Hollywood star about to have the comeback she deserves in ‘charming’ police drama
She appeared in one of the stand-out teen shows of the 00s.
After her husband Adam Brody experienced a career renaissance last year, it’s now Leighton Meester’s turn.
Beginning her career as a child model working in commercials, Leighton’s first screen credit came aged 13 in an episode of Law & Order.
She then made appearances in Crossing Jordan, 8 Simple Rules, 7th Heaven and 24.
But it was being cast in the teen drama series Gossip Girl that made her a household name.
From 2007 until 2012, she played uber-wealthy New York City schoolgirl Blair Waldorf alongside Blake Lively as Serena van der Woodsen.
During her time on the show Leighton’s performance was praised, with fans calling her ‘the stand-out star’.
The actress’ first on-screen credit came when she was just 13-years-old (Picture: Jordan Strauss/ Invision/ AP)However, after the show wrapped, her follow-up projects largely went under the radar.
In the years since she’s appeared in movies including The Judge, The Weekend Away and voiced a character in My Father’s Dragon.
Aside from starring as Angie D’Amato on the sitcom Single Parents and How I Met Your Father, which were both cancelled, her TV roles have been limited.
In a 2022 Thrillist article, it was said she ‘finally deserved a chance to shine on her own’.
A few years on, it looks like that time has finally come – with her role in the police dramedy Good Cop/ Bad Cop.
She is best known for playing Blair Waldorf from 2007 until 2012 (Picture: K C Bailey/ Cw Network/ Kobal/ Shutterstock)The eight-part show sees her star as Lou alongside Luke Cook as her brother Henry, detectives working in a small Pacific Northwest police force.
Together the siblings face ‘colourful locals, a serious lack of resources and a complicated relationship with police chief, Big Hank (Clancy Brown) – who doubles as their father’.
The series, which was released in the US and Australia (where it was filmed) this week, has already sparked rave reviews. It also features a cameo from Brody.
In its review, Variety said the show ‘injected much-needed levity into an often severe and cynical genre’ and called it ‘quirky, silly and endearing’.
It also called Leighton ‘ever charming’ in the role.
One of her most notable roles since then was in How I Met Your Father (Picture: Hulu/ La Pictures5)The Hollywood Reporter also praised her, saying the actress lent the series ‘a congeniality to balance out Henry’s awkwardness’ and that the show itself had a ‘steady and approachable warmth’.
The Wall Street Journal also labelled her a ‘deft comedian who elevates what would have been a surprisingly smart comedy anyway’.
Since the glowing reviews started rolling in, many have thrown their support behind the actress.
‘Omg Leighton deserves everything,’ user ArtVideo posted on X.
‘I’ll watch anything she’s in,’ Nora shared.
She is now starring alongside Luke Cook in Good Cop/Bad Cop (Picture: CW/ Planet Photos)
