Leighton Meester, reflecting on her career and life, admits to a recent bout of anxiety, intensified by the experience of losing her home in the Palisades Fire. She shared that she has been struggling to even watch TV at the end of the day, prioritizing sleep for survival.
Despite the challenges, Meester is thriving. She is currently promoting 'Good Cop/Bad Cop,' a new series on The CW, where she stars alongside Luke Cook. The show marks her return to network television after a brief stint on ABC's 'Single Parents' in 2018, and it signifies a recent surge in her screen work.
Over the past year, Meester has been involved in several projects, including season two of Apple TV+'s 'The Buccaneers' and an untitled HBO series with Rachel Sennott. In the fall, she will also appear alongside her husband, Adam Brody, in the second season of Netflix's 'Nobody Wants This.'
Meester's own background is as compelling as any drama. Born while her mother was incarcerated, she spent her early years in a halfway house and was raised by her grandmother. At 11, she moved to New York, where she modeled and began auditioning, landing a role on 'Law & Order' at 13 and 'Gossip Girl' at 20.
Since 'Gossip Girl,' Meester has accumulated credits in various projects, from indie films to Broadway. Now 38, she has been famous for almost half her life and has found a new level of comfort and confidence.
Meester reflects on her journey, noting that she now feels more comfortable in her own skin and no longer prioritizes the opinions of others. She is also learning the valuable skill of saying no to projects that don't align with her values.
She emphasizes the importance of a positive work environment, stating that she now considers the people involved and the vibe of a project before committing. Meester is no longer settling for situations that aren't ideal.