Gossip Girl is an American teen-drama series that ran from 2007-2012 on The CW. The show was developed by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, based on the book series of the same name by Cecily von Ziegesar and followed the scandalous lives of wealthy teenagers in Manhattan's elite inner circles, while an anonymous source blogs about their antics.
Premise[]
Upper East Side's former it girl Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively) returns after suddenly leaving for boarding school and tries to transition back into her old life. However, she soon faces obstacles from her ex-best friend and current queen bee Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester), golden child Nate Archibald (Chace Crawford) and resident bad boy Chuck Bass (Ed Westwick). Ostracised from the elite friendship circles, she finds hope and romance with loner on the fringe, Dan Humphrey (Penn Badgley), all while an omniscient blogger Gossip Girl stirs reports on their lives and stirs up scandals of her own.
Cast[]
- Blake Lively as Serena van der Woodsen, the it girl and one of the most talked about girls on the Upper East Side. With a shady past full of scandal, she returns to Manhattan hoping to make amends with those she has scorned.
- Leighton Meester as Blair Waldorf, the the Queen Bee of Constance Billard's School for Girls, she rules with an iron fist and is shaken when her former best friend returns who could potentially threaten her social status.
- Penn Badgley as Dan Humphrey, a Brooklynite nicknamed 'Lonely Boy' by Gossip Girl, due to his outsider status (which he prefers). He is an aspiring writer who falls directly into Serena's radar.
- Chace Crawford as Nate Archibald, the golden boy who hails from one of Manhattan's wealthiest families. He has a romantic history with both Blair and Serena.
- Taylor Momsen as Jenny Humphrey (seasons 1–4; guest, season 6)), Dan's younger sister who hopes to rise up the ranks and become popular, and she'll do whatever it takes to achieve that.
- Ed Westwick as Chuck Bass, the sleezey son of a wealthy businessman. Chuck is no stranger to scandal and sordid encounters and IS the resident bad boy on the Upper East Side,
- Kelly Rutherford as Lily van der Woodsen (née Rhodes), the mother of Serena and Eric. She is a multiple divorcée who isn't afraid to use her power and influence to keep her children under control.
- Matthew Settle as Rufus Humphrey, an artist and former rockstar who is the supportive father of Dan and Jenny. He is a complicated past with Lily.
- Jessica Szohr as Vanessa Abrams (seasons 1–4; guest, season 6), Dan's childhood best friends who isn't too fond of his involvement with Serena and the wealthy friends in her social circle.
- Kaylee DeFer as Ivy Dickens (seasons 5–6; recurring, season 4), introduced as a relative of the van der Woodsen's who hides a scandalous secret.