I Love LA: Leighton Meester on Finding Safety in Rachel's Show
Leighton Meester plays a typical LA publicist, Alyssa, and boss to Maia (played by Rachel Sennott) in the HBO series I Love LA. While Leighton's real-life experience with her own publicist didn't match the show, other aspects struck a chord with her.
Experiences with Toxic Work Environments
During an interview, Meester opened up about having endured toxic work environments in the past. She described the uneasy workplace dynamic between her character Alyssa and Maia, who is aiming for a promotion.
"I've been in toxic work environments. I think that a lot of people have experienced that, being around people who sort of... I don't know, just, like, you have a boss that maybe doesn't uplift you, or whatever."
Reaction from Co-star Josh Hutcherson
Josh Hutcherson, who also stars in the series, was surprised to learn about Meester's past with difficult bosses.
"In this industry, that's happened to you?"
Meester replied,
"It's shocking."
Finding Comfort in a Safe, Comedic Role
Leighton reflected on how working on I Love LA allowed her to explore this toxic dynamic in a safer, comedic setting. This space gave her the freedom to truly enjoy the experience.
"It was really fun to play with in a safe, comedic environment."
She added that this environment, unlike some previous experiences, freed her to embrace the role fully.
Summary: Leighton Meester shares how her past toxic work environments inspired her role in I Love LA, where she finally found a safe space to explore complex workplace dynamics through comedy.