KCWI 23

Leighton Meester as Blair Waldorf

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Leighton Meester stars as Blair Waldorf in The CW's hit drama "Gossip Girl," from Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage ("The O.C."), based on the tremendously popular book series about privileged teenagers in New York City.

Because of her incredible success on the television series, it didn't take long for Meester to make the leap onto the big screen. In 2010, she starred alongside Steve Carell and Tina Fey in the comedy "Date Night," and in the comedy "Going the Distance," starring Drew Barrymore and Justin Long.

Recently, Meester starred in the country music drama "Country Strong," with Gwyneth Paltrow and Tim McGraw, which garnered fantastic reviews. She was also seen in "Monte Carlo," with Selena Gomez and Katie Cassidy, and opposite Minka Kelly in the Sony Screen Gems thriller "The Roommate," which opened #1 at the box office. Next up, Meester will be seen in the dramatic comedy "The Oranges," alongside Hugh Laurie and Catherine Keener. Currently, she is filming the comedy "I Hate You Dad," alongside Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg.

Raised in Florida, Meester got the acting bug at age 9, when she played a citizen of Emerald City in a local production of "The Wizard of Oz." Two years later, she moved with her family to New York and soon began working as a model with the Wilhemina modeling agency, booking a Ralph Lauren campaign shot by Bruce Weber and working with photographer/director Sofia Coppola.

Penn Badgley as Dan Humphrey

Penn Badgley currently stars as Dan Humphrey in The CW's hit drama "Gossip Girl," from Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage (executive producers of "The O.C."), based on the tremendously popular book series about privileged teenagers in New York City.

Badgley is currently in production on "Greetings from Tim Buckley," for which he won the highly sought-after role to star as musician Jeff Buckley. He will next be seen starring in "Margin Call," a thriller based on the events surrounding the country's financial collapse, also starring Kevin Spacey, Stanley Tucci, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Zachary Quinto and Simon Baker, in theaters this October. Badgley was last seen on the big screen starring in Sony's hit comedy "Easy A."

In 2009, Badgley starred in the dramatic thriller "The Stepfather," opposite Dylan Walsh and Sela Ward. In 2008, Badgley took a villainous turn in the rugby-themed "Forever Strong." He also appeared in "John Tucker Must Die," and has starred in several television series, including the short-lived "Do Over," Badgley's first starring role, which came at the age of 15, and garnered critical acclaim.

Born in Baltimore, Badgley split his formative years between Midlothian, Virginia, and Seattle, Washington. It was in Seattle that, through his love of music, he stumbled upon a local playhouse and became involved in musical theatre, where his passion for acting grew. Badgley relocated to Los Angeles and built up his resume while attending Santa Monica College. He had planned to transfer to USC, where he was accepted at 17, but life and work intervened.

Badgley currently resides in New York. He enjoys writing music and playing soccer in his spare time.

Chace Crawford as Nate Archibald

Chace Crawford stars as Nate Archibald in The CW's hit drama "Gossip Girl," from Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage ("The O.C."), based on the tremendously popular book series about privileged teenagers in New York City.

Crawford is currently in production on Lionsgate's ensemble romantic comedy "What To Expect When You're Expecting." Kirk Jones ("Waking Ned Devine," "Nanny McPhee") is directing the film based on the book by Heidi Murkoff. The film is a modern look at love through the eyes of four interconnected couples experiencing the thrills and surprises of having a baby, and ultimately coming to understand the universal truth that no matter what you plan for, life doesn't always deliver what's expected. The movie will be released on May 11, 2012.

He recently wrapped production on Bruce Beresford's film, "Peace, Love and Misunderstanding," in which he will star opposite Catherine Keener and Jane Fonda. The movie follows a Gotham lawyer (Keener) who retreats to the farmhouse owned by her hippie mother (Fonda) after her husband asks for a divorce. Crawford will play an anti-war butcher who captures the romantic interest of the daughter of Keener's character.

Crawford will next star opposite Katie Holmes in a romantic comedy called "Responsible Adults." He is also attached to play the role of an accused South African murderer in "The House of Gun," an independent film adaptation of an acclaimed novel from Nobel Prize-winner Nadine Gordimer. Pierce Brosnan is attached to play Crawford's father.

In 2010, Crawford starred in Joel Schumacher's "Twelve," based on the novel by Nick McDowell. He portrays White Mike, a young drug dealer whose high-rolling life is dismantled in the wake of his cousin's murder when his best friend is arrested for the crime. The film co-stars Emma Roberts, 50 Cent and Ellen Barkin.

Crawford grew up in Plano, Texas. He moved to Los Angeles to attend Pepperdine University. His first big break came when he landed the role of Tyler Simms in the film "The Covenant."

Currently, Crawford splits his time between Los Angeles and New York City.

Ed Westwick as Chuck Bass

Ed Westwick stars as Chuck Bass in The CW's hit drama "Gossip Girl," from Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage ("The O.C."), based on the tremendously popular book series about privileged teenagers in New York City.

In February 2011, Westwick starred in the romantic comedy "Chalet Girl," with Felicity Jones, Tamsin Egerton and Bill Nighy. Directed by Phil Traill, the story details the life of a young girl from a working class suburb who lands a job in an ultra-glam ski resort, where she discovers her natural snowboarding genius and the boss' gorgeous son, Johnny (Westwick).

In March 2011, he began filming Clint Eastwood's biographical film "J. Edgar." Westwick plays Agent Smith, Hoover's biographer, alongside an all-star cast, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts, Judi Dench and Jeffrey Donovan. The film is set for release in 2012.

In 2009, Westwick had a guest-starring role on the Showtime comedy "Californication," as Balt, Hank's (David Duchovny) vampire-obsessed student.

He was also seen in "Son of Rambow," an independent film directed by Garth Jennings. Westwick played Lawrence, a bully and surrogate father figure to his devoted younger brother. "Son of Rambow," which premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, caused quite a buzz at the festival, selling to Paramount Vantage for the highest amount at the festival.

Westwick was awarded the Young Hollywood Breakthrough Award at the 2009 Young Hollywood Awards. An emerging British actor trained at The National Youth Theatre in London, Westwick has been seen in "100 Feet," starring Famke Janssen and Bobby Cannavale, and "S. Darko," a sequel to the hit movie "Donnie Darko." He also played the role of Alex in Alfonso Cuarón's "Children of Men," opposite Clive Owen and Julianne Moore. Westwick was also seen playing the role of Zoran in Anthony Mighella's "Breaking and Entering," opposite Jude Law, Juliette Binoche and Robin Wright Penn.

Additional television credits include guest-starring roles in "Afterlife" for ITV1, "Casualty" for the BBC, "Doctors" for the BBC and "Dream Team" for Sky One.

When not filming "Gossip Girl" in New York City, Westwick resides outside London.

Kaylee DeFer as Charlie Rhodes/Ivy

Kaylee DeFer stars as Charlie Rhodes/Ivy in The CW's hit drama "Gossip Girl," from Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage ("The O.C."), based on the tremendously popular book series about privileged teenagers in New York City.

DeFer is quickly emerging as one of Hollywood's most engaging young actresses. She shook things up on "Gossip Girl" last season as Charlie/Ivy, a paid actress who was hired to play Lily van der Woodsen's (Kelly Rutherford) niece in order to gain access to the family trust fund. Defer returns to "Gossip Girl" this fall as a series regular and is sure to shake things up on the Upper East Side. DeFer is the first actor to join the original cast as a series regular since the series began.

Her next big project is on the silver screen. She landed the lead role in Ron Stein's new horror/psychological thriller "Darkroom." DeFer plays a character named Michelle, who takes a job recommended by her counselor that lands her trapped in a mansion with three psychotic siblings hell-bent on purging Michelle of her sins. The film will be released in 2012.

DeFer, who is best known for her role as Hillary Gold on the comedy series "The War at Home," has made several guest appearances on hit TV shows such as "How I Met Your Mother," "CSI: Miami," "North Shore," "Ghost Whisperer" and "Bones." She has also appeared on the silver screen in "Underclassman," "Flika" and "Red State."

Born in Tucson, Arizona, DeFer began her career in musical theater at the age of 8 and continued through high school with the lead of Kim in "Bye Bye Birdie." She moved to Los Angeles in 2003 to pursue her love of acting and has been working ever since and enjoying every minute.

DeFer currently resides in New York.

Kelly Rutherford as Lily van der Woodsen

Kelly Rutherford stars as Lily van der Woodsen in The CW's hit drama "Gossip Girl," from Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage ("The O.C."), based on the tremendously popular book series about privileged teenagers in New York City.

Perhaps best-known to television audiences as Megan Mancini in the hit series "Melrose Place," Rutherford's additional television credits include starring roles in "E-Ring," "Threat Matrix," "The Kindred," The Great Defender" and "Homefront." She also had recurring roles on "The District," "The Fugitive," "Get Real" and "The Adventures of Briscoe County, Jr." Rutherford made guest appearances on such series as "Courthouse," "Davis Rules" and "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure." She also had a contract role on the NBC soap opera "Generations."

In film, she appeared in "Scream 3," "I Love Trouble," with Julia Roberts and Nick Nolte, and the independent film "Swimming Upstream." She has also appeared in numerous short films including "The Tag," with Djimon Hounsou, and "Disturbance at Dinner," a black and white film about a blind girl who finds love by listening to her heart.

Rutherford travels between Los Angeles and New York with her two young children, Hermes (4) and Helena (1). She is a supporter of the (RED) campaign through Bugaboo, the Step Up Women's Network, Healthy Child Healthy World, and is an avid environmentalist who values an organic and green lifestyle. In September 2009, she was named Big City Moms' "Mom of the Month" in New York City and prior to that was honored at the Step Up Women's Network Inspiration Awards.

Matthew Settle as Rufus Humphrey

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Matthew Settle stars as Rufus Humphrey in The CW's hit drama "Gossip Girl," from Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage ("The O.C."), based on the tremendously popular book series about privileged teenagers in New York City.

Settle is set to star alongside Miley Cyrus in the film "So Undercover" which is set for release in October of 2011. Additionally, he stars alongside Swedish actress Katia Winter ("Unmade Beds") in "Happy & Bleeding" which he also co-produced. Prior to these projects, Settle starred among a talented cast in TNT's epic six-week television event, "Into the West," from executive producer Steven Spielberg and produced by DreamWorks. "Into the West" was nominated for 16 Emmy Awards.

Settle's past projects also include roles on the television series "Brothers and Sisters," "ER" and David E. Kelly's "The Wedding Bells." In addition, he was a part of Callie Khour's film adaptation of "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood," in which he starred opposite Ashley Judd; HBO's award-winning mini-series "Band of Brothers," in which he portrayed the legendary Capt. Ronald Speirs; Jonathan Mostow's World War II submarine drama "U-571," and a critically lauded portrayal of Warren Beatty in Peter Bogdanovich's "The Mystery of Natalie Wood."

He resides in New York City with his daughter Aven.