Blake Lively may have been a shy and awkward teenager, but these days she’s anything but reserved, as she stuns in a photo shoot for Elle Australia this month.

The 28-year-old actress, who is expecting her second child, looks fabulous in a series of stylish outfits, including an orange leather trench coat with a plunging neckline. In her interview with the magazine, the blonde beauty reveals that acting played a key role in helping her overcome her shyness during her awkward teenage years.

Blake shares, “I was very introverted and uncomfortable in social situations, but when I began acting classes at around 16, it made a world of difference.”

Now, with her poised and elegant red carpet appearances, it’s hard to imagine she once struggled with confidence. However, the Gossip Girl star says her high school years weren’t easy due to her height, shyness, and lack of confidence.

In the interview, Blake discusses her role in the upcoming horror thriller The Shallows, mentioning that her surfing skills were crucial for the role. She said, “I did almost all the surfing and stunt scenes myself. It was only during reshoots, when I was already pregnant, that a stunt double was used.”

During her Elle Australia shoot, Blake, who is married to actor Ryan Reynolds, was reportedly pregnant but concealed any signs of a baby bump with her stylish outfits. In one photo, she wears a white jacket with a zippered front, revealing a hint of her decolletage as she plays with the collar. On the cover, she shows off her toned legs in a purple suede trench coat.

Throughout the shoot, her golden blonde hair is styled with plenty of volume, and she radiates with a minimal makeup look. Blake and Ryan, who married in 2012, share one daughter, 19-month-old James. The couple announced in April that they were expecting their second child.