Hollywood star about to have the comeback she deserves in ‘charming’ police drama-Pierra Willix-Entertainment – Metro

More than a decade after Gossip Girl ended, Leighton Meester is finally getting her career resurgence (Picture: CW/ Planet Photos)

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)

‘Leighton Meester back on The CW? The world is healing,’ Char added.

Speaking to TVLine about Good Cop/ Bad Cop, Leighton said she was excited to work on a comedy.

‘It is a detour a little bit, giving myself a little bit of something different is always a really great challenge for me,’ she said.

‘But at the same time, I really was excited to take on a comedy again because it’s just such a fun space to live in. And when I read the script, I, actually, was really laughing and excited to say the lines as they were, and then also collaborate and enjoy playing with it. So that’s kind of the best of all worlds.’

Last month her old music also saw a resurgence when fans supported her after the LA wildfires destroyed her family home.

Last year her husband, The O.C. star Adam Brody also saw a massive career boost with the success of Nobody Wants This (Picture: Gilbert Flores/ GG2025/ Penske Media via Getty Images)

After many posted about her songs online, Leighton’s 2014 album Heartstrings began charting again, reaching number 21 on iTunes.

In 2024 her husband, who played Seth Cohen on The O.C. from 2003 until 2007 starred alongside Kristen Bell in the break-out Netflix hit Nobody Wants This.

The series, which has a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, was called ‘hilarious and relatable’.

The performance also earnt the actor a Golden Globe nomination. It’s since been renewed for a second season.

Good Cop/ Bad Cop is streaming on The CW in the US. It’s unclear when it will be made available in the UK.

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