September marks our annual TV issue, so it's only fitting one of our favorite CW stars takes the cover: Jessica Szohr, the former model who quickly became a modern American sweetheart, thanks to Gossip Girl and her don't-mess-with-me portrayal of the artsy Brooklyn teenager, Vanessa.
We shot the Wisconsin native in New York City, between taping sessions of the show that launched her career.
On filming at 2 am in a lake for her new movie, Piranhas 3D:
"I was actually like, I’m going to be attacked!"
Fun Fact: Producers originally didn’t want to cast her on Gossip Girl because her straight, shiny hair was too preppy.
“I told my agent, you send every picture of my hair short, curly, black, blonde, I don’t care.”
On whose Gossip Girl clothes she would steal.
“I personally think Jenny has the best wardrobe on the show – it’s kind of grungy, but girly, without being too put together. Blair is too structured and perfect, Serena is always glammed up. Vanessa’s waaaay too much with every color and pattern. It sounds like I’m being negative about them all, but I’m not – I think they all look great. But if I was going to go shopping for [me], I’d head straight into Jenny’s closet.”
On potential Season Four plot lines:
“I keep saying they have to bring in other characters because how many times can six characters date and hook up with each other before it gets real old?”
--INTERVIEW BY ELLEN CARPENTER
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