Bledel was born to an Argentine father, Martin Bledel, and a Mexican mother of French and German descent, Nanette Dozier; and has a younger brother, Eric David Bledel. Her native language was Spanish. Her parents encouraged her to try community theater at the age of eight to overcome her shyness. The aspiring actress subsequently appeared in local productions of Our Town and The Wizard of Oz before being scouted at a local mall and given work as a model.

She studied at the Page Parkes Center for Modeling and Acting, and was a film major at NYU's Tisch School of Arts for one year before getting the role of Rory Gilmore. In 2002, she was voted one of People magazine's "Hottest Stars Under 25". Among her earliest film appearances was an uncredited role as an extra in Rushmore, which was shot in her hometown