Years before social media had this much power over society,Gossip Girlhad already warned us about the dangers of it, even though the characters in the series were not really paying attention. This teen drama show based on the novels by Cecily von Ziegesar, adapted by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, aired from 2007 to 2012 on The CW network. It follows the exclusive and drama-filled lives of the Upper East Side’s high-class teens, who happen to be closely scrutinized by Gossip Girl, an anonymous blogger that thrives on chit-chat and seems to know everything.
The show is a clear demonstration of the influence that social media has if it is not properly managed, going so far as to run people’s lives. Even though Manhattan teenagers knew how unhealthy this blog was and all the effects it had on people and relationships, they kept on reading it, effectively expanding its audience day by day. The question of who was hiding behind Gossip Girl kept the audience on their toes up until the end of the series, which was one of the reasons why the show was so popular, along with its characters' storylines that pulled viewers in.
This production was wildly acclaimed, catapulting its stars' careers worldwide and inspiring many adaptations in different countries. In 2021, a reboot sequel featuring another group of teenagers haunted by Gossip Girl was released, although it was not as well received as its predecessor and was canceled after just two seasons. Here’s a look at theGossip Girlcast today.
Updated July 20, 2025: This article has been updated with additional content and information to keep it current and up-to-date, while also reflecting the tragic passing of alum Michelle Trachtenberg.
Gossip Girl
Leighton Meester as Blair Waldorf
Leighton Meester’s best known role is undoubtedly Blair Waldorf, Constance Billiard’s Queen Bee and star ofGossip Girl. However, this actress and singer has been involved in many successful projects in both film and television since the conclusion of the series in 2012. Meester went on to star in movies likeThe Judge, Life Partners,andSemper Fi,while also appearing inSingle ParentsandHow I Met Your Father, the spin-off of the popular sitcomHow I Met Your Mother.
Continued Success on the Big & Small Screen
In 2022, Meester starred in the Netflix thrillerThe Weekend Awayas Beth, a young woman whose best friend disappears while they are away on a trip. That same year, she was cast inMy Father’s Dragon, a children’s film starring Jacob Tremblay and Gaten Matarazzo that earned multiple Annie Award nominations and garnered widespread praise. The actress' latest movie credit is the 2023 Christmas rom-comEXmas,and she is set to join the upcoming second season of the historical drama The Buccaneers as well as Netflix’sNobody Wants This. Meester currently stars in The CW dramedyGood Cop/Bad Cop, which made its debut on June 05, 2025.
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Ed Westwick as Chuck Bass
Only a young man with Chuck Bass' attitude and determination could keep up with Blair Waldorf. This is undeniably one ofEd Westwick’s best-known characters, as well as Vincent Swan, whom he portrayed in the British sitcomWhite Gold. Even though the actor has not been featured in that many projects recently since his days as part of theGossip Girlcast, he can be seen in the movieMe You Madness, in which he stars alongside Louise Linton.
Westwick Faces Shocking Claims of Misconduct
Westwick faced major controversy when he was accused of physical misconduct by three different women in November 2017, accusations that the actor vehementlydenied and called"unverified and provably untrue." Since the accusations first surfaced, he has gone on to appear in action thrillers likeDeep FearandDarkGame,and is set to portray Lord James Brooke in the upcoming drama seriesSandokan,an adaptation of the Emilio Salgari novels that will feature additional stars like Can Yaman and John Hannah.
Blake Lively as Serena van der Woodsen
Blake Livelyfamously stars inGossip Girlas Serena van der Woodsen, the Upper East Side’s it girl. These last few years have been very formative for Lively’s stellar career, as she went on to star alongside Harrison Ford in the romantic fantasyThe Age of Adalineand in the survival thrillerThe Shallows.The actress delivered a wicked performance opposite Anna Kendrick inA Simple Favorand will also star in the sequel,Another Simple Favor.Moreover, in 2021 she made her directorial debut with Taylor Swift’s “I Bet You Think About Me” music video.
Lively Dominates the Box Office
In 2024, Lively notably shared the screen with Justin Baldoni, Brandon Sklenar, and Jenny Slate in the big-screen adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling romantic dramaIt Ends with Us,which went on to become a massive box office success and grossed over $349 million. The actress made headlines ahead of the film’s release due to allegedbehind-the-scenes tensionwith co-star and director Baldoni, raising questions of both when and if the expected sequelIt Starts with Uswill come to fruition in the future.
Lively filed a legal complaint against Baldoni, producer Jamey Heath, and their studio Wayfarer in December 2024, alleging she had experienced sexual harassment from Baldoni while filmingIt Ends With Us.On August 09, 2025, Baldoni filed a $400 million defamation countersuit against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, with allegations by both opposing sides being shared in the midst of the ongoing legal dispute.
Penn Badgley as Dan Humphrey
Penn Badgleyportrays one ofGossip Girl’s greatest characters: Dan Humphrey, an aspiring writer based in Brooklyn who, upon falling in love with Serena, creates the infamous Gossip Girl blog. Dan is one of Badgley’s most iconic characters, but in recent years, there is one that is even further acclaimed: Joe Goldberg, a bookstore manager who turns into an obsessive killer in the Netflix seriesYou.
Badgley’s Chilling Psychological Hit
The fan-favorite psychological thriller is based on the popular Caroline Kepnes novels and has become a streaming sensation, garnering a passionate and dedicated following with over 40 million people having viewed the first season within just a month. The mega-hit series currently has four seasons under its belt, and afifth and final installmentis scheduled to be released on July 25, 2025. Apart fromYou,Badgley has also appeared inHere Today, the 2021 film starring Billy Crystal and Tiffany Haddish and most recently in the crime thrillerThe Birthday Cake.
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Chace Crawford as Nate Archibald
OnGossip Girl,Chace Crawfordis Nate Archibald, the Upper East Side golden boy. In recent years, Crawford has kept himself very active in the industry, starring in both film and television productions. Among his most notable ones is the popular Prime Video showThe Boys, inspired by the comic book by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, in which he stars as Kevin Moskowitz/The Deep.
Crawford Remains a TV Staple
Outside his dazzling work in the satirical andedgy superhero series, he has also been in films such asCharlie Says,Inheritance,Belle,andNighthawks, in which he appeared with Kevin Zegers and Janet Montgomery. Crawford also helped make up the decorated ensemble cast in the 2024 comedy mysteryReunion,which featured the additional talents of famous faces, including Nina Dobrev, Lil Rel Howery, and Billy Magnussen.
Kelly Rutherford as Lily van der Woodsen
Kelly Rutherfordplayed Lily, Serena’s mother and one of the most influential people in Manhattan. This was one of Kelly’s most prominent roles, along with her appearances in the soap operasGenerationsandMelrose Place. FollowingGossip Girl’s wrap-up, Rutherford appeared in occasional projects, mostly on TV.
Rutherford Sticks to the Small Screen
In 2016, she made a few guest appearances in the seriesQuantico, and from 2018 to 2019, she appeared in the cast of the reboot ofDynastyas Melissa Daniels. She also had a main role inPretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists, I. Marlene King’s show that got canceled after a season. Rutherford’s other recent movie credits includeLove, Of Course, Dark Angel,andFallen Hearts, with a 2020 episode of the crime drama seriesPower Book II: Ghostmarking her latest acting role.
Matthew Settle as Rufus Humphrey
In the show,Matthew Settleplays Rufus, Dan and Jenny’s father and Lily’s eventual partner. And even though the actor picked up a few projects afterGossip Girlended, he hasn’t been actively involved in the industry for a few years now. Settle’s other film credits so far includeOuija,Paper Angels, Marshall the Miracle Dog,andThe Faith of Anna Waters.
Settle Takes a Step Back From Hollywood
After the conclusion ofGossip Girl, Settle also appeared in an episode ofCriminal Minds: Beyond Bordersand his most recent on-screen performance was in the 2017 superhero action filmValentine: The Dark Avenger, in which he portrayed Bono. Since then, Settle has largely taken a step back from the limelight and is instead focused on raising his daughter Aven Angelica.
Jessica Szohr as Vanessa Abrams
Jessica SzohrjoinedGossip Girlduring its first season with a recurring role as Vannessa Abrams, but eventually became a lead due to the character’s popularity. Over the past few years, the actress has become known for her character Talla Keyali in the Seth MacFarlaneseriesThe Orville, which released its third season on Hulu in 2022.
Szohr’s Many Television Performances
Meanwhile, Szohr spent some time working onAll-Star Weekend, a film directed by Jamie Foxx that was supposed to premiere in 2018, but after several delays, it was eventually shelved. She continued finding luck in the world of television and has landed roles inKingdom, Twin Peaks,and as Nessa Chabon inShameless,and she also starred opposite Ron Perlman and Chazz Palminteri in the crime comedy thrillerCloverin 2020.
Taylor Momsen as Jenny Humphrey
Taylor Momsenfirst gained worldwide acclaim for her role as Cindy Lou Who in the beloved 2000holiday hitHow the Grinch Stole Christmas, and seven years later, for her interpretation of Jenny Humphrey inGossip Girl. Midway through the project, Momsen opted to retire from acting to focus on her band, The Pretty Reckless, who released their first album in 2010.
Momsen’s Rock & Roll Takeover
In February 2021, they released their fourth album,Death by Rock and Roll,which featured singles including “And So It Went” and “Only Love Can Save Me Now” and became the highest-selling album in the country its week of release, moving 17,366 album equivalent units. The Pretty Reckless also became the first female-fronted band to nab seven number-one singles on the Mainstream Rock chart.
Michelle Trachtenberg as Georgina Sparks
Seasoned film and TV superstarMichelle Trachtenbergjoined the smash-hit series in 2007 as Serena’s former friend and the conniving schemer Georgina Sparks, creating problems for the “it girl of Manhattan” and subsequently returning for multiple-episode arcs and appearances until the show’s conclusion in 2012. Trachtenberg had a long and decorated acting resume prior to playing the villainous Georgina, as the actress famouslystarred as Dawn Summersin the beloved cult classicBuffy the Vampire Slayerand in celebrated children’s flicks likeHarriet the SpyandInspector Gadget.
Trachtenberg’s Life Is Tragically Cut Short
After serving up a wicked performance inGossip Girl,Trachtenberg went on to star as Chloe Payne in the medical dramaMercyand nabbed appearances in popular TV shows includingWeeds, Criminal Minds, NCIS: Los Angeles,andSleepy Hollow.She had also memorably starred in films likeEuroTrip, Ice Princess, Black Christmas,and17 Again,and in 2022 Trachtenberg reprised her role of Georgina Sparks in the HBO reboot ofGossip Girl, delighting fans both old and new of the original series.
On August 22, 2025, Trachtenberg was tragically found dead in her New York City apartment by her mother, with the Hollywood staple having previously undergone a liver transplant months prior to her heartbreaking passing; the charismatic actress was just 39 years old. Her former co-stars subsequentlyreleased touching tributes, including James Marsters, Rosie O’Donnell, and Sarah Michelle Gellar, with fellowGossip GirlalumBlake Lively penning a moving messageon her Instagram story and calling Trachtenberg “fiercely loyal to her friends and brave for those she loved” and that she was “big and bold and distinctly herself.”
StreamGossip GirlonMax.
