Nate & Serena Forever? Inside Chace Crawford And Blake Lively's Friendship And Explosive 2024/2025 Careers

The enduring fascination with the original *Gossip Girl* cast remains as strong as ever, and the latest updates on Chace Crawford and Blake Lively in late 2024 and early 2025 prove why. While their characters, Nate Archibald and Serena van der Woodsen, had one of the most tumultuous on-again, off-again relationships on the Upper East Side, the actors themselves have navigated two very different but equally successful paths in Hollywood since the series wrapped in 2012.

Today, as of December 2025, the narrative is less about their fictional romance and more about their individual careers—Lively as a major romantic drama star and producer, and Crawford as a celebrated anti-hero in a superhero satire—and the occasional, heartwarming throwback that reminds fans of their iconic CW days. Recent social media posts and interviews have reignited interest in their on-set dynamics and what their lives look like now, a full decade-plus after they left the Met steps.

The A-List Dossier: Blake Lively and Chace Crawford Biography & Profile

Before diving into their current projects and enduring friendship, a look at the core profiles of these two former Upper East Siders provides the essential context for their post-*Gossip Girl* trajectories.

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• Blake Lively (Serena van der Woodsen)
  • Full Name: Blake Ellender Lively (née Brown)
  • Date of Birth: August 25, 1987
  • Hometown: Los Angeles, California
  • Spouse: Ryan Reynolds (married 2012)
  • Children: Four daughters (names include James, Inez, Betty, and one unnamed)
  • Notable Roles: *The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants* (2005), *Gossip Girl* (2007–2012), *The Town* (2010), *A Simple Favor* (2018), *The Rhythm Section* (2020), *It Ends with Us* (2024).
  • Recent Updates: Starred in the highly successful film adaptation of Colleen Hoover's *It Ends with Us* (2024) and is set to produce and star in the action rom-com *The Survival List*.
• Chace Crawford (Nate Archibald)
  • Full Name: Christopher Chace Crawford
  • Date of Birth: July 18, 1985
  • Hometown: Lubbock, Texas
  • Relationship Status: Dating model Kelsey Merritt (confirmed 2024)
  • Notable Roles: *Gossip Girl* (2007–2012), *The Covenant* (2006), *What to Expect When You're Expecting* (2012), *Undrafted* (2016), *The Boys* (2019–Present).
  • Recent Updates: Continues to garner critical acclaim and fan attention for his role as the narcissistic superhero "The Deep" in the Amazon Prime Video series *The Boys*. His relationship with Kelsey Merritt was confirmed publicly in 2024.

The Truth About the 'Gossip Girl' Set Hookups and Drama

The chemistry between Nate Archibald and Serena van der Woodsen was undeniable, leading many fans and tabloids to speculate about a real-life romance between Chace Crawford and Blake Lively. However, both actors have consistently maintained that their relationship was, and remains, a close professional friendship.

The real romantic drama on set involved other cast members, most notably Blake Lively and Penn Badgley (Dan Humphrey), who dated for several years during the show’s run. In recent years, Chace Crawford has been open about the unique situation of watching his co-stars navigate a real-life romance and subsequent breakup while still having to film intimate scenes together.

In a bombshell revelation in 2024, Crawford confirmed that he *did* hook up with a co-star during the show's run, though he did not name the individual. This admission instantly sent the fandom into a frenzy, with many speculating who the mystery cast member might be—but the consensus among those close to the production is that the core relationship between Blake Lively and Chace Crawford was purely platonic, built on mutual respect and shared experience.

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The two often reflect on their time on the show with fondness, but also with a sense of relief at having moved past the intense media scrutiny of their early twenties. Lively, in late 2024, delighted fans by sharing rare, behind-the-scenes set photos from their *Gossip Girl* days, including candid shots with Crawford, Ed Westwick (Chuck Bass), and the rest of the original cast, confirming that the bonds forged on the Upper East Side still hold value.

From High School Heartthrobs to Hollywood Powerhouses: Their 2025 Trajectories

The biggest difference between Chace Crawford and Blake Lively today lies not in their friendship, but in the distinct, powerful career paths they have carved for themselves, shedding their "CW Pretty Boy" and "It Girl" labels.

Blake Lively: Director, Producer, and Romantic Drama Queen

Blake Lively has cemented her status as a multi-hyphenate star and a massive box office draw. Her career strategy has cleverly balanced high-profile roles with a focus on family life with her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and their four children.

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The biggest news for Lively in 2024 was her starring role as Lily Bloom in the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover's best-selling novel, *It Ends with Us*. The movie, which premiered to massive commercial success, has dominated streaming charts and proven her ability to carry a major, emotionally complex drama. Looking ahead to 2025, she is set to expand her production credits by starring in and producing the Lionsgate action rom-com, *The Survival List*, showcasing her intention to take more control behind the camera. This pivot from acting to producing and directing (she made her directorial debut with Taylor Swift's "I Bet You Think About Me" music video) highlights her evolution into a true Hollywood powerhouse.

Chace Crawford: The Deep’s Dark Redemption and New Romance

Chace Crawford faced a challenging period post-*Gossip Girl*, struggling to find roles that could detach him from the clean-cut Nate Archibald persona. He has openly discussed the feeling of being in "CW Pretty Boy" jail.

His career redemption came in 2019 with the role of Kevin Moskowitz, a.k.a. The Deep, in the critically acclaimed and highly popular Amazon series, *The Boys*. As the narcissistic, marine-life-communicating superhero, Crawford has showcased a darker, more comedic, and far more complex side of his acting, earning him a new wave of fans and critics who now see him as a serious comedic and dramatic actor. His performance as The Deep is arguably the most successful post-*Gossip Girl* role among the male cast.

In his personal life, 2024 brought confirmation of a new high-profile romance. Crawford, who turned 40 in 2025, publicly confirmed his relationship with Filipino model and former Victoria's Secret Angel, Kelsey Merritt. The couple has been spotted together frequently at high-profile events, including the US Open, and shared photos on social media, marking a new, public chapter in Crawford’s romantic life.

The Enduring Legacy: Why Fans Still Love Nate and Serena

The reason the names "Chace Crawford" and "Blake Lively" remain so tightly linked in the public imagination is simple: they embodied the aspirational, scandalous world of the Upper East Side. Their characters, Nate and Serena, represented a golden-age Hollywood pairing—beautiful, privileged, and constantly entangled in dramatic love triangles with Dan Humphrey and Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester). The show's success launched their careers, and the collective experience created a bond that time, marriage, and new career directions have not broken.

In an age where celebrity friendships often dissolve, the occasional public shout-out, social media throwback, or interview comment from either Crawford or Lively about their shared past is enough to send the *Gossip Girl* fandom into a nostalgic frenzy. Their individual successes today—Lively as a mogul in her own right, and Crawford as a celebrated anti-hero—prove that sometimes, the best friends from high school are the ones who truly understand the journey.