CW’s Gossip Girl is headline-making. Although the show just used the banal formula in creating a hit teen drama—gorgeous casts, provocative content touching on teen issues, hot fashion—the popularity and buzz it has gained is extraordinary. If the hundreds of Gossip Girl fan sites and a hefty number of endorsement deals it is getting are any indication of the show’s overwhelming success, then Gossip Girl is a definite hit. Aside from leeching itself into pop culture, the hottest teen show on the planet has also launched the careers of Gossip Girl casts. Now, Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Taylor Momsen, Ed Westwick, Chace Crawford and Dan Humphrey are not only known all over the world but are also considered to be the ace players in the team of young actors in this generation.

Blake Lively
Born on Aug. 25, 1987 in Tarzana, California, Blake Christina Lively grew up in a family who has been highly involved in showbiz. She debuted as an actress when she was 10 and played the role of the Tooth Fairy in the film, The Sandman, a film directed by her father, Ernie Lively.  Although acting took a backseat because of her studies, Blake returned to showbiz big time when she bagged the role of Bridget in the teen movie, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Her performance in the film paved the way for other projects like Accepted, Simon Says, Elvis and Anabelle, and her upcoming movie, New York, I Love You. Her role in Gossip Girl as Serena van der Woodsen also won her fans all over the world.

Penn Badgley
Penn Badgley heed the call of acting at a very young. When he moved to Washington, he juggled schooling with his passion for the theater and became part of the Seattle Children’s Theater. Starting out as a child star, Badgley appeared in TV series including Will and Grace, What I Like About You and Daddios. He also did some voice work for video game, Mario Golf 64. Badgley also appeared in movies like John Tucker Must Die and is soon to star in the remake of The Stepfather.

In 2002, he starred in Do Over and played Joel Larsen, a 34-year old man who gets a second shot to straighten his life through a weird accident that brings him back to 1980 as a 14-year-old. He also appeared in another show, Drive Through, with his future Gossip castmate, Leighton Meester. As part of the Gossip Girl casts, Badgley played the role of Dan Humphrey, Serena’s love interest. In real life, he is dating Blake Lively who also happens to star as Serena in the show.

Leighton Meester
Leighton’s statuesque glamour was first seen in several TV series such as CSI, Seventh Heaven, Law and Order, Simple Rules and House. Aside from being glammed up for her role as the manipulative Blair Waldorf in Gossip Girl, Leighton Meester is also an aspiring singer/songwriter. In fact, she’s already working on her album in between her GG responsibilities. The album is said to be an eclectic mix of RnB, soul and pop according to the star.

Taylor Momsen
At a tender age of 15, model/actress Taylor Momsen has already cast her name as one of the most famous upcoming teen stars thanks to her role as Jenny Humphrey in Gossip Girl. Before being part of the Gossip Girl casts, she started out in movies like How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Spy Kids 2, and Underdog. Due to her model-like appearance, Momsen was absorbed by IMG as part of their roster of models.

Chace Crawford
Chace Crawford was born and raised in Texas to Chris and Dana. He was very active in high school playing for the varsity team and dabbling in performing arts. He moved to California to attend Pepperdine University where he took broadcast journalism as his major.

Before hitting off as Nate Archibald in Gossip Girl, Chace starred in few successful movies like The Covenant, and Long Lost Son. He also got involved in movies like Loaded, and The Haunting of Molly Harty.

Ed Westwick
Born in England, this 21-year old actor boosted his Hollywood career when he joined the Gossip Girl castsl. Born to a psychologist mother and a business lecturer father in Hertfordshire, Ed Westwick was encouraged to explore his passions for music and acting. He attended the National Youth Theater in London, and appeared in local Brit TV shows Doctors, Casualty, and Afterlife. He broke into the movies with roles in Breaking and Entering and Son of Rambow. He is currently working on 2 movies, Donnie Darko and 100 Feet. Ed is also very much involved in music being the vocalist of a London-based band, Filthy Youth. In between Gossip Girl shootings, he goes back to London to make music with his band.