Leighton Meester

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Leighton Meester

Meester at Chanel's SoHo store re-opening, September 9, 2010
Born Leighton Marissa Meester
April 9, 1986 (1986-04-09) (age 25)
Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
Occupation Actress, singer, model
Years active 1999–present
Website
leightonmeestermusic.com

Leighton Marissa Meester (born April 9, 1986)[1] is an American actress and singer. Meester first garnered attention and critical acclaim for playing Blair Waldorf in the CW television series Gossip Girl. She most recently appeared in the 2010 country drama film Country Strong, the 2011 thriller The Roommate, and the 2011 romantic-comedy Monte Carlo.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Meester was born in Fort Worth, Texas, to Constance and Douglas Meester and lived most of her life in New York City and Los Angeles.[2][3][4] Meester's last name means "master" or "teacher" in Dutch.[5]

Her mother was serving time in a federal prison for her involvement in a drug ring that smuggled marijuana from Jamaica to the United States. She was able to give birth to Leighton in a hospital and nurse her for three months in a halfway house, before returning to prison to complete her sentence,[2][3] after which Leighton's grandmother cared for her.

Meester has maintained that her parents gave her a normal upbringing and, despite their criminal past, are good people with experience that has only made Meester more open-minded and non-judgmental, "It made me realize that you can't judge anyone — especially your parents — for what they've done in their past, because people change."[6] Meester has joked, "Look, I could've turned out a lot worse."[7] She has cited her mother as her style icon.[8]

Meester grew up in Marco Island, Florida, where she participated in productions at a local playhouse.[9] When she was 11 years old, Meester and her mother moved to New York City.[9] Meester attended the Professional Children's School and also began working as a model with Wilhelmina, booking a Ralph Lauren campaign shot by Bruce Weber and working with then photographer (now film maker) Sofia Coppola[9][10] as well as many commercials including Tamagotchi toys and Clearasil. She has also posed for Limited Too campaigns alongside fellow future actress, Amanda Seyfried, in which Seyfried recalls, "Leighton was very confident."[11] Meester made her television acting debut as a murder victim's friend on an episode of Law & Order.[9][10] At 14, Meester moved to Los Angeles, California, wanting more stable work, and attended Hollywood High School and Beverly Hills High School.[10][12] She then transferred to a small private school and graduated a year early.[13]

[edit] Career

[edit] Acting

Meester at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival

After 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 Hangman's Curse, based on the best-selling book by Frank Peretti. She appeared in Tarzan, which ran for only eight episodes. Meester then started to land guest roles in other series such as Crossing Jordan, 8 Simple Rules, 7th Heaven, Veronica Mars, 24, and Entourage.[9]

In 2005, Meester began a regular role in the series Surface as Savannah Bennet. Meester appeared in two more 2006 movies, Flourish and Inside. She also guest appeared in Numb3rs and in three episodes of House M.D. as Ali, a young girl who has a crush on House.[9] She had guest roles on CSI: Miami and Shark, and played the female lead in the horror film Drive-Thru.

In 2007, Meester was cast in the CW's teen drama series Gossip Girl as Blair Waldorf.[9] The show is based on the book series by Cecily von Ziegesar about the lives of New York's privileged Upper East Side young adults. Her performance is the most critically acclaimed of the show, with Blair being cited as the series' breakout character, and also garnering much media recognition due to her wardrobe.[14][15] She dated Gossip Girl co-star Sebastian Stan.[16]

Meester appeared on the television film The Haunting of Sorority Row, and played a part in the ensemble comedy/drama Remember the Daze. She also appeared in the horror/thriller film Killer Movie in 2008.

Meester had small roles in the 2010 comedies Date Night and Going The Distance.[17] She starred in Screen Gems' 2010 country drama Country Strong and the 2011 thriller The Roommate.[18] In 2011 she starred alongside Selena Gomez and Katie Cassidy in the young femme comedy Monte Carlo, loosely based on Jules Bass's young-adult book Headhunters.[19] She is set to star in The Uncatchable Cowgirl Bandits of Nottingham, Texas alongside Amber Heard; in the indie dramatic comedy The Oranges opposite Hugh Laurie; and she also joined the cast of the comedy I Hate You, Dad, alongside Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, and Milo Ventimiglia.[20][21][22]

[edit] Music

Meester performing in June 2011

In April 2009, Meester signed a recording contract with Universal Republic.[23] Meester's first official single, "Somebody to Love", featuring R&B singer Robin Thicke, was released for airplay on October 13, 2009 and became available for digital download on October 14, 2009.[24] Her second single, "Your Love's a Drug", was digitally released on March 30, 2010.[25]

Meester is featured on Cobra Starship's song "Good Girls Go Bad", which reached the Top 10 on Billboard Hot 100 peaking at #7, and on Stephen Jerzak's song "She Said".[26][27] She recorded a cover of the song "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" for the compilation album A Very Special Christmas 7.[28] For her 2010 country drama film Country Strong, she recorded a cover of the song "Words I Couldn't Say" by Rascal Flatts as well as "A Little Bit Stronger" by Sara Evans featured on the film's soundtrack; a promotional single titled "Summer Girl"; and a duet with Garrett Hedlund titled "Give In To Me".[29]

[edit] Endorsements

Meester has fronted many charity as well as advertising campaigns. In 2008, she was a spokesperson for Sunsilk's "Life Can't Wait" campaign[30] to motivate women to pursue their dreams and collaborated with Safe Horizon to raise awareness about and prevent domestic violence.[31] Early in 2009, Meester partnered with Reebok to model their new Top Down sneakers.[32] Outside of Gossip Girl, Meester has worked with co-star Ed Westwick in a Nikon Coolpix series camera advertisement and both were faces for a Korean clothing line called ASK Enquired.[33] Most recently, in 2010, Meester has signed on to be the current spokesperson for Herbal Essences hair products.[34] In the same year, Meester took part in Bulgari's humanitarian efforts for the Save the Children organization with Isabella Rossellini and Maribel Verdútaken.[35] Vera Wang has also chosen Meester to be the face of her newest scent Lovestruck, breaking in summer of 2011, stating that the actress's "beauty, talent and spirit will inspire all the young women that I hope will enjoy this passionate, new young fragrance."[36] In 2011, Italian fashion house Missoni revealed they have tapped Meester to be part of their Spring/Summer 2011 campaign.[37] She fronts another South Korean brand, this time a beauty campaign, called eSpoir.[38] Leighton is additionally the new face of Vera Wang's scent "Lovestruck" which was first sold in Harrods on the 9th June 2011.

[edit] In the media

Meester was listed several times in Maxim's Hot 100, starting #48 in 2008,[39] #12 in 2009,[40] #17 in 2010[41] and #16 in 2011.[42] BuddyTV ranked her #32 on its TV's 100 Sexiest Women of 2010 list.[43] She was ranked #75 by AskMen.com readers in the list "Top 99 Women of 2010" and #53 in 2011.[44] Men's Health ranked her #30 in its "Hottest Women in 2011" list.[45] Glamour ranked her #5 among the Most Glamorous Celebrities of 2011.[46]

[edit] Personal life

From 2008 to 2010, Meester dated actor Sebastian Stan.[47] In July 2011, Meester and her mother filed lawsuits against each other regarding Meester's financial support of her younger brother, who has multiple health problems.[48] Meester's suit claims the money she sent was misused by her mother; her mother's suit makes a cross-claim alleging breach of contract and physical abuse.[48] In November 2011, Constance Meester dropped the $3 million claim for damages against her daughter. As a result, Leighton obtained a default judgement on December 7, 2011.[49] Leighton is also said to be seeking custody of her 17-year-old brother Alexander, who has suffered health problems, including recently undergoing brain surgery.[50]

[edit] Filmography

List of film credits
Year Film Role Notes
2003 The Big Wide World of Carl Laemke Tanni
2003 The Jackalope Lorraine
2003 Hangman's Curse Elisha Springfield
2004 Hollywood Division Michelle TV film
2006 Flourish Lucille "Lucy" Covner
2006 Inside Josie
2007 Drive Thru Mackenzie Carpenter
2007 Remember the Daze Tori
2007 The Haunting of Sorority Row Samantha Willows TV film
2008 Killer Movie Jaynie Hansen
2010 Date Night Katy
2010 Going the Distance Amy
2010 Country Strong Chiles Stanton
2011 The Roommate Rebecca
2011 Monte Carlo Meg
2011 The Oranges Nina Ostroff
2012 That's My Boy TBA Previously titled "I Hate You Dad"
List of television credits
Year Title Role Notes
1999 Law & Order Alyssa Turner Episode "Disciple"
2001 Boston Public Sarah Breen Episode "Chapter Twenty-Eight"
2002 Once and Again Amanda Episode "Gardenia"
2002 Family Affair Irene Episode "No Small Parts"
2003 Tarzan Nicki Porter 5 episodes
2004 Crossing Jordan Marie Strand Episode "Missing Pieces"
2004 7th Heaven Kendall 2 episodes
2004 North Shore Veronica Farrell Episode "Pilot"
2004–2008 Entourage Justine Chapin 3 episodes
2005 24 Debbie Pendleton 4 episodes
2005 8 Simple Rules Nikki Alcott Episode "The After Party"
2005 Veronica Mars Carrie Bishop 2 episodes
2005–2006 Surface Savannah Barnett 12 episodes (Recurring role)
2006 Monster Allergy Poppy Episode "House of Monster"
2006 Secrets of a Small Town Kayla Rhodes Episode "Pilot"
2006 Numb3rs Karen Camden Episode "Dark Matter"
2006 House M.D. Ali 2 episodes
2007 CSI: Miami Heather Crowley Episode "Broken Home"
2007 Shark Megan 3 episodes
2007–present Gossip Girl Blair Waldorf Main role

[edit] Discography

[edit] Singles

Year Single Chart positions Album
US
[51]		 US
Heat
[51]
2009 "Somebody to Love" (featuring Robin Thicke) 111 13
2010 "Your Love's a Drug" 119 —

[edit] Featured singles

Year Single Artist Peak chart positions Album
US AUS AUT BEL CAN FIN NL NZ UK
2009 "Good Girls Go Bad" Cobra Starship 7[52] 5[53] 37[54] 4[55] 7[56] 13[57] 61[58] 2[59] 17[60] Hot Mess
2010 "She Said" Stephen Jerzak — — — — — — — — — Miles and Miles

[edit] Awards

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2008 Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress Drama[61] Gossip Girl Nominated
2008 Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Breakout Star Female[61] Gossip Girl Nominated
2009 Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress Drama[62] Gossip Girl Won
2009 MTV Video Music Awards Best Pop Video "Good Girls Go Bad" (with Cobra Starship) Nominated
2010 Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress Drama[63] Gossip Girl Won
2010 Hollywood Awards[citation needed] Spotlight Award Country Strong Won
2011 MTV Movie Awards Best Villain[64] The Roommate Nominated
2011 Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie Actress Drama[65] Country Strong Nominated
2011 Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie Villain[65] The Roommate Nominated

[edit] References

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  2. ^ a b Kevin O'Leary (October 6, 2008). "Her Untold Story". Us Weekly. 
  3. ^ a b Jason Gay (April 2, 2009). "Dirty Things". Rolling Stone. p. 44. 
  4. ^ Leighton Meester's Drug Connection - CelebStoner.com
  5. ^ "Leighton Meester". maxim.com. http://www.maxim.com/amg/girls/todays-girl/44215/leighton-meester.html. Retrieved 2011-01-07. 
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  7. ^ Fahner, Molly (June 2009). "Leighton Meester: The "Gossip Girl" You Love to Hate". Cosmopolitan. http://www.cosmopolitan.com/celebrity/exclusive/leighton-meester-cover-interview. Retrieved 2009-07-26. 
  8. ^ Mail on Sunday, November 21, 2010
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  10. ^ a b c "Gossip Girl’s fairy-tale ascension". Qatar Tribune (Tribune Media Services). April 8, 2009. http://www.qatar-tribune.com/data/20090408/content.asp?section=chillout1_1. Retrieved 2009-07-26. [dead link]
  11. ^ {{cite web|url=http://thebosh.com/archives/2008/06/teen_vogue_august_2008_cover_girl_amanda_seyfried.php%7Ctitle=Teen Vogue August 2008, Cover Girl Amanda Seyfried|work=Teen Vogue|publisher=TheBosh.com))
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  13. ^ Vena, Jocelyn (June 15, 2009). "'Twilight' Star Cam Gigandet, Leighton Meester, Steve-O Recall High School Graduation". MTV News. http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1613987/story.jhtml. Retrieved 2009-07-26. 
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  16. ^ Caught in the Act!. People. Accessed 2011-09-26.
  17. ^ Leightom Meester filmography at Fandango.com
  18. ^ "New Release Dates for 5 Screen Gems Flicks and Universal’s REPO MEN –". Collider.com. February 4, 2010. http://www.collider.com/2010/02/04/new-release-dates-for-5-screen-gems-flicks-and-universal-repo-men/. Retrieved 2010-08-31. 
  19. ^ http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/2011/04/28/monte-carlo-stars-selena-gomez-leighton-meester-cory-monteith-take-us-behind-the-scenes/
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  21. ^ Macnab, Geoffrey (February 13, 2010). "ContentFilm snares The Uncatchable Cowgirl Bandits | News | Screen". Screendaily.com. http://www.screendaily.com/festivals/berlin/european-film-market/contentfilm-snares-the-uncatchable-cowgirl-bandits/5010801.article. Retrieved 2010-08-31. 
  22. ^ McNary, Dave (February 25, 2010). "Meester picks 'Oranges'". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118015802.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&ref=ssp. 
  23. ^ Up for DiscussionPost Comment (September 14, 2009). "'Gossip Girl' Star Leighton Meester Signs Record Deal". Billboard.com. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/gossip-girl-star-leighton-meester-signs-1003966080.story. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
  24. ^ "Somebody to Love (feat. Robin Thicke) - Single by Leighton Meester - Download Somebody to Love (feat. Robin Thicke) - Single on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. October 14, 2009. http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/somebody-to-love-feat-robin/id335664376. Retrieved 2010-08-31. 
  25. ^ Leighton Meester - "Your Love a Drug" - iTunes Store
  26. ^ "The Hot 100". Billboard.com. http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100#/charts/hot-100?begin=1&order=position. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
  27. ^ "She Said (feat. Leighton Meester)". Itunes.apple.com. 2010-07-13. http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/she-said-feat-leighton-meester/id380729978. Retrieved 2011-06-05. 
  28. ^ Conklin, Mike (November 23, 2009). "Leighton Meester Covers "Baby Please Come Home"". The L Magazine. http://www.thelmagazine.com/TheMeasure/archives/2009/11/23/leighton-meester-covers-baby-please-come-home. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
  29. ^ 'Country Strong' Soundtrack Details Revealed. TheBoot.com. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
  30. ^ "Leighton Meester, Kick-off of Sunsilk's Life Can't Wait campaign". In Style. February 21, 2008. http://www.instyle.com/instyle/parties/party/0,,20178980_20410507,00.html. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
  31. ^ 05:30 pm ET (October 2, 2008). "Leighton Meester Walks the Runway to Battle Domestic Violence". Stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com. http://stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com/2008/10/02/leighton-meester-walks-the-runway-to-battle-domestic-violence/. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
  32. ^ "SNEAK PEEK: Leighton Meester’s Reebok Ad Revealed!". In Style. March 12, 2009. http://stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com/2009/03/12/sneak-peek-leighton-meesters-reebok-ad/. Retrieved 2011-02-10. 
  33. ^ "극중 블레어와 척 연기 두 배우, 캐주얼 브랜드 모델로 발탁". Korea CBS News. June 10, 2009. http://www.cbs.co.kr/Nocut/Show.asp?IDX=1171937. 
  34. ^ Odell, Amy (April 9, 2010). "Leighton Meester Beat Blake Lively to a Hair Product Endorsement Deal - The Cut". Nymag.com. http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2010/04/leighton_meester_beat_blake_li.html. Retrieved 2010-08-31. 
  35. ^ "¿Qué tienen en común Isabella Rossellini, Maribel Verdú y Leighton Meester?". hola.com. September 27, 2010. http://www.hola.com/ninos/2010092745656/bvlgari/campania/solidaria/1/. Retrieved 2011-02-10. 
  36. ^ "Leighton Meester to be the Face of Vera Wang's Next Scent". Women's Wear Daily. November 5, 2010. http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/leighton-meester-to-be-face-of-vera-wangs-next-scent-3373870/. Retrieved 2010-11-05. 
  37. ^ "Leighton Meester is the face of Missoni". Vogue UK. January 12, 2011. http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/daily/110112-leighton-meester-is-the-face-of-mis.aspx. Retrieved 2011-01-17. 
  38. ^ "eSpoir Official". eSpoir. December 17, 2010. http://www.espoir.co.kr/. Retrieved 2010-12-27. 
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  40. ^ "2009 Hot 100". Maxim. January 5, 2009. http://www.maxim.com/amg/girls/articles/92151/2009-hot-100.html. Retrieved 2012-01-03. 
  41. ^ "2010 Hot 100". Maxim. May 5, 2010. http://www.maxim.com/amg/girls/articles/90539/2010-hot-100.html. Retrieved 2012-01-03. 
  42. ^ "2011 Hot 100". Maxim. March 5, 2011. http://www.maxim.com/amg/GIRLS/Articles/2011+Hot+100. Retrieved 2012-01-03. 
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  45. ^ "Men's Health Sexiest Women 2011". Daily Telegraph. 2011. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/gallery/gallery-e6frewxi-1226219976596?page=72. Retrieved 2012-01-03. 
  46. ^ "The Most Glamorous Celebrities of 2011". Glamour. 2011. http://www.glamour.com/fashion/2011/03/the-most-glamorous-celebrities-of-2011#slide=17. Retrieved 2012-01-03. 
  47. ^ Weiner, Juli (April 9, 2010). "Are Two Gossip Girl Couples Now Four Gossip Girl Singles?". Vanity Fair. http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/celebrity/450042/leighton-meester-splits-from-gossip-girl-co-star.html. Retrieved 2011-10-01. 
  48. ^ a b Joshua L. Weinstein (July 26, 2011). Leighton Meester sues - and is sued by - her mother. Reuters. Accessed 2011-08-02.
  49. ^ Gardner, Eriq (December 12, 2011). "'Gossip Girl's' Leighton Meester Prevails Over Her Mother in Court (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/leighton-meester-gossip-girl-mother-court-272308. Retrieved 2011-12-19. 
  50. ^ Thompson, Paul (December 14, 2011). "Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester's mother drops $3m damages lawsuit against actress daughter". Daily Mail. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2074328/Gossip-Girls-Leighton-Meesters-mother-drops-3m-damages-lawsuit-actress-daughter.html?ito=feeds-newsxml. Retrieved 2011-12-19. 
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  57. ^ "Good Girls Go Bad Finnish charts". FinnishCharts.com Retrieved 2010-08-15
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  63. ^ Finn, Natalie (August 8, 2010). "Teens Deem Kardashians Choice Reality TV". E!. http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b194308_teens_deem_kardashians_choice_reality_tv.html. Retrieved 2010-08-09. 
  64. ^ Best Villain Nominations - 2011 MTV Movie Awards
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[edit] External links

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