Blake Lively honored her mother, Willie Elain McAlpin, at the Time100 Gala Thursday evening with a personal five-minute speech that revealed that McAlpin had survived an attack on her life before Lively was born.

"Never underestimate a woman's ability to endure pain," said LivelyBlake Lively attended the TIME100 Gala with her husband, Ryan ReynoldsAt the gala, the actress spoke for six minutes about topics such as womanhood and assault"I have so much to say about the last two years of my life,

Blake Lively delivered a moving tribute to her mother, Willie Elain McAlpin, during her speech at the Time100 Gala on Thursday evening. Speaking at New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center, Lively revealed that her mother survived a violent attack by a work acquaintance before Lively was born—a traumatic event that has shaped both their lives.