Ed Westwick as Chuck Bass

Ed Westwick stars as Chuck Bass in The CW's hit drama "Gossip Girl," from Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage ("The O.C."), based on the tremendously popular book series about privileged teenagers in New York City.

An emerging British actor trained at The National Youth Theatre in London, Westwick appeared in two high profile features. He played the role of Alex in Alfonso Cuarón's "Children of Men," opposite Clive Owen and Julianne Moore. Westwick was also seen playing the role of Zoran in Anthony Mighella's "Breaking and Entering," opposite Jude Law, Juliette Binoche and Robin Wright Penn. His film credits also include "Son of Rambow."

His additional television credits include guest-starring roles in "Californication," "Afterlife" for ITV1, "Casualty" for the BBC, "Doctors" for the BBC and "Dream Team" for Sky One.

When not filming "Gossip Girl" in New York City, Westwick resides outside London.

LEIGHTON MEESTER as BLAIR WALDOR

Leighton Meester stars as Blair Waldorf in The CW's hit drama "Gossip Girl," from Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage ("The O.C."), based on the tremendously popular book series about privileged teenagers in New York City.

During the "Gossip Girl" hiatus, Meester completed production on two films. She will be co-starring alongside Cam Gigandet and Minka Kelly in "The Roommate." In the film, Meester plays Rebecca, a college student who becomes obsessed with her roommate, Sara, played by Kelly. "The Roommate" comes out next year. In "Date Night," Meester will appear alongside Steve Carell and Tina Fey in the film where a regular date night becomes more than one couple expected. "Date Night" will be released April 9, 2010.

As if filming the two movies wasn't enough, Meester began recording her new album which will be released on Universal Republic this year.

After making her television debut when she was 13 on "Law & Order," she got her breakout role in 2004 with a recurring role as the Britney Spears-like singer Justine Chapin on the hit series "Entourage," a role she will reprise in September 2008. She continued to work steadily with guest-star roles on series like "8 Simple Rules," "Numbers" and "CSI Miami," and has had recurring roles on popular series such as "24," "Veronica Mars," "Shark" and "House." In addition, she had regular roles on "Tarzan" and "Surface."

Meester made her film debut in the feature "Hangman's Curse," based on the best-selling novel by Frank Peretti. She also recently starred in the independent film "Flourish" with future "House" co-stars Jennifer Morrison and Jesse Spencer, and in the drama "Inside." Meester's additional feaure films roles include the dramedy "The Beautiful Ordinary," the horror/comedy "Drive-Thru" and the thriller "Dead of Night."

Raised in Marco Island, Florida, Meester became interested in acting when she appeared in a local production of "The Wizard of Oz." When she was 11, she moved with her family to New York City and soon after began working as a model with Wilhemina, booking a Ralph Lauren campaign shot by Bruce Webber and working with then photographer Sophia Coppola.

When not on the set, Meester passionately pursues her talent for music and creative writing. She even recorded a song for the soundtrack of her film "Drive-Thru." She currently resides in New York.

gossip girl

Gossip Girl is an American teen drama series based on the book series of the same name written by Cecily von Ziegesar. The series was created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, and premiered on The CW on September 19, 2007. Narrated by the omniscient yet unseen blogger "Gossip Girl", voiced by Kristen Bell, the series revolves around the lives of privileged teenagers attending an elite private school on Manhattan's Upper East Side in New York City.

The series begins with the return of Serena van der Woodsen ( Blake Lively) from a mysterious stay at a boarding school in Connecticut. Blair Waldorf ( Leighton Meester), who creators describe as the queen at the center of their chess game, is a longtime friend and occasional rival of Serena's, and the Queen Bee of Manhattan's social scene. The story also follows Chuck Bass ( Ed Westwick), the resident bad boy of the Upper East Side, Nate Archibald ( Chase Crawford), Chuck's best friend, and certain outsiders who become part of the turbulent Manhattan scene: Dan Humphrey(Penn Badgley), Nate's friend and Serena's on-again, off-again ex; Vanessa Abrams (Jessica Szohr), Dan's best friend; and Dan's ambitious sister Jenny Humphrey (Taylor Momsen).

Hachiko a dog's story

In 1924, Hachikō was brought to Tokyo by his owner, Hidesaburo Ueno, a professor in the agriculture department at the University of Tokyo. During his owner's life Hachikō saw him out from the front door and greeted him at the end of the day at the nearby Shibuya Station. The pair continued their daily routine until May 1925, when Professor Ueno did not return on the usual train one evening. The professor had suffered a stroke at the university that day. He died and never returned to the train station where his friend was waiting.

Hachikō was given away after his master's death, but he routinely escaped, showing up again and again at his old home. Eventually, Hachikō apparently realized that Professor Ueno no longer lived at the house. So he went to look for his master at the train station where he had accompanied him so many times before. Each day, Hachikō waited for Professor Ueno to return. And each day he did not see his friend among the commuters at the station.

The permanent fixture at the train station that was Hachikō attracted the attention of other commuters. Many of the people who frequented the Shibuya train station had seen Hachikō and Professor Ueno together each day. They brought Hachikō treats and food to nourish him during his wait.

This continued for nine years, with Hachikō appearing only in the evening time, precisely when the train was due at the station.