Gossip Girl, Leighton Meester Talks 'Body Control'

Leighton Marissa Meester was born on April 9, 1986 in Fort Worth, Texas. She grew up in Marco Island, Florida where she participated in choir and attended church. She also participated in productions at a local playhouse. She attended the Professional Children's School and then began work as a model with Wilhemina, where she was booked for a Ralph Lauren campaign. Meester then worked with famous film maker, Sofia Coppola.

Eventually, Meester decided that modeling wasn't for her, and had hopes of becoming an actress. At 14, she moved to Los Angeles and attended Hollywood High School and Beverly Hills High School. Afterwords, she was transferred to a Hawaiian private school where she graduated high school one year early.

She made her television debut in 1999 on Law & Order. Afterwords, she landed a big role in Hangman's Curse, a film based on the book written by Frank Peretti. She appeared in other television series like Tarzan, Crossing Jordan, Entourage, 7th Heaven, Veronica Mars, CSI: Miami, and 24.

By 2005, she scored a role in Surface, another television series. The show ran for about 15 episodes. When the show ended she appeared in two more movies, Flourish and Inside. She then guest starred on Shark, with James Woods. Finally, she landed a lead role in Drive-Thru before scoring her role as Blair Waldorf on the hit TV show, Gossip Girl. Her character has since been awarded "Best Dresses TV Character of 2007".

Meester has also had appearances in The Haunting of Sorority Row, Remember the Daze, and Killer Movie. She is an exceptional actress, who will go very far in life, no doubt.

Not only has she found success in television and film, but in April 2009, it was announced that she had signed a recording contract with Universal Records. The album is said to be dance and electronic music, with an edge. For the new album she is working with Kara Dioguardi and JR Rotem. Her debut album Body Control should drop this fall. A single from the album has already been leaked on the Internet and has already received positive reviews.

Meester will appear in upcoming films Date Night and The Roommate. Date Night will put her alongside comedy greats like Steve Carell and Tina Fey.

Leighton Meester currently resides in New York City.

Leighton Meester Trivia:

Before Gossip Girl she endorsed brands like Clearasil and in 2009 ads for Reebok.

She and Ed Westwick are also the new faces of a Korean clothing line called ASK Enquired.

Hobbies include reading, writing, dancing, and doing nothing.

Claims Facebook is the only social networking service she uses.

Songs off of her album will include What Is Love, Body control, and I Feel Love.

Released a cover of Bette Davis Eyes, originally sang by Kim Carnes.

Was born in a hospital while her mom was in prison for running drugs.

Is dating her Gossip Girl co-star, Sebastian Stan.

Meester is featured in the song "Good Girls Go Bad", by Cobra Starship.

She made her acting debut on an episode of Law & Order.

Article Sources:

Leighton Biography & Trivia: http://cwtv.com/shows/gossip-girl/cast/leighton-meester, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leighton_Meester, and http://just-leighton.com/information/biography.php.
Leighton Meester Music: http://leightonmeestermusic.com/.
Best Dressed TV Characters: http://www.tvguide.com/news-views/community.aspx.