Who is Thomas Canestraro? Justin Baldoni’s body double reveals Blake Lively’s alleged “closed off” demeanour on set

Thomas Canestraro, a veteran stunt actor, is bringing a new perspective to the unsettling backstage environment of the It Ends With Us film adaptation as the ongoing controversy behind the project continues to unfold.

The France performer and one-time world champion kickboxer gave an exclusive interview to the Daily Mail this week. In the interview, he talked about the short but significant time he spent on the set of It Ends With Us.

Known for his action-packed roles in projects like The Expendables 3 and TV shows like The Haves and the Have Nots and And Just Like That, Canestraro has had a successful career in the entertainment industry.

His bio on the Corenyc website states that Canestraro harnessed a passion for sport from the age of 6 and went on to become a two-time Kickboxing World Champion. He achieved an incredible 21 national titles in 22 years. Beyond Hollywood and his sports career, he’s an avid supporter of pit bull rights and a licensed real estate agent in New York City.

Thomas Canestraro recently stated that there was an awkward vibe filming sets for It Ends With Us. While the atmosphere was still professional, delays and discomfort suggested larger problems beneath the surface.

"You could tell that the set was tense. There was some discomfort from everybody... What I did experience was filming that was taking longer than expected," He told Daily Mail.

The stunt expert, who also worked with the actress on a promotional campaign for A Simple Favor back in 2018, stated that he saw a dramatic change in Blake Lively’s behavior.

Back then, Lively was supposedly warm and gracious, even making sure that he had a private area in which to change during a risqué photo shoot. By contrast, on the It Ends With Us set, he said, she was “more closed off.”

More about Thomas Canestraro's statements involving Ryan Reynolds

According to Daily Mail, Thomas Canestraro had initially thought the delays and bad blood were due to the fallout from the 2023 Writers Guild strike, but it all made more sense after Lively sued Baldoni in December 2024.

The lawsuit accused Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment and of creating a hostile work environment. Baldoni then countersued for a whopping $400 million, claiming Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, were trying to tarnish his name in the entertainment world.

Addressing the presence of Ryan Reynolds on the It Ends With Us set, Thomas Canestraro said that he initially thought it was nice that Reynolds was there in the studio with them. Looking back on it now, he guessed it was likely a reaction to Lively’s emotional strain experienced on the set.

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"Originally, I came on set my first day, Ryan is on set, and I'm like, Oh, my God. What a cool thing... What a supportive husband who just came on set to cheer his wife... And now I'm like, 'Oh, was Blake already in such a bad place that Ryan just came to make sure that she was okay?'" Canestraro said.

Thomas Canestraro stressed that he is not picking a side. He supposedly wants to see the matter resolved as soon as possible and states how the focus has been taken away from the film, which tries to address the complexity of domestic abuse.

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