Why Leighton Meester Is Turning Down Big Roles For Mom Life
Leighton Meester is making it clear: her most important role isn’t on screen — it’s being a mom.
The Gossip Girl alum, now 39, recently opened up to Bustle about how motherhood has reshaped her career choices. Even though she’s had exciting offers, Leighton says she’s turned down multiple jobs to stay close to her two kids — 9-year-old daughter Arlo and a 4-year-old son — whom she shares with her husband, fellow actor Adam Brody.
“There’s been a lot of stuff that I haven’t done because I want to be with them,” Leighton shared. “I don’t like being away from them. I’m sure a lot of people feel this way, but I’m especially not into it.”
She’s not saying no to everything, though. “Obviously, for the very right thing, I would probably be like, ‘Let’s figure it out.’ I mean, I’m not going to leave my family for a year. We’re not doing that,” she stated.
Luckily, Leighton and Adam have figured out a rhythm that works for their family. “…We have a good system in place, where I can consider jobs carefully,” she said. “And every other piece of life.”
The couple’s focus on balance extends beyond the interview room. Back in February, Leighton appeared in a video for Vogue where she gave a rare update about their kids. She revealed that Arlo and her younger brother sometimes come along when their parents are working.
“My kids, they get what we do,” she said. “They come on location a lot.” But, she added, the key is that they also get plenty of mom-and-dad time outside of work. “They get a lot of us off set and a lot of us not working, which has always been a really big benefit for both of us.”
Adam, 45, echoed that sentiment when he appeared on Today with Hoda and Jenna in September. When asked whether he and Leighton run a strict or laid-back household, he smiled and said, “Of course I’m going to feel like it’s the perfect balance of all of it.”
He added that they try to be as honest as possible with their kids. “We have some very truthful conversations, for better or worse,” he said. “But other than that, I wouldn’t say overly strict.”
And while he’s not a full-on helicopter parent, Adam admits there’s still a bit of hovering — in a protective way. “There is a helicopter, you know, to keep them safe. I’m not overly strict, but I see the sharp edges, literally. And their heads aren’t gonna… I want to keep those heads maintained,” he joked.
