It Ends With Us' Justin Baldoni Praises "Smart and Creative" Costar Blake Lively 

Justin Baldoni has nothing but positive things to say about his new leading lady.

The Jane the Virgin alum couldn’t help but heap praise on Blake Lively while reflecting on working with the actress on the romantic drama film It Ends With Us.

"I don't know if you know how smart and creative she really is," Justin, who wrote and directed the movie, said on Today Aug. 8 about the actress, who plays his troubled character's love interest in the movie. "I think she's best known as an actress and of course she's a fashion icon, but she is so much more than that."

In addition to playing female lead Lily Bloom the film, based on Colleen Hoover's 2016 novel of the same name, Blake also served as a producer on the film alongside executive producer Justin.

As he explained, "She is a dynamic, creative, she had her hands in every part of this production, and everything she touched, she made better."

His words echo the sentiment he shared while celebrating the film at its New York City premiere Aug. 6.

"She is a creative force," Justin told E! News. "Everything she touches, she makes better. I think we're all here because of her, so I couldn't be more grateful to have that opportunity."

It Ends With Us was also a family affair for both the Simple Favor star and the Five Feet Apart director: Justin's wife Emily Baldoni has a minor role in the film, while Blake's husband, Ryan Reynolds, helped write a small but memorable part of it.

"The iconic rooftop scene, my husband actually wrote it," Blake exclusively told E! News at the premiere, which she attended with Ryan and longtime friend Hugh Jackman. "Nobody knows that."

The actress, 36, said she and Ryan, 47—who share daughters James, 9, Inez, 7, and Betty, 4, and son Olin, born in 2023—continuously "help each other" with their projects.

"He works on everything I do," she shared. "I work on everything he does. So his wins, his celebrations are mine and mine are his."

It Ends With Us is set for release in theaters Aug. 9.