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Leighton Marissa Meester, born in 1986, is an American actress and singer. She rose to fame for her portrayal of Blair Waldorf in the television series Gossip Girl, which aired from 2007 to 2012. The beautiful actress was born in Fort Worth, Texas. Her mother was imprisoned for drug smuggling while pregnant with her. Leighton was born in a hospital where her mother was brought with special permission and raised by her grandmother. She later rejoined her mother after her release from prison. She has a younger brother, Alexander, who is eight years younger than her. Her childhood was spent in Marco Island, Florida, where she appeared in a regional production of The Wizard of Oz. At age 11, they moved to New York City, where she began modeling. She appeared in Ralph Lauren campaigns and worked with Sophia Coppola (who hadn't yet directed at the time). At 14, they moved to Los Angeles, where she finished high school. She first appeared on screen in 1999 as a guest star on Law & Order. Meester's film debut was in Hangman's Curse, based on Frank Peretti's bestselling novel. She later appeared as a guest star in many popular shows, including 24, Veronica Mars, House, CSI: Miami, The Crowded Room, and Entourage. From 2005-2006, she gained wider recognition for her role as Savannah Bennet in NBC's Surface. In 2007, Gossip Girl catapulted Meester to stardom. Her performance as Blair earned her critical acclaim, and she became one of the show's leading figures for five seasons. Following the show's conclusion, Meester focused more on film work. Also interested in music, Meester recorded a duet with Cobra Starship on the song "Good Girls Go Bad" in 2009. She has also sung on various television shows, released singles, and performed as a vocalist in several bands. In 2013, Meester began a relationship with Adam Brody on the set of The Oranges. They married in February 2014 and welcomed their daughter, Arlo Day Brody, in 2015.