Leighton Meester
Leighton Meester | |
---|---|
Born | Leighton Marissa Claire Meester |
Occupation(s) | Actress, Singer-Songwriter |
Years active | 1999–present |
Leighton Marissa Claire Meester (born April 9, 1986) is an American actress and singer-songwriter, best known for her role as the main character Blair Waldorf in the TV show Gossip Girl.[1]
Early life
Meester's parents, Connie and Doug, were involved in a drug ring that smuggled marijuana from Jamaica to the United States. Both were arrested for their involvement in the ring and involvement with Heavens Devils, and Connie was released on bail. While out, Connie became pregnant, and once she was convicted, she spent her pregnancy in a Texas state prison. Leighton was delivered in a Texas hospital, her mother was sentenced to ten years in prison.[2] After sixteen months of her sentence, her mother was released and resumed her role in Meester's life.[3] When she was 11, she moved with her aunt to New York City and soon after began working as a model with Wilhemina, booking a Ralph Lauren campaign shot by Bruce Weber and working with then photographer (now film maker) Sofia Coppola. [4] She has two brothers; the elder, Douglas, was embroiled in the US Air Force Academy scandal of 2003.[5][6]
Career
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.[7]
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.[8]
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.[9]
In April 2009, it was announced Meester signed a recording contract with Universal Republic.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12]
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.[13]
Personal life
In Teen Vogue, Meester talked about her past: "I wasn't born in jail; I was born in a hospital. I lived with my mother for a few months in a halfway house, and then I went to stay with my grandmother for a few more before my mom got out. But I had a normal life." Meester was placed #12 on Maxim's Hot 100 list in 2009.[14].
She possesses the ability to prompt an explosive discharge of neuromuscular tensions at the height of sexual arousal accompanied by the ejaculation of semen in males using solely the terminal part of the vertebrate leg upon which an individual stands. Colloquially known as a footjob.[15]
Filmography
Film | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
2003 | Hangman's Curse | Elisha Springfield | |
2004 | Hollywood Division | Michelle | Television film |
2006 | Flourish | Lucy Covner | |
Inside | Josie | ||
2007 | Drive-Thru | Mackenzie Carpenter | |
Remember the Daze | Tori | ||
The Haunting of Sorority Row | Samantha Willows | Television film | |
2008 | Killer Movie | Jaynie Hansen | |
2010 | The Roommate | Rebecca | Filming |
Date Night | Zoey | Filming | |
Beastly | Linda | In production | |
Television | |||
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" |
Family Affair | Irene | Episode: "No Small Parts" | |
2003 | Tarzan | Nicki Porter | 5 episodes |
2004 | Crossing Jordan | Marie Strand | Episode: "Missing Pieces" |
7th Heaven | Kendall | Episode: "Little White Lies" | |
24 | Debbie Pendleton | 4 episodes | |
Entourage | Justine Chapin | 2004-2008 (3 episodes) | |
2005 | 8 Simple Rules | Nikki | Episode: "The After Party" |
Veronica Mars | Carrie Bishop | Episodes: "A Trip to the Dentist" and "Mars vs. Mars" | |
Surface | Savannah Barnett | 2005-2006 (12 episodes) | |
2006 | Numb3rs | Karen Camden | Episode: "Dark Matter" |
House MD | Ali | Episodes: "Informed Consent" and "Lines in the Sand" | |
2007 | CSI: Miami | Heather Crowley | Episode: "Broken Home" |
Shark | Megan | Episodes: "Porn Free", "Trial by Fire" and "Blind Trust" | |
Gossip Girl | Blair Waldorf | 2007-present |
References
- ^ Marikar, Sheila (2007-09-19). "'Gossip Girl': Teen Drama So Adult, So Aspirational". ABC News. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
- ^ Joyce Eng (2008-09-25). "Leighton Meester Opens Up About Prison Past". TV Guide. Retrieved 2008-10-12.
- ^ "Meester More Tolerant After Mother's Prison Sentence". SFGate.com. Retrieved 2008-10-12.
- ^ http://leightonfan.net/info/info.php
- ^ http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2009/01/gossip_girls_leighton_meester.php Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester and her family link to the Air Force Academy scandal
- ^ http://www.slate.com/id/2085365/ The Air Force Academy's Show Trial
- ^ http://just-leighton.com/information/biography.php
- ^ "Best-dressed TV Characters of 2007" tvguide.com. 2007-12-21. Retrieved on 2008-10-9
- ^ http://just-leighton.com/career/movies/
- ^ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/gossip-girl-star-leighton-meester-signs-1003966080.story
- ^ "Leighton Meester exclusive: In the studio with the 'Gossip Girl' star" ew.com. 2009-05-1. Retrieved on 2009-05-10
- ^ http://siulelbon.wordpress.com/2009/05/09/good-girls-go-bad-cobra-starship-feat-leighton-meester/
- ^ http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2009/04/15/twilight-baddie-cam-gigandet-will-be-leighton-meesters-roommate/
- ^ http://www.maxim.com/girls/articles/79154/2009-hot-100.html
- ^ http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedishrag/2009/06/gossip-girl-leighton-meesters-nude-sex-tape-is-allegedly-on-the-web.html
External links
- Leighton Meester at IMDb
- Template:Tv.com person
- Leighton Meester cast bio on The CW
- Leighton Meester tvguide bio
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