Leighton Meester has spoken out over Michelle Trachtenberg’s death for the first time, describing her as ‘wonderful’.
The 39-year-old – who starred in Gossip Girl and Buffy the Vampire Slayer – died at the end of February, after being found ‘unconscious and unresponsive’ by police in New York.
Her official cause of death was revealed last month as complications from diabetes mellitus.
Following the tragic news, many of the late actress’ colleagues and close friends shared tributes on social media, including Buffy’s Sarah Michelle Gellar and Gossip Girl stars Blake Lively and Ed Westwick.
In a new interview, Meester – who played Blair Waldorf opposite Trachtenberg’s Georgia Sparks in the teen drama – described the loss as ‘devastating’.
‘It’s devastating,’ she told Flaunt Magazine. ‘She was a wonderful, talented person, and everyone loved her. It’s very, very sad for everyone who knew her.
‘Now, I can see that [the show’s legacy] continues – in some ways, even more so than back then – to live on, which is incredible.’
Gossip Girl originally ran for six seasons between 2007 and 2012, with Penn Badgley, Chace Crawford, Taylor Momsen, Kelly Rutherford, Matthew Settle and Jessica Szohr also in the cast.
Trachtenberg became a firm fan favorite thanks to her role of a young socialite, who would regularly stir up trouble for her pals.
Unpacking the role in a 2009 interview, the late star revealed how much fun she had stepping into Georgina’s villainous heels.
‘It’s kind of easy to be evil when you’re saying evil things,’ she told Seventeen Magazine. ‘It’s definitely a lot more fun than playing the good girl. I love the reaction you get.
‘I never understood why some actors don’t want to play villains or evil characters.’
Trachtenberg’s Gossip Girl colleagues were among the first to publicly pay tribute after her death earlier this year.
‘Everything she did, she did 200%,’ Lively posted on Instagram.
‘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.
‘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.
‘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.’
‘So sad to hear of the passing of @MichelleTrachtenberg. Sending prayers,’ Westwick said on his own page.
Crawford added: ‘Michelle was one of a kind. I remember 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.’
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