What Happened to the Star of Gossip Girl?

Jessica Szohr began in modeling before transitioning to acting in 2003. Her big break came by chance. Szohr recounted to The Untitled Magazine in 2016 that after spending a weekend at the creator’s house, her manager called and said, “’There’s this pilot for ‘Gossip Girl’… They want you to come in and meet tomorrow.’”

Initially set to appear in just a few episodes, Szohr ended up becoming a series regular. “I was only supposed to do three, four episodes,” she told Teen Vogue in 2022. She become friends with the cast and stayed on the show longer. Szohr was introduced several episodes into Season 1 but left after Season 4, though she made a cameo in the series finale.

Szohr caught Hollywood’s eye even if fans weren’t fond of her “Gossip Girl” character. In 2013, she landed a major TV role in the Fox drama “The List,” where she was set to play Special Agent Natalie Voss opposite Michael Peña. Unfortunately, Fox passed on the pilot.

That same year, she kept busy with roles in several films, guest spots on TV shows, and even a cameo in Taylor Swift’s “22” music video. “We were just in Malibu, eating pizza all day, dancing around, and jumping on the trampoline,” Szohr told Us Weekly about the video shoot.

Jessica Szohr’s personal life also made headlines. After dating NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers in 2011, they reportedly reconnected a few years later. They were spotted together at a party in 2014. An insider told Us Weekly, “They got back together over the holidays… They fell right back into it.”

Though neither Szohr nor Rodgers have publicly spoken about their relationship, they seem to remain on good terms. In December 2017, Szohr attended Rodgers’ birthday celebration.

Jessica Szohr stayed professionally active after “Gossip Girl.” In 2013, she appeared in “The Internship” as Marielena. Though initially hesitant, she agreed to the role after assurance from director Shawn Levy. In a 2016 interview with The Untitled Magazine, she explained, “When I read it I was like, ‘I’m not going to go in there naked and topless,’ and basically, Shawn Levy was like, ‘What if you’re fully covered? Will you come and do it?'”

The following year, Szohr secured roles in several films and TV shows. In 2015, she played a recurring role on USA Network’s “Complications,” portraying Gretchen. “Everything about Gretchen was awesome to me,” she told SheKnows. “We are both caretakers… I always wanted to make sure they were OK.”

Jessica Szohr continued to make headlines with her relationships. After dating her “Gossip Girl” co-star Ed Westwick in an on-again, off-again relationship, she moved on to NFL star Scotty McKnight in 2015. They kept their relationship private, frequently appearing on McKnight’s Instagram. An insider told E! News in 2015, “They are very cute together and they’re having lots of fun.”

In 2017, Szohr joined the cast of “Shameless” in Season 8. She played Nessa Chabon, one of Fiona Gallagher’s tenants. “I was always a fan of [‘Shameless’],… the actors are incredible, the writing’s amazing,” she told Cosmopolitan in 2017. Though she appeared in almost all of Season 8, her role was minor in Season 9. Following this, she set her sights on new projects.

In 2018, Szohr ventured into the sci-fi genre with Seth MacFarlane’s “The Orville,” playing Lieutenant Commander Talla Keyali. In an interview with BriefTake in 2019, she shared the fun of working with the cast while donning prosthetics for her role. “It’s really fun working with everyone. Everyone brings their own little thing to the set,” she said.

Szohr was instantly sold on the project after discussing MacFarlane’s vision. “The social issues that he touches on with this show are so amazing and genius,” she told TVLine. As of this writing, “The Orville” hasn’t been renewed for a 4th season, but there’s optimism about its return.

The pandemic delayed filming for “The Orville” between its 2nd and 3rd seasons, but Szohr had other things keeping her busy. In 2019, she revealed her relationship with NHL player Brad Richardson. They welcomed their daughter, Bowie Ella Richardson, in January 2021.

After giving birth, Szohr shared a body-positive message on Instagram. “Still blows my mind that I grew a little human inside me… my body is resilient and strong,” she wrote. Reflecting on motherhood, she told “On with Mario Lopez Interviews” in 2022, “It is very fun … Bowie’s a very good baby… she’s funny.”

Szohr will forever be linked to her “Gossip Girl” character Vanessa Abrams. Embracing this part of her career, she started hosting an iHeartRadio podcast called “XOXO with Jessica Szohr” in January 2022. Initially a rewatch show, it evolved into interviews with cast and creators. “It’s bringing back all these like warm, fuzzy feelings,” she told Teen Vogue. The podcast concluded in January 2023.

After three years of dating, Brad Richardson proposed to Szohr in 2022. She shared the happy news on Instagram, showcasing her engagement ring. Reflecting on the proposal, she told Access Hollywood, “It caught me off guard… I had eye cream on and was going to bed… he was like, ‘Hey, we need to talk,'” which led to the proposal.

As of now, the wedding date is yet to be announced, but it seems to be near with a bachelorette party held in July 2024.

Despite her busy personal life, Szohr continues her acting career. In 2022, she starred in the Discovery+ made-for-TV movie “Designing Christmas.” During a TV Insider interview, she shared insights on portraying a renovation show host. “We were sent a link to renovation shows to show us how we should talk to the camera,” she explained. Szohr hinted about a possible sequel but remained coy: “Maybe. Maybe not. Never say never.”

Szohr has two upcoming projects: Jamie Foxx’s “All-Star Weekend” and a horror film “Reapers Night.”