The 'EXmas' star opens up about her unconventional holiday plans with her husband Adam Brody and their two kids.
If life was an episode of Gossip Girl, our holiday plans would consist of dining with friends and family (estranged or not) in our Upper East Side penthouse with a boujee, chef-prepared feast while wearing our finest designer cashmere, Christian Louboutin booties, and German stockings (perhaps gifted by one Chuck Bass). Drama would ensue and we’d all storm away from the table to the tune of Jason Derulo’s 2009 hit “Whatcha Say?”
However, life is not a hit CW show — at least for most of us (hats off to anyone celebrating in a lavish NYC skyscraper). That famous (and now-viral) Thanksgiving scene isn’t even a reality for Leighton Meester, who played UES society girl Blair Waldorf. Meester tells InStyle she can’t even remember the storylines of those beloved holiday scenes.
“I know that we always did those episodes and that those were big [days] where every cast member came in for the party scenes,” she recalls. “The off-camera life of that show was what impacted me so much more.”
This year, Meester will be celebrating with her husband (fellow mid-aughts star) Adam Brody and their two kids in Los Angeles, where they’ll go to the beach, roast marshmallows, and order Chinese food on Christmas Eve. While it’s not your most conventional Christmas itinerary, Meester says that she and Brody do incorporate quintessential festive activities like crafting DIY ornaments, baking, and opening presents. But, their little family is still working on solidifying their own traditions (after all, their kids “haven't been alive long enough” to create any).
“My family, we live in L.A., so we're not going to have a snowy Christmas,” she says. “My daughter [and I] bake a lot and try new things. It’s super fun to decorate gingerbread houses and cookies. It's just a cozy, nice time with family that you get to wind down and relax and be with each other.”
Of course, Santa will pay a visit to the Meester-Brody household. “Obviously, when Santa's coming, that's the most exciting part,” she says. “It's very hard to wait for Santa, so we do previews of certain presents. We get pre-presents.”
In addition to the extra family time, the actress has a lot to celebrate this season. Last month, Meester debuted EXmas, her new Christmas movie on Amazon Freevee. And, unlike her own wholesome holiday agenda, the new flick mixes the charm of a Hallmark favorite with the drama of Gossip Girl.
The film follow’s Meester’s Ali, who decides to spend Christmas with the family of her ex-fiancé Graham (played by Robbie Amell), as she is under the impression he will not be home for the holidays. But when Graham decides to make the trip last minute, they’re both shocked to find each other under the same roof. The resentful exes devise a plan to send the other packing, and things (unsurprisingly) get messy when old feelings arise.
Many people can relate to the notion of spending the yuletide festivities with someone who pushes their buttons. It can make a typically cheerful time much more stressful (in other words, their presence is not a present).
“It's a time that there is pressure to enjoy, be joyful, and spend all your time together, but that's when a lot of chaos comes out and a lot of different opinions,” Meester explains. “I mean, everyone's got different opinions, different personalities, and different quirks. Obviously, your family can get to you more than a lot of other people.”
Being forced to hang out with an ex isn’t a reality for most people (thank goodness), but the situation makes for comedy gold. “That would be really, really awkward, but there's humor that carries it,” Meester says. “I felt very secure in portraying it, knowing that our differences weren't threatening, and we could explore them in a civil way.”
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When it comes to remaining close with a former partner’s family, Meester empathizes with her character. It’s a weird concept to go from being in love with someone to never speaking to them or their family again. “Does that person and their whole family just die to you?” Meester ponders. “You understand why it's so wonderful to spend time with them and why all the years together really made an impact, and it's just hard to [say] bye.”
Luckily, Meester is happily married and doesn’t have to worry about the complexities of dating and breaking up over Christmas. Maybe, she says, the whole family will even venture up north for some skiing. But don’t get it twisted: in Blair Waldorf fashion, she’s more excited for the après-ski style than the actual sport. “I've never gone skiing or snowboarding before, and I think I'm going to try it,” she says. “I mean, I know that this isn't the number one most important thing, but I'm excited for a ski outfit.”