Gossip Girl Files

A new hit show has crept up and filled the empty void in our hearts for rich and privileged teens with big problems – say hello to Gossip Girl!

Set in New York City, Gossip Girl follows the lives of a group of privileged teens who have the money, the clothes and the power to rule! With the city at their disposal, temptation and scandal are all in a day's work.

When Serena van der Woodsen comes back to town after a year at boarding school, her return throws relationships into disarray, with jealousy and scandal reaching a new level. This show has a killer soundtrack and was created by the team behind The OC! Go gossip…

View our Gossip Girl Who's Who Gallery!

Who's Who:

Blake Lively
DOB: August 25, 1987
Character: Serena van der Woodsen
Think of her as the new: Marissa – She's beautiful, rich and tortured, with an unpleasant mother and lots of mystery. Serena may have a chequered past, but she's still the alluring leader of the pack we're all envious of.
Quirk factor: She's known co-star and onscreen love interest Penn Badgley since she was just 11 years old!
Where you've seen her before: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.
Quote: "Serena really just wants to be a good person – despite all odds, despite all the chaos that's going on around her and all the other people in her life."

Penn Badgley
DOB: November 1, 1986
Character: Dan Humphrey
Think of him as the new: Seth – He's the outsider in the group. The witty good guy who never really seems to have things go completely his way. Caring brother of Jenny, he's always ready to come to her rescue. Constantly on the cusp of the group, his middle class upbringing is what separates him from the rest.
Quirk factor: This down to earth actor is a keen surfer, skier and snowboarder, who also loves to sing and play his guitar.
Where you've seen him before: John Tucker Must Die and the TV show Do Over.
Quote: "What's great about Dan, on one hand, is that he's the most relatable, because he's the ‘every guy'. But he's also sort of on a moral high ground, which, not that it can get boring, but it's more fun to explore the darker side of
a character."

Leighton Meester
DOB: April 9, 1986
Character: Blair Waldorf
Think of her as the new: Summer – She may be feisty and demanding, but underneath it all she's a vulnerable, complex and sometimes scared girl who you'll love to hate. The girlfriend of Nate, she also suffers at the hands of a mean mum from time to time.
Quirk factor: Her surname, Meester is Dutch for "master" or "teacher".
Where you've seen her before: She's been in episodes of Veronica Mars, House, 8 Simple Rules and Entourage.
Quote: "She's not all good, but she's not all bad – none of the characters on the show are really either/or."

Chace Crawford
DOB: July 18, 1985
Character: Nate Archibald
Think of him as the new: Ryan – He's a little dark, quiet and broody. Not happy with the plans his father has laid out for his future, he has a strong moral conviction, which makes him interesting. While he hangs with the school jerk, there's definitely some tension between him and Serena, who he has a history with, even though he's meant to be Blair's boyfriend.
Quirk factor: Voted ‘Best Dressed' during his senior year of high school.
Where you've seen him before: He starred in the film Loaded with Jesse Metcalfe.
Quote: "I love that he's having issues with his dad and his family – you're getting a window into what goes into inducing all this behaviour."

Taylor Momsen
DOB: July 26, 1993
Character: Jenny Humphrey
Think of her as the new: Kaitlin – As the youngest of the group, she's also Dan's little sister. She really wants to fit in with the group, even if that means she may get into some sticky situations along the way. She's the naive good girl in a big city.
Quirk factor: Taylor began her career at the age of three, appearing in a Shake ‘n Bake commercial.
Where you've seen her before: How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Spy Kids 2 and We Were Heroes.
Quote: "I'm having so much fun. Everyone is so great. I am younger, obviously, and it's a reality check at the end of the day, because they treat me like such an individual, which I totally appreciate and totally love."

Ed Westwick
DOB: June 27, 1987
Character: Chuck Bass
Think of him as the new: Luke – He's the bad boy of the group, always trying to get Nate to get in touch with his darker side. You'll mostly find him chasing the ladies or hitting up the New York social scene with his cocky and confident attitude. Watch out for this one, he's bound to cause some havoc!
Quirk factor: Ed is the lead singer in a band called The Filthy Youth.
Where you've seen him before: Breaking and Entering with Jude Law.
Quote: "Chuck's such an interesting person to watch – just to see what he does next."