GENERAL BASICS & SUMMARY

Birth Name: Leighton Marissa Claire Meester
Birth Place: Marco Island, FL
Date of Birth: April 9, 2008
Zodiac Sign: Aries
Profession: Actor

Leighton Marissa Claire Meester (born April 9, 1986) is an American actress, best known for her role as Blair Waldorf in the TV show Gossip Girl. Her first acting role on a television program was on NBC’s legal drama Law & Order in 1999.Other series in which Meester has appeared include CSI: Miami, 8 Simple Rules, 24, 7th Heaven, and House.

Career

Meester has a younger brother named Lex. Meester became interested in acting when she appeared in a local production of The Wizard of Oz.In 2003-2005 they lived in Beverly hills. When she was 11, she moved with her family to New York City and soon after began working as a model with Wilhelmina, booking a Ralph Lauren campaign shot by Bruce Webber and working with then-photographer Sofia Coppola.

Other roles include a role as Savannah Bennett on Surface. She has guest starred as Debbie Pendleton on Season 4 of the FOX drama 24, as Ali in episode 3 and 4 of Season 3 of the FOX drama House, as Carrie Bishop on Season 1 of the UPN drama Veronica Mars, and Chandler’s new girlfriend Kendall in Season 8 of the WB drama 7th Heaven, as well as the role of Justine Chapin in Season 1 of the HBO comedy Entourage. Meester made her film debut in the feature Hangman’s Curse, based on the best-selling novel by Frank Peretti.

She recently starred in the independent comic-thriller Flourish with House co-stars Jennifer Morrison and Jesse Spencer.

In 2006, she wrapped the female lead role in the comedy/horror film Drive-Thru. She has also recorded a song for the soundtrack of Drive-Thru. In the spring of 2006, she played a part in the ensemble comedy/drama entitled Remember the Daze.

Currently, Meester stars as Blair Waldorf in The CW series Gossip Girl, from Josh Schwartz, creator of The O.C. and based on the book series about the lives of New York’s two privileged Upper East Side high school students. Meester has stated in interviews that she identifies with Blair “on every level, in one way or another.” She has also recently guest starred on CSI: Miami and has a recurring role on James Woods’ court drama Shark. When not on the set, Meester, who attended Beverly Hills High School, pursues her talent for music and creative writing. She currently resides in New York.

She has worked with actress Kristen Bell on two TV series. In Gossip Girl, Bell provides the voice of Gossip Girl and Leighton plays Blair Waldorf, and in Veronica Mars, which stars Bell, Leighton appeared briefly as gossip queen Carrie Bishop.

She will reprise her role of Justine Chapin on Entourage in season five.

FACTS & TRIVIAS

» Moved to New York at age 11 and worked as a model.
» Made her TV debut at age 13 in an episode of Law & Order.
» Recorded a song for 2007′s Drive-Thru, in which she also co-starred.
» Dyed her naturally blonde hair brown to play Blair Waldorf on Gossip Girl » Leightons favorite song is “Out On The Weekend” by Neil Young.
» Leighton writes the lyrics for her own songs.
» When she was young, Leighton took ballet and jazz classes. She also took modern dance classes once she was in high school.
» Leighton became interested in acting after appearing in a local performance of The Wizard Of Oz.
» Leighton’s character Blair Waldorf on Gossip Girl was ranked #5 in TV Guide magazine’s list of Best-dressed TV Characters of 2007.
» Leighton is a model-turned-actress.
»Leighton’s guilty pleasure is flying first class.
» Leighton loves gossiping with Nicole Fiscella on the Gossip Girl set.
» Leighton’s Magazine Covers:
- Teen Spring, 2008.
– Lucky August, 2008.
» Leighton is a fan of Chris Cornell and Incubus.
» She has been a big fan of actor Kiefer Sutherland, even before she guest starred on his show 24.
» Her favorite city in the whole world is New York City.
» Leighton loves creative writing.
» Leighton made her television debut at the age of 13 in an episode of Law & Order.
» Leighton resides in New York.
» Leighton has a passion for singing. In fact, she sung a song for her movie Drive Thru.
» Leighton is right-handed.
» After moving to New York City, Leighton worked as a model with the Wilhemina agency.
» Leighton has worked with famous photographer Sofia Coppola on a Ralph Lauren campaign.
» Leighton is a published poet; her mom is a writer.
» Leighton is naturally blond but dyed her hair brunette even before she got the role of Blair on Gossip Girl.
» Leighton is 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 meters) tall.
» Leighton’s last name, Meester, is Dutch, and means “Master” or “Teacher”. The “ee” is pronounded “ea”, the same way as the “ea” in “ear”.
» Leighton moved to New York with her mother when she was 11 for 3 years.
» Leighton’s real-life brother was a US Air Force Academy cadet who was accused of raping an eighteen-year-old female cadet in 2002.
» Leighton has an older brother, Douglas Meester.