When Gossip Girl premiered on the CW in September 2007, it was a major shift in the world of 2000s pop culture. Audiences who were curious about the show, based on the young adult novel series by Cecily von Ziegesar, got an inside look at the drama, glamor, and mystery surrounding a group of privileged teens in New York City. As rumors continue to swirl whether or not the cast will come together for a reunion, or better yet a reboot, we’re looking back on what the original cast looked like when they were on the show and how far they’ve come today!
After a number of small roles in series like Law & Order and House, Leighton Meester finally got her big break as Blair Waldorf on Gossip Girl. Leighton starred on the series for its entire run between 2007-2012. During that time, she was in over 120 episodes — making an appearance in every single one of the show’s episodes. During her time on the show, Gossip Girl also catapulted Leighton to the big screen. She starred in films like Date Night (2009), Country Strong (2010), and The Roommate (2011). Since her time on the show, Leighton has spoken out about the difficult atmosphere on the set of the series, but she has stayed working in TV with her latest show Single Parents!
Of course, one of the biggest stars to come out of Gossip Girl is undoubtedly Blake Lively. After starring in 2005’s The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and the 2006 film Accepted, Blake earned the role of Serena van der Woodsen on the iconic CW series. Blake gave fans a slew of great fashion moments, which eventually translated to her red carpet style as her star in Hollywood rose! Since Gossip Girl ended, Blake has become one of the most sought-after leading ladies of the big screen. She’s starred in films like The Age of Adeline (2015), The Shallows (2016), and 2018’s A Simple Favor. As for her personal life, Blake went on to marry her Green Lantern co-star Ryan Reynolds in 2012 and the pair have three daughters together — James, 5, Inez, 3, and a third daughter who was born in late 2019.
