Blake Lively commemorated the 18th anniversary of the “Gossip Girl” premiere by sharing a series of behind-the-scenes photos from the show’s six-season run on Instagram. The actress, known for her role as Serena van der Woodsen, reminisced about the experience, highlighting the significance of the series in her life and career.
Lively described the show as her education and social environment during that time, emphasizing how much New York City, Silvercup Studios, and occasionally Paris, felt like her campus for six years. Many images featured her co-stars, including Leighton Meester, who portrayed Blair Waldorf, as well as Chace Crawford and Ed Westwick, who played Nate Archibald and Chuck Bass respectively.
Sharing a nostalgia-filled caption, Lively reflected on the memories from her time on set, adding a throwback photo with Penn Badgley, her on-screen and off-screen boyfriend during the first season. Badgley has since spoken about maintaining professionalism with Lively after their 2010 breakup despite their continued collaboration on the show.
More than a decade following the series finale in 2012, cast reunions continue to occur. In June, Lively reunited with Zuzanna Szadkowski, who played Blair’s housekeeper Dorota Kishlovsky, to promote Lively’s beverage brand. Additionally, Leighton Meester is set to appear alongside Kristen Bell and her real-life husband Adam Brody in season two of the series “Nobody Wants This.”
Kristen Bell spoke about the tight-knit nature of the cast, mentioning an active group text chain filled with jokes and camaraderie. Bell expressed her delight at including Meester in the new project, calling it a natural and wonderful collaboration.
The Origins of Chuck and Blair’s Dynamic Stemmed from Onscreen Chemistry
The intense relationship between Chuck Bass and Blair Waldorf was inspired by the undeniable chemistry between actors Ed Westwick and Leighton Meester. The co-creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage noticed this connection while filming the pilot episode’s final scene, which featured Chuck and Blair observing Serena van der Woodsen leave a party with outsiders Dan and Jenny Humphrey.
Josh Schwartz recalled the immediate and palpable connection between Westwick and Meester during this scene, marking it as the moment the characters’ dynamic truly took shape. Stephanie Savage compared their relationship to “Dangerous Liaisons,” highlighting how the pair embodied a love-hate bond filled with strategic scheming that made their storyline particularly compelling.
Ed Westwick on His Chemistry with Leighton Meester
Ed Westwick openly acknowledged the strong chemistry he shared with Leighton Meester, which contributed to the fan-favorite couple known as “Chair.” In a 2022 episode of the podcast “XOXO with Jessica Szohr,” Westwick described his experience working with Meester as amazing, noting how much people connected with their characters’ relationship.
He also expressed admiration for Meester’s talent and revealed that their off-screen rapport involved laughter and mutual support, sometimes feeling protective toward her. Westwick credited Meester with improving his own performance during their time together on the series.
Living Together: Ed Westwick and Chace Crawford’s Roommate Experience
Ed Westwick and co-star Chace Crawford developed a close friendship partly because they lived together for the first two years of shooting. Westwick explained on the “XOXO” podcast that Crawford had suggested they become roommates during the pilot phase. Having never lived away from his parents before, Westwick agreed without hesitation.
He humorously recalled how Crawford sent him odd photos of the apartment, which included unusual angles of ceilings and floors. Despite the unconventional visuals, Westwick was content and happily settled into their shared living arrangement throughout much of the filming.
Jennifer Lawrence Auditioned for the Role of Serena
The role of Serena van der Woodsen was contested by several actresses, including Jennifer Lawrence, who auditioned for the lead role before Blake Lively was cast. Co-creator Josh Schwartz revealed in a 2017 interview that they learned secondhand about Lawrence’s interest and audition, noting that she was disappointed not to get the part.
Lily Collins Nearly Cast as Jenny Humphrey
Lily Collins, now widely known for “Emily in Paris,” went through the audition process for the role of Jenny Humphrey, Dan Humphrey’s younger sister, but ultimately did not secure the part, which went to Taylor Momsen. Collins expressed her eagerness at the time, admitting that she wanted the role badly.
Famous Actresses Considered to Portray Young Lily Van der Woodsen
The casting process for a “Gossip Girl” spinoff pilot focusing on Serena’s mother, Lily van der Woodsen, involved several notable actresses. Casting director David Rapaport shared that Brittany Snow and Krysten Ritter starred in the pilot, while Dakota Johnson and Rooney Mara auditioned among others before gaining fame.
Rapaport highlighted Nina Dobrev’s audition as unexpected and outstanding, calling her a “super star” despite concerns about her physical resemblance to Kelly Rutherford, who played the adult Lily. He noted the network’s reluctance to cast Dobrev because she did not look like Rutherford but vouched for keeping her on their radar.
Chuck Bass Intended as a Minor Character Initially
Ed Westwick revealed that his character, Chuck Bass, was originally written as a recurring role supposed to appear in just a few episodes. Westwick considered himself fortunate that the role expanded significantly throughout the series. He also explained that he circumvented some network testing protocols, undergoing only two auditions and a screen test without formally securing a series regular position before filming.
Jessica Szohr’s Casting Originated from an Unexpected Encounter
Jessica Szohr, who portrayed Vanessa Abrams, was discovered in an unconventional way. Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage found her after actor Adam Brody, a former collaborator from “The O.C.,” brought her as a guest to a Fourth of July pool party. Upon seeing her, the showrunners quickly searched online to confirm her acting experience, leading to her casting.
Visa Issues Nearly Cost Ed Westwick His Role
Ed Westwick’s casting faced a major hurdle when visa complications almost prevented him from filming in the United States. Initially, Westwick had auditioned for the role of Nate Archibald before being cast as Chuck Bass. According to Josh Schwartz, the network pressured the creators to find a backup actor for Chuck because Westwick’s visa was delayed.
Schwartz explained that despite network concerns, they insisted there was no replacement for Westwick, ultimately waiting until his visa was approved to proceed with the original casting.
Voice of Gossip Girl Casting Considered Other Talents
While Kristen Bell became known as the voice of Gossip Girl, both Christina Ricci and Selma Blair were also considered for the role. Executive producer Stephanie Savage noted that Bell’s prior voiceover work on “Veronica Mars” helped solidify her casting after the show ended.
