged,

"I'm definitely in touch with everyone. I mean, not on a regular basis, but for instance, last year there was a screening of the film in New York at the Roxy Cinema and I spoke after the screening along with Amber."

Appreciating the bond and connection he has with everyone, he also expressed,

"I'm definitely in touch with the others now and then and, again, I feel like it's been wonderful to become friends with all of them and I hope to work with them again."

Twenty years ago, on June 1, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was released in U.S. theaters. It had its Hollywood premiere on May 31 that year, according to IMDb.

Over the years, it garnered a devoted fan base, particularly for its refreshing portrayal of friendship by Blake Lively, Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera, and Amber Tamblyn.