The It-Girl Returns: Leighton Meester Talks Life, Love, and Career

Twelve years ago, Leighton Meester bid Blair Waldorf “goodbye” as the sixth and final season of Gossip Girl aired. Since tying the knot with Chuck Bass and moving to Paris (which we learn in the Gossip Girl reboot), Meester has taken on several roles, from freshman stalker to single mother in ABC’s Single Parents to real-life mother.

This year, Meester is making us do a double take with her roles in the Christmas film EXmas and acting alongside her husband, Adam Brody, in the thriller River Wilde. However, her variety of appearances and magazine spreads have social media talking and cheering on the renaissance of the “It-Girl.”

As her filmography continues to grow, Meester looks back at Gossip Girl. Although she is indeed grateful for the series, from a 37-year-old’s perspective, she understands some of the subtle yet problematic nuances displayed. 

“That outside world was just so new to me, and when you’re 20, 21, nobody should be writing down what you’re saying. You know what I mean?… I’m just saying about literally any movie I ever made, would I go back and be like, ‘Well, through the lens of my adult more developed mind as a mother [with a] post-feminist awakening, would I be OK with that stuff?’ And a large portion, I would have had more thoughts about it. But I also think that again, as a 20-year-old — early twenties, late twenties, whatever age you are really — there’s no ‘perfect.’”

Meester also sat down with husband Brody for a laid-back spread with Interview, where Meester gave us a clean, smokey, bronzed makeup look styled in casual yet intricate outfits, styled by Mimi Wade.

During their sitdown, they discussed everything under the sun, including her favorite dessert, Brody’s gift-giving, and how she once woke up in her Gossip Girl trailer with a paparazzi standing over her.

Although Meester wouldn’t associate herself with the word “private,” she has stayed out of the spotlight and headlines, keeping her grounded. But, it surprised many to discover that Meester is a mother of two. After Brody refused a “canned” answer, Meester described her work/motherhood balance and how it changed her career.

“It’s inevitable that it’s changed it, and we’ve had these conversations endlessly. I wouldn’t change anything, and I’m proud of the mom I am. But I also feel like I’m open to a lot of self-doubt and worry and to more extreme hypervigilance and neurosis. So, all I can do is take it a day at a time. But when I’m with my kids, our kids, I feel like all I can do is be present. Then, when I’m working, I miss them like crazy. It’s hard not to feel as a mom that you’re not doing enough, and I think that’s always going to be reinforced by our society,” Meester stated.

i kinda feel like this is gonna be leighton meester’s year a little bit

— hannah (@sournaya) January 1, 2024

When discussing the couple’s new project, River Wilde, Meester mentions how working opposite Brody was less challenging, which came as a surprise to Brody. “You are the person I want to work with all the time. You’re my best friend and the best acting partner that I could ever hope for. It was very familiar, so I felt very safe and comfortable to be doing all those pretty intense scenes,” she recalled.

As they revel in their new film, Meester looks toward the future and hopes to expand her horizons with a musical project, but not necessarily a musical, musical. “I just know that my strength isn’t in the musical theater register. I think a biopic, or just in general, a character who gets to sing and record. That, and also, I want to do more theater,“ Meester mentioned. So, there are no singles on the way, but there’s a chance we’ll potentially get to hear Meester’s vocal talents again.

As Meester continues to hit every avenue in the world of film and television, she remains calm, relaxed, and levelheaded. “I have dream projects and dream characters, but really, I like the way things are going…I like taking one project at a time.”

Check out her newest film, EXmas, on Amazon Prime.