Leighton Meester, who plays a stereotypical LA publicist named Alyssa in the HBO series I Love LA, shared insights about her own past work environments during a recent interview.
While Leighton's real-life experiences with her publicist differ from the show’s storyline, she related strongly to the difficult work dynamics portrayed, especially the relationship between her character Alyssa and Maia, played by Rachel Sennott.
"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."
This confession surprised her co-star Josh Hutcherson, who asked, "In this industry, that's happened to you?" Meester responded, "It's shocking."
Meester expressed relief and enjoyment in portraying such dynamics within a comedic and safe setting:
"It was really fun to play with in a safe, comedic environment."
This safety allowed her to embrace the excitement of the role more freely.
Leighton Meester reveals how I Love LA provided a safe space to explore toxic work themes drawn from her own experiences, delivering both a personal and comedic performance.