Leighton Meester
Leighton Marissa Meester (/ˈleɪtən/;[1] born April 9, 1986)[2] is an American actress and singer. She is known for her starring role as Blair Waldorf on Gossip Girl, which ran from 2007 to 2012. She has also appeared in films such as Killer Movie (2008), Country Strong (2010), The Roommate (2011), Monte Carlo (2011), The Oranges (2011), The Judge (2014), The Weekend Away (2022), and EXmas (2023). She portrayed Angie D'Amato on the ABC sitcom Single Parents (2018–2020). Meester made her Broadway debut in Of Mice and Men (2014).
Leighton Meester
In addition to acting, Meester has ventured into music. In 2009, she was featured on the Cobra Starship single "Good Girls Go Bad", which charted in the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100. She released solo singles "Somebody to Love" (2009) and "Your Love's a Drug" (2010) on the Universal Republic label. Meester has also recorded songs for various soundtracks. Her debut album, Heartstrings, was independently released in 2014. She has also modeled, having been the face of the Jimmy Choo, Herbal Essences, and Vera Wang brands.
Early life[edit]
Meester was born April 9, 1986[2] in Fort Worth, Texas, to Douglas Jay Meester and Constance Lynn (née Haas).[3][4] Her father is a real estate broker; her mother is a writer.[5] She has an older brother, Douglas Logan Meester (born 1983), and a younger brother, Alexander "Lex" Meester (born 1994). At the time of her birth, Meester's parents were serving time in a federal prison for their involvement in a drug ring that smuggled marijuana from Jamaica to the United States.[6] Constance 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.[3][4] Her paternal grandparents cared for Meester during this period. She has maintained that her parents gave her a normal upbringing and, despite their criminal past, has stated, "It made me realize that you can't judge anyone—especially your parents—for what they've done in their past, because people change."[7] She grew up in Marco Island, Florida, where she participated in productions at a local playhouse.[8] Her parents separated in 1992.[9]
When she was 11 years old, Meester and her siblings moved with their mother to New York City. She attended the Professional Children's School and began working as a model with Wilhelmina, booking a Ralph Lauren campaign shot by Bruce Weber, and working with then-photographer Sofia Coppola.[4][8] Meester also booked commercials for Tamagotchi and Clearasil, and modeled for Limited Too alongside Amanda Seyfried.[10] At age 14, she relocated to Los Angeles and attended Hollywood and Beverly Hills High Schools.[4][11] Meester then transferred to a small private school and graduated a year earlier than usual.[12]
Public image[edit]
Meester has been included in magazine lists of the world's most beautiful women. Meester was named one of People magazine's "100 Most Beautiful" in 2008.[113] She was ranked No. 48 on Maxim magazine's "Hot 100 of 2008" list and #12 on "Hot 100 of 2009" list. FHM magazine's ranked her #1 on their list of "Fall TV's Hottest Stars" in 2008. Meester has been included on The Independent Critics' list of "100 Most Beautiful Famous Faces". She ranked No. 21 in 2008, #14 in 2009, #4 in 2010, #36 in 2011, and #76 in 2012.[114]
Meester has graced the cover of numerous international fashion magazines, including US' Lucky, Flaunt, Shape, Nylon, Allure, Teen Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and Rolling Stone; Indonesia's Elle, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan and CosmoGirl; UK's Company and InStyle; Morocco's L'Officiel; Australia's Cleo; Mexico's GQ and Seventeen; Russia's Elle Girl and Joy and Italy's Glamour.[113][115] She has appeared in commercials and print ads throughout her career. She has appeared in print ads for Missoni, Reebok, Herbal Essences, Vera Wang and Jimmy Choo. In 2013, she worked as a global brand ambassador for skin care company Biotherm. In 2022 she became the face for the luxury fashion retail platform
Farfetch.
Meester is popular on social media and endorses products such as beauty and wellness products on Instagram. She has 6.8 million followers on Instagram, and 1.5 million followers on Twitter as of February 2024.[116][117] She has partnered with several brands, including Shamrock Farms,[118] Nexxus New York Salon[119] and Sunglass Hut.[120]
Personal life[edit]
Legal[edit]
In July 2011, Meester and her mother, Constance, filed lawsuits against each other over Meester's financial support of her younger brother, Alexander, who has multiple health problems.[121] Meester's suit claimed that her mother used the money she sent for "cosmetic procedures", such as botox and hair extensions. Her mother's suit made a counterclaim alleging breach of contract and physical abuse. Constance claimed that a verbal contract was in place where Meester had promised US$10,000 a month, instead of the US$7,500 she received. Her mother also claimed that she was due a larger sum in return for "sacrificing her own happiness" when she moved Meester to Los Angeles as a child to pursue acting.
In court, the judge dismissed this claim. Constance accused her daughter of calling social services and fabricating a claim that she was abusing Alexander; investigators interviewed Meester and found no merit in the complaint. In November 2011, Constance dropped the US$3 million claim for damages against her daughter. Meester said that she would be willing to pay for her brother's medical expenses as well as his school tuition, but denied that she agreed to pay US$10,000 each month, which she stated was a "ridiculous" claim.[122] Meester obtained a default judgment on December 7, 2011.[123] In June 2012, Meester won the lawsuit, with the judge rejecting the claims in her mother's counter-suit.[124]
Residence and family[edit]
Meester resides in Los Angeles. In November 2013, she became engaged to actor Adam Brody, whom she filmed The Oranges with in March 2010.[125] The couple were married in a private ceremony on February 15, 2014.[126] Their first child, a daughter, Arlo, was born on August 4, 2015.[127] In April 2020, it was revealed that the couple were expecting their second child.[128] In September 2020, Brody confirmed their second child, a son, was born.[129]