From prison birth to 'Gossip Girl' fame: Leighton Meester's unlikely life story

Leighton Meester, globally recognized for her portrayal of Blair Waldorf in "Gossip Girl," experienced a life far removed from the privileged character she played. Born while her mother, Constance Meester, was incarcerated for involvement in an international drug smuggling operation, Meester's early years were spent under the care of her grandparents.

Her parents divorced when she was young, and she later relocated with her mother to New York and then Los Angeles. There, she attended private school and began a modeling career, appearing in campaigns for brands like Ralph Lauren and Clearasil. This period marked the beginning of her journey toward acting.

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I realized that you can't judge anyone, especially your parents, for what they did in the past.

Meester has spoken about the importance of not judging parents for their past actions. "I realized that you can't judge anyone, especially your parents, for what they did in the past," she told Us Weekly.

She married actor Adam Brody in 2014, and they are now parents to two children. Meester recently filmed the Netflix thriller "The Weekend Away" in Croatia, a role that highlighted the difficulties of balancing motherhood and a demanding acting career. "My job causes the biggest guilt because I want to be with my children. I love the time I spend with them. I love my job, but society often doesn't allow women to feel fully fulfilled as mothers and businesswomen," she shared with Entertainment Tonight.

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My job causes the biggest guilt because I want to be with my children. I love the time I spend with them. I love my job, but society often doesn't allow women to feel fully fulfilled as mothers and businesswomen.