Leighton Meester’s Meredith Brings the Drama to How I Met Your Father

Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates from Your Next Shoes. This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure for more details.

Leighton Meester has a recurring role in How I Met Your Father as Meredith, an ex-girlfriend of Chris Lowell’s Jesse. She first appears in a video of Jesse’s failed proposal in the pilot episode and plays a significant part in the first and second seasons.

Rejecting a marriage proposal by Jesse (Christopher Lowell), Meredith is a successful singer-songwriter who moves to Europe in season one. She is portrayed as being confident, independent, and a bit of a diva.

In the second season, Meredith and Jesse rekindle their romance, but it is clear that they were not meant to be together. Meredith is still not ready to settle down, and Jesse struggles to get over her rejection. In the end, they break up for good.

Leighton Meester plays Meredith, a popular musician and Jesse's ex-girlfriend who publicly rejected his marriage proposal, on How I Met Your FatherLeighton Meester plays Meredith, a popular musician and Jesse’s ex-girlfriend who publicly rejected his marriage proposal, on How I Met Your Father (Credit: Hulu)

While Leighton Meester never appeared in How I Met Your Mother, the name “Meredith” is briefly mentioned in the series.

In the Season 1 episode of HIMYM titled “The Slap Bet,” Ted (Josh Radnor) is trying to keep things casual with Robin (Cobie Smulders). When he gets her phone call, he pretends it is from someone else.

He answers the phone and says, “Who is this? Meredith?” This is a reference to the fact that Robin’s ex-boyfriend, Kevin, had a girlfriend named Meredith. Ted tries to make Robin jealous by pretending he is talking to Meredith.

“She definitely has a wonderful role on the show,” Chris Lowell told The Wrap about Leighton Meester’s role as Meredith.

“I don’t know how much we’re allowed to talk about. I can say that all of us got excited to have her around and working with her was an absolute joy. She’s awesome. I’m sorry, there’s so many other things I would love to tell you but I really don’t — I think I’m going to get like slapped on the wrist. You’re the first person to bring her up.”

Leighton Meester appears in a recurring role as Meredith, Jesse's ex-girlfriend and former bandmate, in the first and second seasons of How I Met Your FatherLeighton Meester appears in a recurring role as Meredith, Jesse’s ex-girlfriend and former bandmate, in the first and second seasons of How I Met Your Father (Credit: Hulu)

Hilary Duff added, “We worked together as teens and now we’re getting to work together in our adulthood and it’s lovely. She’s a mother and a great person. And it’s kind of heart wrenching because when you see Leighton and Chris together [as Meredith and Jesse] you’re like, ‘This was like a great couple.’ So she’s definitely probably going to ruin Sophie’s day.”

“When you’ve got like an established core group of people who really get along it’s really difficult to kind of smoothly transition into that and she did it effortlessly,” Chris said. “She felt like you know another member of the gang whenever she was around.”

Leighton Meester Stuns in Balmain Dress at Gossip Girl 100th Episode Celebration

Leighton Meester wearing a Balmain Spring 2012 dress for the Gossip Girl 100th episode celebrationLeighton Meester wearing a Balmain Spring 2012 dress for the Gossip Girl 100th episode celebration (Credit: C.Smith / WENN)

In November 2011, Leighton Meester and the rest of her co-stars celebrated the 100th episode of “Gossip Girl” at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.

Leighton Meester's winter white Balmain ensemble radiated with the perfect blend of style and sophisticationLeighton Meester’s winter white Balmain ensemble radiated with the perfect blend of style and sophistication (Credit: C.Smith / WENN)

The actress and singer was gorgeous as usual in this Balmain ivory strapless mini dress, which features a stiffer fabric buckling the softer flowy fabric in front.

Leighton Meester turned heads as she commemorated the 100th episode of 'Gossip Girl' during an elegant soirée in New York CityLeighton Meester turned heads as she commemorated the 100th episode of ‘Gossip Girl’ during an elegant soirée in New York City (Credit: C.Smith / WENN)

Leighton Meester rocked a stunning, short and alluring party dress that exuded glamour at the "Gossip Girl" 100 episode celebration Leighton Meester rocked a stunning, short, and alluring party dress that exuded glamour at the “Gossip Girl” 100 episode celebration at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City on November 19, 2011 (Credit: C.Smith / WENN)

Leighton opted not to wear any jewelry with her dress and instead let these diamanté-embellished strappy sandals on her feet do all the talking:

Leighton Meester displays her feet in dazzling Jimmy Choo jeweled sandalsLeighton Meester displays her feet in dazzling Jimmy Choo jeweled sandals (Credit: C.Smith / WENN)

As these sandals are “inspired by the glamorous jewels worn on the red carpet,” Leighton could not have picked a better pair of shoes to accessorize her simple ensemble.

Leighton Meester shows off her feet in Jimmy Choo 'Lauren' sandalsLeighton Meester shows off her feet in Jimmy Choo ‘Lauren’ sandals (Credit: C.Smith / WENN)

Leighton Meester’s jewelry shoes are these Jimmy Choo ‘Lauren’ sandals:

Jimmy Choo 'Lauren' Diamanté and Suede Sandals

Jimmy Choo 'Lauren' Diamanté and Suede Sandals

Jimmy Choo 'Lauren' Diamanté and Suede Sandals Jimmy Choo ‘Lauren’ Diamanté and Suede Sandals, $2,495

‘Lauren’ is a strappier reinterpretation of ‘Bambi,’ which only has diamanté-embellished straps around the ankles and across the toes. This sandal has more, so it also understandably costs more. Are you a fan of this style?