No matter how many times you visit the glittery, chaotic world of ‘Gossip Girl’, it never gets any less dramatic. Especially considering the number of out-of-pocket guest appearances the show had.
From musicians to actors and fashion icons, the series had a surprisingly star-studded guest list, and many unexpected faces popped up on the Upper East Side. Here are 10 such celebrities you might have completely forgotten who made an appearance on the show.
10. Tyra Banks
The iconic model appeared in the show in Season 3 as Ursula Nyquist, an actress starring alongside Olivia Burke, played by Hilary Duff. Ursula has a complete meltdown at a premiere after discovering that her big scene has been cut from the movie. Serena eventually manages to calm her down before she causes a scene in front of everyone.
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9. Sebastian Stan
It is hard to separate Sebastian Stan from his iconic role as the Winter Soldier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but long before Bucky Barnes, he was stirring up trouble on the Upper East Side. Stan played the role of Carter Baizen, a former classmate of the main characters who struggled with substance use and gambling addiction. As his debts pile up, Carter manipulates those around him to fund his addictions and stay afloat.
8. Robyn
A pop icon you would have never expected to see on this show, Robyn guest-starred as herself in Season 4, Episode 6, “War at the Roses”. She arrives as a surprise guest at Blair’s 20th birthday party, performing an acoustic, string-quartet rendition of her song “Hang With Me”. The episode also features “Dancing On My Own”, which is probably the most iconic music drop of the series.
7. Karlie Kloss
Karlie Kloss made one of her earliest television appearances in the Season 4 premiere, “Belles de Jour”, playing herself. The supermodel pops up at a glamorous high-society fashion party in New York, where she briefly crosses paths with the Upper East Side crowd. Amid all the drama, we can see Kloss looking for Blair’s mother, Eleanor Waldorf.
6. Britanny Snow
The ‘Pitch Perfect’ star Brittany Snow appeared in Season 3, Episode 24, “Valley Girls”, playing a young Lily Rhodes. After fleeing her boarding school and cutting ties with her parents, Lily moves in with her older sister Carol in Los Angeles. The episode served as a backdoor pilot for a planned ‘80s spin-off about Lily’s wild LA youth, though it never got picked up.
5. Melissa Fumero
We may forever know Melissa Fumero as the lovable Amy Santiago from ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’, but long before that fame, she played a completely different character in ‘Gossip Girl’. Fumero appeared in five episodes across Seasons 3 and 4 as Zoe, a gullible, preppy member of Blair’s entourage, dutifully following the queen bee across campus.
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4. Armie Hammer
Long before becoming a known name in Hollywood, Armie Hammer got a brief gig at ‘Gossip Girl’ in Season 2 as Gabriel Edwards. He becomes entangled with the Upper East Side crowd after he starts dating Serena during their vacation in Spain. But their whirlwind romance takes a sinister turn when Serena discovers Gabriel never truly loved her and was conspiring with his ex-girlfriend Poppy to swindle her family’s money.
3. Hilary Duff
A ‘Lizzie McGuire’ and ‘Gossip Girl’ crossover probably wasn’t on anyone’s bingo card, but Hillary Duff brought all her charms to the Upper East Side in a recurring role in season 3. She played Olivia Burke, a famous actress and NYU student who begins dating Dan Humphrey. However, their romance quickly gets very complicated when Olivia finds herself caught between Dan and Vanessa Abrams.
2. Kristen Bell
Kristen Bell’s voice is practically synonymous with ‘Gossip Girl’, thanks to her role as the show’s snarky, faceless narrator throughout all six seasons. But she also makes a brief on-screen appearance in the season finale. Bell appears as herself alongside Rachel Bilson, rehearsing for an audition to play Serena in the TV adaptation of Dan’s book, with Bilson auditioning for Blair.
1. Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga has done it all, from ruling the pop charts and earning Oscar nominations to launching her own beauty brand. The pop icon once even stopped by the Upper East Side. Gaga appeared in Season 3 of ‘Gossip Girl’ to perform her hit “Bad Romance” at NYU, after Blair Waldorf managed to pull off the ultimate campus booking.
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