Why Gossip Girl Recast Blair Waldorf’s Mom Eleanor After the Pilot Episode

Although gossip GirlThe pilot episode does a good job of introducing its main characters and their main relationships, producers weren’t convinced about the actress playing Blair’s mother. Compared to the rest of the best teen romance shows, gossip GirlThe first episode accurately establishes some of its most popular and enduring dynamics; mainly among teenagers, but also among parents. Workaholic fashion designer Eleanor Waldworf’s estranged relationship with her daughter is key to Blair Waldorf’s popular character arc in gossip Girlbut the first actress cast in the role offered a very different Eleanor.

Florencia Lozano was originally cast to play Eleanor Waldorf, but was quickly replaced by Margaret Colin. – who started playing the character for gossip Girlthere are six seasons. Although they were both cast in the same role, a considerable gap separated them, with Colin being 12 years older than Colin. Notably, the young actress’ version of Eleanor gave her and Blair’s relationship a more serious tone, while Colin brought vivacity and charm to the character.

Florencia Lozano reportedly looked too young to play Blair’s mother

Margaret Colin’s advanced age made more sense for the central conflict between the Waldorfs

Although Florencia Lozano was a convincing socialite, the Independence Day the actress was unfortunately not a convincing mother to an adult daughter. The producers decided to reformulate it as they thought the 37-year-old actress looked too young to play Leighton Meester’s character’s motherconsidering that the actress who plays her was 21 years old. Margaret Colin, on the other hand, was 49 when she booked the role (via Nicki Swift). The smaller age difference between Lozano and Leighton made the relationship a little more believable and easier to invest in.

gossip GirlThe decision to cast an older actress suits Eleanor Waldorf better, as she is presented as a famous and established fashion designer. Additionally, it adds more conflict to the relationship between Blair and her mother. Although one would expect a younger Eleanor to choose work over her daughter, having an older woman put her career instead of your family signals a deeper, more persistent problem. After the change, Blair went from being a neglected daughter to a girl ready to give up her long struggle to win her mother’s affection – making her character less tragic and more powerful.

How Eleanor Waldorf Changed After Gossip Girl Pilot Recast

Margaret Colin’s Charm Elevated Eleanor and Blair’s Dynamic on Gossip Girl

Not only did Eleanor Waldorf change physically after the recast, but her character was also changed. On the surface, she remained the same derogatory, passively manipulative, elegant woman, but Lozano and Colin portrayed strikingly different Eleanores. In the pilot, Eleanor’s controlling behavior acquires central focus, with Florencia Lozano playing a maternal solemnity that seems like jealousy of his daughter’s youth. As a result, interactions between the two produce a more serious tone.

When actress Margaret Colin reintroduced the character in episode 4, she was much more cheerful, although heavily focused on her work. The distant relationship between mother and daughter increased, as Eleanor was hinted at traveling a lot. Joining the worst things gossip Girl did with Blair Waldorf, the girl had to work harder to get her mother’s attention and affection.

Despite the greater conflict, the mother-daughter dynamic acquired a seductive potential. Even though Eleanor Waldorf remained cool to her daughter’s feelings and desires, Colin infused Eleanor with a charisma that made it impossible not to like her — maintain interest in the couple for gossip Girlof many seasons to come.

Source: Nicki Swift