“When I saw the pilot for Gossip Girl, I thought, There’s no way anyone actually had lives like that in high school. Now, I have friends who assure me that people certainly do.”
OD: What was your own high school life like?
JS: It was very different from the world on the show, that’s for sure. I’m from a very Midwest, family-oriented small town [Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin], and my friends were nothing like these kids that grew up on the Upper East Side. When I saw the pilot for Gossip Girl, I thought, There’s no way anyone actually had lives like that in high school. Now, I have friends who assure me that people certainly do.
OD: How did you get into acting?
JS: Most people say it was a specific actor or film that drove them into the business, but that wasn’t the case for me. When I moved to L.A. I decided to try an acting class... I did one scene, and it changed my life. I thought, If acting can make me feel like this, that’s all I want to do.
OD: Vanessa is a more down-to-earth Brooklyn girl, and Nate is from the privileged set. Do you see a John Hughes-style class struggle brewing?
JS: She doesn’t understand their world…. But she ends up really falling in love with the things that make them different. Vanessa doesn’t change for other people. She says what she thinks, and that’s a hard thing to do in high school.
OD: What do you make of the fan and media obsession with Gossip Girl?
JS: The show has blown up so much! We’re really thankful for our fans.
OD: Vanessa has gotten pushed around by the society girls a bit. Would you ever want to play a total mean girl?
JS: Definitely! It would be very fun to play someone totally different. I’m very defensive of Vanessa.... Inside, I do think she’s just a badass girl from Brooklyn.
OD: What’s it like working with Josh Schwartz?
JS: He’s incredible. I’m so happy I get to work on one of his projects. He and Stephanie [Savage] make a really good team. They have it all figured out, and know all the elements required to do the show the right way—the music, the actors, the writing, the way they portray New York City, it’s all extremely smart.
OD: Your character seems to be the most true to life in terms of clothing. Are you interested in the whole fashion world that is featured so prominently on Gossip Girl?
JS: Since I started working on the show, I’ve become much more aware of different designers; I had no idea who anyone was. The wardrobe team is amazing, so it’s been a real education.
OD: Fitness is very important to you. How do you keep in shape?
JS: For me, it’s about striking a balance. I try to work out a couple of times a week, and I watch what I eat, but then on the weekends I eat whatever I want. And it’s not like I’m out there doing anything too intense. I just like going on a 20-minute run here and there.
OD: You live, film, and work on a show all about New York. Did you ever think you’d be so wrapped up in the fabric of the city?
JS: There’s such an energy to New York City. I go to museums and hear bands all the time. It’s a very beautiful and fun place. I love to just wear my iPod, walk around Central Park, and get carried away.
