Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester has paid tribute to Michelle Trachtenberg, who worked alongside her on the TV show, following the news of her death earlier this year
Actor Leighton Meester has paid tribute to her Gossip Girl co-star Michelle Trachtenberg. She spoke about her former colleague in a newly-released interview in which she also addressed the “devastating” news of her death.
It was announced in February that Michelle had died, aged 39. It was later confirmed that her death had been a result of “complications of diabetes mellitus,” though it’s likely that the cause and manner of her death will be listed as “undetermined” on her death certificate due to her family objecting to an autopsy on religious grounds.
Two months on, Michelle’s former co-star Leighton, 39, has spoken about the loss in an interview with Flaunt. Michelle, whose other credits include Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Leighton worked together on Gossip Girl, with them having played Georgina Sparks and Blair Waldorf, respectively, on the CW show, which ran for six seasons from 2007 to 2012.
Speaking about her co-star’s death, Leighton told the outlet: “It’s devastating.” Paying tribute to Michelle, she continued: “She was a wonderful, talented person, and everyone loved her. It’s very, very sad for everyone who knew her.”
Leighton went on to suggest that she now realises that the beloved show’s legacy continues. She told the magazine that she now sees that the legacy lives on “in some way even more so than back then,” which she finds “incredible.”
And she isn’t the only former cast member to have paid tribute to Michelle following the news of her death. Earlier this year, Blake Lively, 37, who played Serena van der Woodsen, wrote about her late co-star in a post on Instagram.
Blake wrote: “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 proud to be a part of this community and industry as painful as it could be sometimes, she was fiercely loyal to her friends and brave for those she loved, she was big and bold and distinctly herself.”
She continued: “Time passes. You take for granted that you get the chance to see an old friend. To paraphrase, the real tragedies in life are the ones that blindside you on an idle Tuesday. Hold those you love and have loved dear.”
Blake concluded her post by writing: “The world lost a deeply sensitive and good person in Michelle. May her work and her huge heart be remembered by those who were lucky enough to experience her fire.”
Chace Crawford, 39 – who played Nate Archibald – was among the other Gossip Girl stars who paid tribute at the time too. He reflected on working with Michelle alongside photos of them together from over the years.
He wrote in the caption of his post: “Michelle was one of a kind. I rememeber her coming on set for the first time and just absolutely owning it. She was a force of nature and just so so unapologetically funny and magnetic. Remembering those years with a big smile. Just a terrible loss. Love you.”
Michelle’s death had been confirmed by a representative. They said at the time: “It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle has passed away. The family requests privacy for their loss. There are no further details at this time.”
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