As one of the most iconic teen TV shows of the late 2000s and early 2010s,Gossip Girlgarnered many fans during its dramatic six-year run and raised many questions about theidentity of the eponymous Gossip Girl. Within the show, Gossip Girl was primarilya website dedicated to spilling the secrets of wealthy Manhattan teens, but she also provided informative voice-overs for the audience. Gossip Girl was there to narrate the show’s most dramatic scenes,reminding audiences that each character’s secrets were never truly their own.

DuringGossip Girl’s six seasonson The CW, fans speculated about the identity of Gossip Girl, thoughthis secret would only be revealed in the final minutes of the series finale. The culprit was almost caught and revealed on several occasions, and many of the characters openly suspected each other of being Gossip Girl. However, the well-known actor who provided the voice of Gossip Girl stayed the same throughout the show and even continued her role in the2021Gossip Girlrevival on HBO Max.

A collaged image of Ed Westwick, Blake Lively, and Leighton Meester in Gossip Girl against a neon background

Kristen Bell Is Gossip Girl’s Narrator For The Original Show & HBO Max’s 2021 Revival

She Told Audiences The Characters' Secrets As They Were Revealed

From the outset, Gossip Girl’s narration provided the tone for the show.Kristen Bell’s voice-overs added drama and mystery to the secrets being revealed and often helped move the plot forward. Additionally, by using someone who never appeared onscreen as the voice of the titular character, the show’s creators were able to keepGossip Girl’s true identity, Penn Badgely’s Dan Humphrey- a secret for the entirety of the show’s six-year run.

Beyond the final reveal of Gossip Girl at the end of the original series, Kristen Bell also served as the narrator for the revival series

Gossip Girl Poster

Beyond the final reveal of Gossip Girl at the end of the original series, Kristen Bell also served as the narrator for the revival series which began airing on HBO Max in 2021.Gossip Girl’s revival took a different approach from the original,revealing the identity of the new Gossip Girlearly into the first season. However, as in the original series,Gossip Girl social media posts were read aloud to the audience by Bell, which helped recreate the sensation of secrets being revealed.

Kristen Bell’s Gossip Girl Cameo Explained

Bell Made A Brief Appearance As Herself In The CW’s Finale

Before becoming the voice of Gossip Girl,Kristen Bell was a teen icon in her own right, making her a fitting choice to star in another teen show. Bell rose to prominence with the role of Veronica Mars in the eponymous TV show, which aired in the years leading up toGossip Girl’s release. While fans ofVeronica Marslikely recognized her voice, her cameo further solidified her place in teen television. Moreover, since the original show, Bell’s career has flourished, so it is no surprise that the revival would want her to return.

How Old The Gossip Girl Cast Was Compared To Their Characters

Gossip Girl featured a cast full of talented young actors who went on to have impressive careers, and many of them got their start on the show.

During the final episode of The CW’sGossip Girl, it’s mentioned that there are auditions for aGossip Girlshow within the show that’s based on Dan Humphrey’s writing. In this scene,Bell addresses the camera with her iconic Gossip Girl introduction, then resumes conversation with fellow actor Rachel Bilson, each playing themselves. While the two actors practice their lines asBlair and Serena, they receive the information of Gossip Girl’s identity at the same time as the audience. This creates a funny added layer to the final reveal ofGossip Girland helps bring the show to an appropriate end.

Gossip Girl

Cast

Set in New York, 2021’s Gossip Girl chronicles the lives of a new generation of private school teenagers who navigate social dynamics and scandals. Through the pervasive influence of social media, their secrets are exposed, while the anonymous titular blogger reveals the complexities of their intertwined relationships.