Leighton Meester | The success story of the ‘Gossip Girl’ actor

Leighton Meester is an American actress, model, and singer. She is well-known for playing the role of Blair Waldorf on the hit TV show Gossip Girl. In addition, Leighton appeared in several films, including Monte Carlo, The Oranges, The Judge, and many more. She is also a singer and released several solo songs such as Somebody to Love, and Your Love’s a Drug. Coming to her modelling career, Meester has been the face of brands such as Jimmy Choo and Vera Wang. During the time of her birth, Meester’s parents were in prison for smuggling drugs. Here’s her inspiring success story.

Early life and struggles

Leighton Meester was born on April 9, 1986, in Fort Worth, Texas. Her father worked as a real estate broker while her mother was a writer. During the time of her birth, both of her parents were serving time in prison due to their involvement in a drug smuggling case. After giving birth to Leighton in a hospital, her mother returned to prison to complete her sentence. Meester’s parental grandparents took care of her during this time. After the release of her parents, they got divorced and the family faced financial struggles. 

In an interview, Leighton stated that despite having a criminal past, her parents provided her with a normal upbringing. She said that “you can’t judge anyone or what they’ve done in their past”. At eleven years of age, Meester shifted to New York with her mother and two brothers. After moving to New York, she started her modelling career and modelled for brands like Ralph Lauren, Tamagotchi, and Clearasil. Meester then moved to Los Angeles at the age of 14 to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. 

Leighton’s Meester’s career

In 1999, Leighton Meester made her acting debut on an episode of Law & Order. After this, she made her Hollywood film debut in Hangman’s Curse in 2003. Before Gossip Girl, she appeared in a few films and guest-starred in several television shows. In 2005, Meester got her big breakthrough when she starred as Blair Waldorf in the popular teen drama series, Gossip Girl. Initially, she auditioned for the role of Serena Woodsen but the producers felt that she would fit the role of Blair better. Her performance in the show received critical acclaim from people around the world. In addition, Meester gained media attention for her outfits on the show. After six seasons and 120 episodes, the series ended.

After Gossip Girl, Meester starred in several films including Monte Carlo, Killer Movie, The Judge, and many more. She released her first song, Somebody to Love in 2009. In 2011, Leighton and her mother filed a lawsuit against each other regarding Meester’s financial support of her brother. Meester won the lawsuit and her mother dropped all charges. In addition to being an actor, she has participated in various charitable campaigns. Since 2017, Meester has been volunteering with the Feeding America NGO. She and her husband also helped an organization to provide lunches to school children. In 2014, she married her The Oranges co-star, Adam Brody.

Lessons we can learn

Leighton Meester had a difficult childhood. But, she faced all the obstacles with strength. Today, she is one of the most well-known actors all around the world. Hard work is the key to success. It teaches us determination, dedication, and perseverance. If we are passionate about something, we need to put in efforts to achieve it. Secondly, we should try to learn from our mistakes and never lose hope. 

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