Actress Blake Lively’s anniversary tribute to Gossip Girl blended wholesome behind-the-scenes memories with a moving tribute to her late co-star and friend Michelle Trachtenberg
Blake Lively has marked a milestone for the series that made her a household name, celebrating 18 years since Gossip Girl first aired with a collection of unseen photographs and a heartfelt tribute to her late co-star Michelle Trachtenberg.
On Sunday, the actress, 38, shared a carousel of images to Instagram, pairing the nostalgic post with Peter Bjorn and John’s 2006 hit Young Folks. “The summer Gossip Girl turned 18…” she captioned the photos, which offered fans a candid glimpse at the behind-the-scenes life on the iconic set.
The photos showed playful and wholesome moments with her fellow cast members, including Leighton Meester, 39, played her on-screen best friend, Blair Waldorf.
In one frame, the pair embraced during filming, which was a positive reminder of the central friendship that surrounded the much-loved series.
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Other snaps revealed off-duty antics between the cast and crew, including a bowling alley birthday party, and a day spent bouncing around a giant inflatable with Lively’s co-star, Chace Crawford, 40.
Also featured was Ed Westwick, 38, in a tongue-in-cheek shot where he and Lively matched in crisp white shirts, as well as Penn Badgley, 38, who posed with the actress while she wore Serena van der Woodsen’s iconic gold gown.
However, it was the inclusion of Michelle Trachtenberg that struck an emotional chord with loyal fans of the hit show.
Trachtenberg, who played scheming Georgina Sparks in 28 episodes, died earlier this year at the age 39 from complications linked to diabetes.
In her tribute at the time, Lively described her friend as unforgettable: “She was electricity. You knew when she entered a room because the vibration changed.”
Reflecting on Trachtenberg’s positive energy and big heart, Lively said at the time: “Everything she did, she did 200%. She laughed the fullest at someone’s joke, she faced authority head on when she felt something was wrong, she cared deeply about her work.
“She was fiercely loyal to her friends and brave for those she loved, she was big and bold and distinctly herself.”
Calling her “a deeply sensitive and good person,” Lively urged that her colleague’s work and “huge heart” should be remembered by those fortunate enough to know her.
Speaking more broadly about her years on Gossip Girl, Lively likened the experience to a kind of education. “It was like college,” she said, describing the show as a place where castmates became “family.”
Created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, Gossip Girl premiered in 2007 and ran for six seasons, spanning 121 episodes.
It launched its young cast including Lively, Meester, Badgley, Crawford and Westwick into international fame, cementing itself as a pop culture moment of the late 2000s.
Eighteen years later, Lively’s photo archive served as a celebration of the show’s legacy and huge popularity as the younger generations continue to be hooked to the noughties show.
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