Leighton Meester covered the September 2008 issue of Gotham magazine. From what I had seen of the photo shoot I knew I would have to post the scans. Here is highlights of the interview that was in the magazine.

This is our fall fashion issue, and I noticed that the clothes you picked for this shoot are unlike the things your character wears. But has being on the show influenced how you dress in your personal life?: Yeah, of course, of course. It makes you much more aware of what you put on, aware of trends and styles. And in a photo shoot, especially one like this, it’s kind of cool to try something new. I’m not trying to go overtly sexy or too fashion-y. I have a lot more knowledge of designers and things like that. But I think it has a lot less to do with what designers you wear and what the trends are than who you are and what you feel good in. I still feel good in jeans and T-shirts for every day, so that hasn’t changed. But I like dressing up more.

Blair is flawed, and real, and she tries—which makes her interesting and appealing. There isn’t that expectation of earnest virtue from her that there is from Serena.: It’s very human. And I think that’s why people like Blair, even if she is the biggest bitch you’ve ever seen. Everything she plans falls apart. Her relationship with Serena is kind of unfortunate, because it could be so good. Blair’s intentions are always good, but when you piss her off, it’s really bad.

And when you’re that age, everything takes on a heightened sense of importance.: Your boyfriend seems like the last guy you’ll ever date, and your best friend—it’s the end of the world if she’s mad at you, and you have to get invited to suchand- such party. Blair is very wrong for being so jealous, and Serena is wrong for being so sensitive.

Why do you think people want to make that rivalry translate into your and Blake’s real lives?: I couldn’t tell you, to be honest. I think it does have to do with being a girl. And I think that people are just not creative. They want us to be our characters on the show. They want us to all be dating each other and fighting with each other, when in reality it’s a TV show.

When in reality, only some of you are dating and fighting with each other.: [Laughs] Well, you know what? I can’t even think about that anymore. There’s really nothing that I can say, I feel like I’ve said it a million times: It’s not true. And the thing is, once you read something that isn’t true about yourself, you never believe anything that any of those people write ever again—about anybody else, or yourself…. People ask me about it all the time. We work together every day, and we do get along.

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