One noughties teen drama crossover that does not get nearly enough attention is Adam Brody and Leighton Meester's relationship. Also known as Seth Cohen from The OC and Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl, who found love in real life and are happily married with two kids.
Now that Adam is finally getting his flowers as a romantic lead after starring in the Netflix rom-com Nobody Wants This alongside Kristen Bell, people are falling in love with him and Leighton in real life. But how did they fall in love with each other? How did they meet? And what have they said about each other in interviews?
In true Seth Cohen style, Adam has been singing his wife's praises during the press run of his new Netflix show. And, yes, it's just as sweet as it sounds. Despite being two of the main characters in two of the biggest teen dramas of the past 20 years, they have managed to keep most details about their marriage notoriously private. Here's what we know...
How did Adam Brody and Leighton Meester meet?
Speaking on Podcrushed with Penn Badgley – who, of course, was one of Leighton's on-screen partners in Gossip Girl – Adam recalled when they first met. 'At Canner's, the deli in Los Angeles, I used to eat there all the time and I was there on my own with maybe a friend or two, and Josh happened to be taking a bunch of the cast of Gossip Girl through after a prop party after your first up fronts, and that's when I saw her and I was smitten instantly.
'I was smitten for a long time. I didn't get to know her for many years after, even though we worked together briefly, and she's so lovely and she's so sweet, she's so nice, she's so good. Yet, you know, and this is to her credit, she remained elusive to me for so long. And aloof! I couldn't get a total read because even though she professes to have been interested in me and all those things, not only did she not pursue that, but she was perfectly willing to let that never happen. There were many false starts and she was perfectly willing to let that message in the bottle return to sea.'
At which point, Penn interjected and said, 'That means she already had faith in your love.'
When did Adam Brody and Leighton Meester get married?
The couple got married in a private ceremony in February 2014 after less than a year of dating.
Speaking on Today with Hodda and Jenna, Adam was asked the secret to their 10-year relationship and said, 'Pick someone good. Be in love with someone who's great and listen to them. If you're with someone great, then you're on third base. It takes sacrifice and humility and you have to grow together, and you have to be willing to grow because you're not going to be able to stay 100% right where you are, but yeah if you're with someone wonderful then you're on third...'
Leighton weight in on their relationship during an interview with E! News in November 2023 and said that, despite both being in the public eye, she and Adam have a 'normal relationship with all the good and the hard'. Adding, 'We're super, super lucky, and I think we recognise how lucky we are with one another.'
Do Adam Brody and Leighton Meester have kids?
Yes! They have two kids together - a nine-year-old daughter called Arlo and a four-year-old son whose name has not been revealed. When asked about their parenting style, Adam said, 'We're very honest. We have some truthful conversations, for better or worse, but other than that I wouldn't say we're overly strict. But I keep them safe!'
Nikki Peach is news and entertainment writer at Grazia UK, working across pop culture, TV and current affairs. She has also written for the i, i-D and the New Statesman Media Group and covers all things TV for Grazia (treating high and lowbrow shows with equal respect).