(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Blake Lively avoids discussing her relationships because she doesnt want to invite people in to her life.

The 23-year-old actress is famous for her role as Serena van der Woodsen in the hit US television series Gossip Girl, alongside stars such as Taylor Momsen and Leighton Meester. The cast of Gossip Girl have become particularly well-known for the romantic goings-on both on and off screen, with cast members Ed Westwick and Jessica Szohr once dating, and Blake going out with her male co-star Penn Badgley.

Blake and Penn are famously private about their romance, and the actress revealed they keep quiet because they want to keep their careers and their real lives separate.

You separate the two. Youve got to treat this like any other job. If youre on the red carpet and talk about your life, youre inviting people in, explained the star in an interview with More! magazine.

Blake prefers to keep out of the limelight not only to protect her relationship, but also because shes actually very timid. Despite regularly being photographed looking beautiful for fashion magazines, she doesnt enjoy photoshoots because there is no character for her to hide behind.

I find photo shoots quite hard because its just being you. Thats always hard for me because by nature Im very shy, she confessed. (C) Cover Media