Blake Lively - Lively Lobbied Affleck For The Town Role

GOSSIP GIRL star BLAKE LIVELY had to fight for her role in new BEN AFFLECK movie THE TOWN - because casting directors were convinced she was too young for the part.

The actress, 22, was turned away when she first expressed interest in playing mother-of-one Krista Coughlin in the upcoming crime drama.

But she refused to give up hope and jumped on a train to Boston, Massachusetts to seek out Affleck, who stars in and directs the film, to audition for him personally.

Her tactics worked - and scriptwriters were forced to rework the screenplay to suit Lively.

She tells Us Weekly magazine, "My part was supposed to be a 37 year old. I was like, 'I have to play this.' And they're like, 'No, you're not 37.'

"I took a train to Boston and auditioned for Ben and fought for the role, and he gave me the job on the spot. They rewrote it so I'm 29."