Years before social media had this much power over society, Gossip Girl had already warned us about the dangers of it, even though the characters in the series were not really paying attention. This teen drama show based on the novels by Cecily von Ziegesar, adapted by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, aired from 2007 to 2012 on The CW network. It follows the exclusive and drama-filled lives of the Upper East Side’s high-class teens, who happen to be closely scrutinized by Gossip Girl, an anonymous blogger that thrives on chit-chat and seems to know everything.
The show is a clear demonstration of the influence that social media has if it is not properly managed, going so far as to run people’s lives. Even though Manhattan teenagers knew how unhealthy this blog was and all the effects it had on people and relationships, they kept on reading it, effectively expanding its audience day by day. The question of who was hiding behind Gossip Girl kept the audience on their toes up until the end of the series, which was one of the reasons why the show was so popular, along with its characters’ storylines that pulled viewers in.
This production was wildly acclaimed, catapulting its stars’ careers worldwide and inspiring many adaptations in different countries. In 2021, a reboot sequel featuring another group of teenagers haunted by Gossip Girl was released, although it was not as well received as its predecessor and was canceled after just two seasons. Here’s a look at the Gossip Girl cast today.
Leighton Meester
Leighton Meester‘s best known role is undoubtedly Blair Waldorf, Constance Billiard’s Queen Bee and star of Gossip Girl. However, this actress and singer has been involved in many successful projects in both film and television since the conclusion of the series in 2012. Meester went on to star in movies like The Judge, Life Partners, and Semper Fi, while also appearing in Single Parentsand How I Met Your Father, the spin-off of the popular sitcom How I Met Your Mother.
Continued Success on the Big & Small Screen
In 2022, Meester starred in the Netflix thriller The Weekend Away as Beth, a young woman whose best friend disappears while they are away on a trip. That same year, she was cast in My Father’s Dragon, a children’s film starring Jacob Tremblay and Gaten Matarazzo that earned multiple Annie Award nominations and garnered widespread praise. The actress’ latest movie credit is the 2023 Christmas rom-com EXmas, and she is set to join the upcoming second season of the historical drama The Buccaneers.
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Ed Westwick
Only a young man with Chuck Bass’ attitude and determination could keep up with Blair Waldorf. This is undeniably one of Ed Westwick‘s best-known characters, as well as Vincent Swan, whom he portrayed in the British sitcom White Gold. Even though the actor has not been featured in that many projects recently since his days as part of the Gossip Girl cast, he can be seen in the movie Me You Madness, in which he stars alongside Louise Linton.
Westwick Faces Shocking Claims of Misconduct
Westwick faced major controversy when he was accused of physical misconduct by three different women in November 2017, accusations that the actor vehemently denied and called “unverified and provably untrue.” Since the accusations first surfaced, he has gone on to appear in action thrillers like Deep Fear and DarkGame, and is set to portray Lord James Brooke in the upcoming drama series Sandokan, an adaptation of the Emilio Salgari novels that will feature additional stars like Can Yaman and John Hannah.
Blake Lively
Blake Lively famously stars in Gossip Girl as Serena van der Woodsen, the Upper East Side’s it girl. These last few years have been very formative for Lively’s stellar career, as she went on to star alongside Harrison Ford in the romantic fantasy The Age of Adaline and in the survival thriller The Shallows. The actress delivered a wicked performance opposite Anna Kendrick in A Simple Favor (which is slated to receive a highly-anticipated sequel) and in 2021 she made her directorial debut with Taylor Swift’s “I Bet You Think About Me” music video.
Lively Dominates the Box Office
In 2024, Lively notably shared the screen with Justin Baldoni, Brandon Sklenar, and Jenny Slate in the big screen adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling romantic drama It Ends with Us, which went on to become a massive box office success and grossed over $349 million. The actress made headlines ahead of the film’s release due to alleged behind-the-scenes tension with co-star and director Baldoni, raising questions of both when and if the expected sequel It Starts with Us will come to fruition in the future.
Penn Badgley
Penn Badgley portrays one of Gossip Girl‘s greatest characters: Dan Humphrey, an aspiring writer based in Brooklyn who, upon falling in love with Serena, creates the infamous Gossip Girl blog. Dan is one of Badgley’s most iconic characters, but in recent years, there is one that is even further acclaimed: Joe Goldberg, a bookstore manager who turns into an obsessive killer in the Netflix series You.
Badgley’s Chilling Psychological Hit
The fan-favorite psychological thriller is based on the popular Caroline Kepnes novels and has become a streaming sensation, garnering a passionate and dedicated following with over 40 million people having viewed the first season wthin just a month. The mega-hit series currently has four seasons under its belt, and a fifth and final installment is currently in the works. Apart from You, Badgley has also appeared in Here Today, the 2021 film starring Billy Crystal and Tiffany Haddish and most recently in the crime thriller The Birthday Cake.
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Chace Crawford
On Gossip Girl, Chace Crawford is Nate Archibald, the Upper East Side golden boy. In recent years, Crawford has kept himself very active in the industry, starring in both film and television productions. Among his most notable ones is the popular Prime Video show The Boys, inspired by the comic book by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, in which he stars as Kevin Moskowitz/The Deep.
Crawford Remains a TV Staple
Outside his dazzling work in the satirical and edgy superhero series, he has also been in films such as Charlie Says, Inheritance, Belle, and Nighthawks, in which he appeared with Kevin Zegers and Janet Montgomery. Crawford also helped make up the decorated ensemble cast in the 2024 comedy mystery Reunion, which featured the additional talents of famous faces, including Nina Dobrev, Lil Rel Howery, and Billy Magnussen.
Kelly Rutherford
Kelly Rutherford played Lily, Serena’s mother and one of the most influential people in Manhattan. This was one of Kelly’s most prominent roles, along with her appearances in the soap operas Generationsand Melrose Place. Following Gossip Girl‘s wrap-up, Rutherford appeared in occasional projects, mostly on TV.
Rutherford Sticks to the Small Screen
In 2016, she made a few guest appearances in the series Quantico, and from 2018 to 2019, she appeared in the cast of the reboot of Dynasty as Melissa Daniels. She also had a main role in Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists, I. Marlene King’s show that got canceled after a season. Rutherford’s other recent movie credits include Love, Of Course, Dark Angel, and Fallen Hearts, with a 2020 episode of the crime drama series Power Book II: Ghost marking her latest acting role.
Matthew Settle
In the show, Matthew Settle plays Rufus, Dan and Jenny’s father and Lily’s eventual partner. And even though the actor picked up a few projects after Gossip Girl ended, he hasn’t been actively involved in the industry for a few years now. Settle’s other film credits so far include Ouija, Paper Angels, Marshall the Miracle Dog, and The Faith of Anna Waters.
Settle Takes a Step Back From Hollywood
After the conclusion of Gossip Girl, Settle also appeared in an episode of Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders and his most recent on-screen performance was in the 2017 superhero action film V alentine: The Dark Avenger, in which he portrayed Bono. Since then, Settle has largely taken a step back from the limelight and is instead focused on raising his daughter Aven Angelica.
Jessica Szohr
Jessica Szohr joined Gossip Girl during its first season with a recurring role as Vannessa Abrams, but eventually became a lead due to the character’s popularity. Over the past few years, the actress has become known for her character Talla Keyali in the Seth MacFarlane series The Orville, which released its third season on Hulu in 2022.
Szohr’s Many Television Performances
Meanwhile, Szohr spent some time working on All-Star Weekend, a film directed by Jamie Foxx that was supposed to premiere in 2018, but after several delays, it was eventually shelved. She continued finding luck in the world of television and has landed roles in Kingdom, Twin Peaks, and as Nessa Chabon in Shameless, and she also starred opposite Ron Perlman and Chazz Palminteri in the crime comedy thriller Clover in 2020.
Taylor Momsen
Taylor Momsen first gained worldwide acclaim for her role as Cindy Lou Who in the beloved 2000 holiday hit How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and seven years later, for her interpretation of Jenny Humphrey in Gossip Girl. Midway through the project, Momsen opted to retire from acting in order to focus on her band, The Pretty Reckless, who released their first album in 2010.
Momsen’s Rock & Roll Takeover
In February 2021, they released their fourth album, Death by Rock and Roll, which featured singles including “And So It Went” and “Only Love Can Save Me Now” and became the highest-selling album in the country its week of release, moving 17,366 album equivalent units. The Pretty Reckless also became the first female-fronted band to nab seven number-one singles on the Mainstream Rock chart.
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