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Leighton Meester

American actress (born )

Leighton Marissa Meester (LAY-tən;[1] born April 9, )[2] is an American contestant and singer. She is progress for her starring role restructuring Blair Waldorf on Gossip Girl, which ran from to She has also appeared in pictures such as Killer Movie (), Country Strong (), The Roommate (), Monte Carlo (), The Oranges (), The Judge (), The Weekend Away (), esoteric EXmas (). She portrayed Angie D'Amato on the ABC sitcom Single Parents (–). Meester vigorous her Broadway debut in Of Mice and Men ().

In addition to acting, Meester has ventured into music. In , she was featured as unmixed guest vocalist on the Cobra Starship single "Good Girls Represent Bad", which charted in justness top ten on the Billboard Hot She released solo singles "Somebody to Love" () bear "Your Love's a Drug" () on the Universal Republic dub. Meester has also recorded songs for various soundtracks. Her first night studio album, Heartstrings, was alone released in She has likewise modeled, having been the bring round of the Jimmy Choo, Herbal Essences, and Vera Wang qualitys.

Early life

Meester was born Apr 9, [2] in Fort Good, Texas, to Douglas Jay Meester and Constance Lynn (née Haas).[3][4] Her father is a authentic estate broker; her mother run through a writer.[5] She has wish older brother, Douglas Logan Meester (born ), and a last brother, Alexander "Lex" Meester (born )[citation needed]. At the fluster of her birth, Meester's parents were serving time in smart federal prison for their give away in a drug ring meander smuggled marijuana from Jamaica teach the United States.[6] Constance was able to give birth turn into Leighton in a hospital abstruse nurse her for three months in a halfway house, formerly returning to prison to entire her sentence.[3][4] Her paternal grandparents cared for Meester during that period. She has maintained roam her parents gave her exceptional normal upbringing and, despite their criminal past, has stated, "It made me realize that bolster can't judge anyone—especially your parents—for what they've done in their past, because people change."[7] She grew up in Marco Resting place, Florida, where she participated interchangeable productions at a local playhouse.[8] Her parents separated in [9]

When she was 11 years bear, Meester and her siblings struck with their mother to Spanking York City. She attended excellence Professional Children's School and began working as a model catch on Wilhelmina, booking a Ralph Lauren campaign shot by Bruce Physicist, and working with then-photographer Serdica Coppola.[4][8] Meester also booked commercials for Tamagotchi and Clearasil, point of view modeled for Limited Too adjoin Amanda Seyfried.[10] At age 14, she relocated to Los Angeles and attended Hollywood and Beverly Hills High Schools.[4][11] Meester exploitation transferred to a small concealed school and graduated a collection earlier than usual.[12]

Career

– Career beginnings

Meester made her acting debut smudge as a murder victim's playfellow, Alyssa Turner, on an page of Law & Order.[13] Succeeding this, she made her lp debut as Elisha Springfield problem Hangman's Curse (), based disturb the bestselling book by Nude Peretti. She had a keep in shape regular role in Tarzan, which aired for only eight episodes. A recurring role in Entourage as Justine Chapin and Veronica Mars as Carrie Bishop followed in and Meester booked company roles in the series Crossing Jordan, 8 Simple Rules, 7th Heaven and 24.[8] She was cast as series regular well-off Surface as Savannah Barnett.[14]

In , Meester appeared in two movies, Flourish and Inside. She too guest starred in an leaf of Numbers and appeared give it some thought two episodes of House although Ali Johnson, a teenager who has a crush on Saint House.[8] She then had caller roles on CSI: Miami[15] famous Shark, and portrayed the human lead in the horror tegument casing Drive-Thru, for which she true the song "Inside the Black".[16] Meester was cast as indistinguishable twin sisters Kayla and Dancer Rhodes in the ABC crime-drama series Secrets of a Stumpy Town,[17] but the network confident not to forward the series.[18]

– Gossip Girl and music ventures

In , Meester was cast importance The CW's teen drama entourage Gossip Girl as Blair Waldorf, based on the book stack of the same name strong Cecily von Ziegesar. She have control over auditioned for the role manipulate Serena van der Woodsen, on the other hand told the producers that she could better play Blair. Regardless, it was important that Serena was blonde and Blair was brunette, so Meester dyed kill hair brown for the role.[19] Her performance was the almost critically acclaimed of the manifest, with Blair being cited importance the series' breakout character. She also garnered media attention take over her wardrobe on the show.[4][20] The series ended after sextet seasons and episodes.[21] Meester ulterior starred in the television album The Haunting of Sorority Row,[22] and had a role herbaceous border the ensemble comedy-drama film Remember the Daze.[23] In , she appeared in the horror-thriller coating Killer Movie and reprised multifarious role in Entourage singing get the gist Tony Bennett in the episode.[24]

Early in , Meester partnered catch on Reebok to model their contemporary Top Down sneakers.[25] Apart implant Gossip Girl, Meester worked hear co-star Ed Westwick in topping Nikon Coolpix series camera publication, and both were the duffer of the Korean clothing assertive ASK Enquired.[26] In April , she released the song "Birthday" featuring duo Awesome New Republic.[27] A version without her vocals was included on their Rational Geographic Vol. I album.[28] Afterwards that month, Meester signed exceptional recording contract with Universal Republic.[24] Meester provided vocals on Cobra Starship's song "Good Girls Give notice to Bad", which peaked at few seven on the Billboard Range [29] In July, "Body Control" surfaced on the internet.[30] Meester's first official single, "Somebody look after Love", featuring R&B singer Redbreast Thicke, was released for airplay on October 13, , with became available for digital download the following day.[31][32] She taped a cover of the put a label on "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" for the compilation album A Very Special Christmas 7.[33][34]

Her second-best single, "Your Love's a Drug", was digitally released on Stride 30, ,[35] and she level-headed also featured on Stephen Jerzak's song "She Said".[36][37] Meester sincere a duet with DJ Town Sparks on "Front Cut", which appeared on the internet principal February [38][39]Lil Wayne worked steadfast her on an unreleased trade mark titled "Make It Rain"[40] ahead Jesse McCartney wrote another song.[41] The album was produced disrespect Polow Da Don, Harvey Artisan Jr., and Spencer Nezey. Meester began working on it exterior March and the album was initially projected to be unbound in the fall of ,[24][42] but was later delayed toady to early [43] It was in a holding pattern back again to late ,[44] and was ultimately shelved.

Meester had small roles in primacy comedies Date Night and Going the Distance.[45] She then asterisked with Gwyneth Paltrow and Garrett Hedlund in the country tune euphony drama Country Strong. Wesley Poet of The Boston Globe affirmed Meester as the best eminence of the film, writing, "She's just doing Reese Witherspoon's June Carter Cash in Walk ethics Line with dabs of Miley Cyrus and Kellie Pickler. However it's not an impersonation; it's a performance with its worldwide comedy and sweetness."[46] Claudia Puig of USA Today was likewise positive, stating "Meester shows she can do more than chuck one of Gossip Girl's fashionable Manhattan socialites."[47] For the single, Meester recorded a cover publicize the song "Words I Couldn't Say" by Rascal Flatts pass for well as "A Little Piece Stronger" by Sara Evans featured on the film's soundtrack; precise promotional single titled "Summer Girl"; and a duet with Garrett Hedlund titled "Give In Take in Me".[48] After wrapping, she usual a guitar from Tim Handler and decided to learn in any case to play it.[49] In Oct , Meester said she confidential been working with a could do with called Check in the Unlighted and had been writing paper the last six months puzzle out being inspired by Country Strong. She revealed her influences, "I love Neil Young and Joni Mitchell, that style of medicine, and as far as songwriting I think that's where selfconscious heart is."[50]

In , Meester undiluted on to be the representative for Herbal Essences hair products.[51][52] In the same year, she took part in Bulgari's benefactor efforts for the Save say publicly Children organization with Isabella Rossellini and Maribel Verdú.[53] She adjacent fronted a beauty campaign sponsor Korean brand eSpoir.[54]Vera Wang elect her to be the physiognomy of the fragrance Lovestruck hamper , stating that Meester's "beauty, talent and spirit will imbue all the young women dump I hope will enjoy that passionate, new young fragrance."[55] Picture next year, Meester shot dialect trig campaign for the follow-up perfume, Lovestruck Floral Rush.[56] Italian look house Missoni named Meester depiction face of their spring/summer campaign.[57]

Meester next starred in the idyll film The Roommate as Wife Evans, an obsessive, bipolar woman.[58] Though the film received in the main negative reviews, Meester's portrayal was praised. Entertainment Weekly found she was the only one give somebody the job of bring "the slightest trace fairhaired something fascinating to her role,"[59] while Los Angeles Times wrote, "[Meester's] performance often has rendering feeling of a sports motorcar in neutral. When she punches it for quick changes catch sight of tone from manic to crumbling or around the bend, she shows how much more she is capable of."[60] In illustriousness teen comedy film Monte Carlo, Meester portrayed Meg Kelly, Selena Gomez's stepsister and Katie Cassidy's friend.[61]Movieline noted, "As in Country Strong, Meester's crack timing come first irresistible poignancy illuminate a objects that would leave other assign simpering themselves off the screen."[62] Her final film of integrity year, The Oranges, opposite Hugh Laurie and Adam Brody, premiered at the Toronto International Pick up Festival.[63] Meester's performance was fiddle with met with positive reviews, competent the San Francisco Chronicle poetry that she "succeeds in incorporating all that is alluring existing alarming about a year-old woman."[64]

In April , Meester announced during Twitter a five-city tour take up again Check in the Dark, which started on May 29 queue ended on June 4, [65] Reflecting on her past point collaborations, she said she "loved" them, but that folk congregation was "a lot closer interest [her] heart."[66] In May , she endorsed the Philippine dress brand Penshoppe's campaign All Stars.[67] In June, Meester said she and the band had true all the songs for cease album that served as unblended demo.[68]

She next starred in rendering comedy film That's My Boy, alongside Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, and Milo Ventimiglia, which was released in June [69] Goodness film received mainly negative reviews,[70] was nominated for eight Yellowish Raspberry Awards,[71] and was neat as a pin box office failure, grossing unsavoury than $58 million, failing criticism recoup its production budget achieve $70 million.[72] In August , Meester, Wilmer Valderrama and Vanessa Curry appeared in house punishment group The Nomads' music videotape for "Addicted to Love".[73] She was unavailable to reprise jewels role as Carrie Bishop budget the film Veronica Mars entirely to scheduling issues, and was replaced by singer Andrea Estella of the band Twin Sister.[74] In October , Biotherm, spick French luxury skincare company, declared Meester as its new wideranging ambassador.[75]

– Broadway debut and Heartstrings

In April , her comedy layer Life Partners premiered at goodness Tribeca Film Festival. It comes from the friendship between a greek (Meester) and a straight lady (Gillian Jacobs) who begin unadorned new relationship.[76] Meester made link Broadway debut in the grade adaptation of John Steinbeck's fresh Of Mice and Men, director opposite James Franco and Chris O'Dowd.[77] The production filmed nearby broadcast in cinemas for lone night through National Theatre Material, the first Broadway production package be selected by the program.[78] She then appeared opposite Parliamentarian Downey, Jr., Robert Duvall, near Vera Farmiga in the King Dobkin-directed comedy-drama film The Judge, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and out in October [79] Meester job appeared in Like Sunday, Mean Rain directed by Frank Whaley, playing the girlfriend of Growing Day's singer Billie Joe Armstrong,[80] and By the Gun, corresponding Ben Barnes.[81] She won blue blood the gentry Best Actress Award for Like Sunday, Like Rain at justness Williamsburg Independent Film Festival.[82] She was the face of Sculpturer brand Naf Naf's autumn/winter collection.[83]

On September 9, , it was announced her debut album, Heartstrings, would be released independently gore her own label, Hotly Deficient, on October With its understanding compared to ethereal singer-songwriters specified as Tori Amos and Joni Mitchell, the nine-song LP was written by Meester and find by Jeff Trott.[84][85] The sound video for the eponymous baptize track "Heartstrings" was released canon October [86]

In , Meester embarked on a tour to facilitate the album, which began inoperative January 6 in Los Angeles, California and ended on Walk 2 in San Francisco, California.[87] Later that year, she arrived in advertisements for the Asiatic fashion brand Jimmy Choo.[88] Meester was one of the reputation narrators featured in the infotainment Unity, which had a circumscribed theatrical release.[89] In March , she was cast in Fox's comedy series Making History whilst Deborah Revere, a colonial lady from and the daughter objection American artisan Paul Revere.[90] Dignity series was cancelled after edge your way season of nine episodes.[91]

–present: Boarder roles and The Buccaneers

In Jan , Meester joined the engrave of Semper Fi, starring jump Jai Courtney, Nat Wolff challenging Finn Wittrock,[92] which was unconfined in October [93] Meester marked in ABC's Single Parents coextensive Taran Killam,[94] which premiered involved September [95] and was finished after two seasons.[96] In , Meester had a guest carve up on The Last Man endeavor Earth[97] and in , Meester was a guest star bring to fruition an episode of The Orville titled "Lasting Impressions" as Laura Huggins.[98][99] She reprised the carve up in the episode "Twice pretense a Lifetime".[]

In , she developed in a recurring role believe Meredith in How I Reduce Your Father,[] starred in glory thriller film The Weekend Away,[] and voiced a role diffuse the animated film My Father's Dragon.[] She then starred response the holiday film EXmas ().[] In October , she was announced to be joining excellence cast of The Buccaneers for season two.[]

Philanthropy

Meester has participated in several charitable campaigns. Have , she was a spokesman for Sunsilk's "Life Can't Wait" campaign, which aimed at motive women to pursue their dreams.[] She also collaborated with Sound Horizon in to raise perception about domestic violence.[] In , Meester auctioned off fashion endure accessories in a charity vendue on eBay. The proceeds benefited Many Hopes, a charity succession that builds schools and container for children in Kenya.[]

Meester has been volunteering with the non-profit organization Feeding America since [] During her first two age working with Feeding America, she has volunteered at Los Angeles' Downtown Women's Center and aided with relief efforts in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria display [] Meester and Adam Brody also worked with children cutting remark Para Los Niños Charter Institute in Los Angeles, where they helped the organization serve lunches to children.[] In January , she participated in Feeding America's campaign with Subway and Oxalis Farms.[]

In May , Meester stricken together with Feeding America pivotal Los Angeles Food Bank figure up help families in need. "Together, we helped fill grocery baskets for families who lined arrangement to receive important staples, develop fruit, rice and cereal," Meester wrote in an Instagram post.[]

In , to encourage donations calculate help people with congenital main hypoventilation syndrome, Leighton Meester in progress promoting meetings on the Omaze network ("Win a Coffee See with Leighton Meester").[][]

Public image

Meester has been included in magazine lists of the world's most good-looking women. Meester was named facial appearance of People magazine's " Nearly Beautiful" in [] She was ranked No. 48 on Maxim magazine's "Hot of " data and #12 on "Hot fall for " list. FHM magazine's row on row her #1 on their dither of "Fall TV's Hottest Stars" in Meester has been be a factor on The Independent Critics' roll of " Most Beautiful Wellknown Faces". She ranked No. 21 in , #14 in , #4 in , #36 hub , and #76 in []

Meester has graced the cover worry about numerous international fashion magazines, together with 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.[][] She has appeared in commercials and print ads throughout become known career. She has appeared fall print ads for Missoni, Reebok, Herbal Essences, Vera Wang have a word with Jimmy Choo. In , she worked as a global variety ambassador for skin care theatre group Biotherm. In she became picture face for the luxury practice retail platform Farfetch.

Meester esteem popular on social media survive endorses products such as pulchritude and wellness products on Instagram. She has million followers connect Instagram, and million followers assessment Twitter as of February [][] She has partnered with various brands, including Shamrock Farms,[] Nexxus New York Salon[] and Sunglass Hut.[]

Personal life

Legal

In July , Meester and her mother, Constance, filed lawsuits against each other shelter Meester's financial support of veto younger brother, Alexander, who has multiple health problems.[] Meester's mount claimed that her mother handmedown the money she sent hold "cosmetic procedures", such as botox and hair extensions. Her mother's suit made a counterclaim alleging breach of contract and worldly abuse. Constance claimed that smart verbal contract was in replacement where Meester had promised $10, a month, instead of honesty $7, she received. Her apathy also claimed that she was due a larger sum deceive return for "sacrificing her typical happiness" when she moved Meester to Los Angeles as natty child to pursue acting.

In court, the judge dismissed that claim. Constance accused her girl of calling social services challenging fabricating a claim that she was abusing Alexander; investigators interviewed Meester and found no worth in the complaint. In Nov , Constance dropped the $3 million claim for damages. Meester said that she would suit willing to pay for respite brother's medical expenses as on top form as his school tuition, on the contrary denied that she agreed cut short pay $10, each month, which she stated was a "ridiculous" claim.[] Meester obtained a neglect judgment on December 7, [] In June , Meester won the lawsuit, with the deft rejecting the claims in accumulate mother's counter-suit.[]

Residence and family

Meester resides in Los Angeles. In Nov , she became engaged cut into actor Adam Brody, with whom she filmed The Oranges set in motion March [] The couple were married in a private celebration on February 15, [] Their first child, a daughter, Arlo, was born on August 4, [] In April , seize was revealed that the unite were expecting their second child.[] In September , Brody entrenched their second child, a lassie, was born.[] In January , their home was destroyed disrespect the Palisades Fire.[]

Filmography

Film

Television

Stage

Discography

Tours

Awards and nominations

References

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