Leighton Marissa Claire Meester (born April 9, 1986) is an American actress and singer-songwriter, best known for her role as Blair Waldorf in the TV show Gossip Girl.[1]
Meester made her television debut in 1999 playing Alyssa Turner in Law & Order. Meester appeared as a guest in two more series before landing her big role in the movie called Hangman's Curse, based on the best selling book by Frank Peretti. Meester also appeared in Tarzan, which only lasted for eight episodes. Meester started to land guest roles in other series such as, Crossing Jordan, 7th Heaven, a recurring role as the Britney Spears-like singer Justine Chapin on the hit series Entourage, 24 and Veronica Mars.
In 2005 Meester scored a regular role in the series Surface. She played Savannah Bennet, big sister of Miles Bennett. The show ran for 15 episodes. In 2006 Surface stopped airing and Meester appeared in two more movies, Flourish and Inside. She also guest appeared in Numb3rs and in two episodes of House M.D as Ali, an underage girl who has a crush on House.[15]
After a guest role on CSI: Miami, a recurring role on the James Woods court drama Shark, and appearing as the female lead in the comedy/horror film Drive-Thru, Meester scored a regular role in the CW's hit show Gossip Girl, playing the rich and scheming Blair Waldorf. The show is based on the book series about the lives of New York's privileged Upper East Side high school students. Her performance has been met with critical acclaim and TV Guide also ranked Blair Waldorf among its "Best-Dressed TV Characters of 2007.[16]
Meester appeared on the television film The Haunting of Sorority Row, and played a part in the ensemble comedy/drama Remember the Daze, released on April, 2008. She also appeared on the horror/thriller film Killer Movie, released in the United States also on April 2008 during the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City.[17]
In April 2009, it was announced Meester signed a recording contract with Universal Republic.[18] The album is said to be electronic, dancey, and edgy; she will be working with JR Rotem, Kara Dioguardi and several other producers. The first single will be released around July, with the album dropping by fall.[19] Meester is featured in the Cobra Starship song "Good Girls Go Bad", the first single from their upcoming third studio album Hot Mess. The song was digitally released on May 11, 2009.[20]
Meester will play Rebecca in the upcoming film The Roommate. It has also been announced that she will appear in the upcoming comedy, Date Night, alongside Steve Carell and Tina Fey.[21]
Aside from acting and music, Meester has also endorsed several brands before and since she shot to fame in Gossip Girl. She appeared in commercials for Clearasil[22] and in 2009, in ads for Reebok.[23] More recently, she and Gossip Girl co-star Ed Westwick were named the new faces for the Korean clothing line ASK Enquired.[24]
