INTERVIEW: Leighton Meester

Leighton Meester

Full Name: Leighton Marissa Claire Meester     

Date of Birth: April 9, 1986     

Currently Live: New York City, NY      

Hometown: Marco Island, Florida      

What is the best thing about your job? The show {Gossip Girl} has challeneged me greatly. It's taught me a lot about myself by reading into a character's psychology that I started out from scratch with ... I've learned a lot about myself because when you take on someone's personality, so much of that person is you ... I've also learned to appreciate the little things.

Who inspires you? Cate Blanchett has a beautiful career that's inspiring, and she's a beautiful woman. She's never pigeonholed as one specific thing. She can go from being a hot schoolteacher to playing a very intense role, as in "Babel." I think she's very versatile. I think Bette Davis was an incredible actress. And I look to her for a lot of inspiration, too.

What do you do for fun? Writing poetry is one of my favorite things to do and I always find time for it. There are things that I write about most that are just kind of like everyday thoughts that I have, things that come into my mind.

What would people be surprised to know about you? I went through so many phases in high school that I can't say exactly what my style was. A combination of just rolling out of bed and going to class and kind of defying my femininity by wearing sweatshirts with holes in them, never wearing heels or skirts. Also, all black almost all the time.

FAVORITES
Favorite Music: Chris Cornell and Incubus