The inspiring reason Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively named their daughter James
Actors Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have two little girls – Inez and James – and the Deadpool star has opened up a little more about his own childhood, and how it’s impacted his life with Blake and their girls.
My dad was a tough guy
Ryan Reynolds has described his relationship with his own father as “fractured” and admitted things were “complicated” with the “former cop, former boxer, full-time landmine”.
As Deadpool 2 was set to hit screens, Ryan spoke to website Mr Porter about what sounds like some really tricky early years and how he turned things around – with some help from his wife.
“My dad was a tough guy,” Ryan admitted. “He was good in many ways as well, but he was tough on us. This is not meant to be some sob story – everyone carries their own bag of rocks around and I am no different in that regard – but growing up in my house, it was never relaxing or easy.”
Reconciling and moving forward
A lifetime battling anxiety was the fallout from this uncertain childhood, but the dad-of-two has pushed through – and seems keen to resolve the uncomfortable parts of life for the sake of everyone in his family.
When Ryan’s dad James – who died in 2015 – was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, it was Blake who encouraged him to find a way to spend time with his father, and put the conflicts of the past on the back burner.
“She has a gift for foresight,” Ryan admitted of the reconciliation.
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When Ryan and Blake’s first child was born, just months before his dad died, the pair paid homage to him naming the little girl after her grandpa – James.
“It felt right,” Ryan explained. “All family relationships come with some complications. For better or worse, all roads lead to here. At the end of the day, it’s easier to focus on the good stuff than the bad.”
“My father died soon after my daughter was born, but he got to see her, which makes me happy.”
“I love being a dad”
Ryan revealed becoming a father himself had been transformative and joyful – and perhaps the chance to provide something different to his own childhood experience has been a healing experience too.
“I love being a dad. It’s the best thing that ever happened to me,” Ryan confirmed.
Ryan and Blake met in 2010 on the set of Green Lantern going on to marry in late 2012. Their eldest daughter James was born in 2014 and the youngest, Inez, in 2016.
The couple guard their childrens’ privacy fiercely, with Blake’s reps recently reaching out to media outlets who purchased and published unauthorised paparazzi images of James, asking them to remove them.
“We appreciate all magazines, websites and publications who are standing by protecting the privacy of children and vowing to cut off the supply chain to help end the stalking of children,” Blake’s people said in a statement on her behalf.
