You’re rewatching the Gossip Girl pilot. Everything feels right. The headbands are present. The steps of the Met are occupied. But then, Blair walks home to her mother, Eleanor Waldorf, and you do a double-take. That’s not Margaret Colin.
Who is that woman?
If you feel like you've been Mandela-effected, don't worry. You haven't. The role of the icy fashion maven was originally played by someone else entirely.
The Mystery of the Pilot Eleanor
In the very first episode of Gossip Girl, Blair Waldorf’s mother is played by Florencia Lozano. Most people know her from the soap world—she was a powerhouse on One Life to Live as Téa Delgado. In the pilot, her version of Eleanor is sharp, almost bird-like, and arguably much colder than the Eleanor we eventually grew to love.
She only appeared in that one single episode. By the time episode two rolled around, Margaret Colin had stepped into the silk robes, and she stayed there for the next six seasons.
Recasts in pilots happen all the time. Sometimes it's a scheduling thing. Sometimes the chemistry is just... off. But for the blair waldorf mom actress, the change was actually a calculated creative pivot. Producers reportedly felt that Lozano looked "too young" to be the mother of a seventeen-year-old.
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Let's be real: Lozano is gorgeous. But sitting next to Leighton Meester, they looked more like sisters or very close cousins. To sell the "Eleanor Waldorf" brand—a woman who had spent decades building a global fashion empire—the show needed someone who carried a different kind of weight.
Why Margaret Colin Was the Perfect Fit
When Margaret Colin took over, the character shifted. It wasn't just about age; it was about the vibe.
Colin brought this specific, New York theater energy to the role. She was authoritative. She was intimidating. But she also had this weird, endearing vulnerability that started to peek through as the seasons went on. You could actually believe she was Blair’s mother because they shared the same "I will destroy you with a polite smile" facial expressions.
The Physical Resemblance
Honestly, the casting department deserves a raise for this one. The resemblance between Leighton Meester and Margaret Colin is uncanny. They have the same bone structure, the same expressive eyes, and that specific way of carrying their heads that screams "Upper East Side royalty."
If you look at side-by-side photos of them, it’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role. The recast turned Eleanor from a generic "mean mom" trope into a living, breathing blueprint for why Blair became who she was.
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Eleanor Waldorf’s Transformation
Under Margaret Colin’s tenure, Eleanor went through one of the most underrated character arcs in the whole series.
- Season 1: She was basically the villain of Blair’s life. Remember the photoshoot where she chose Serena over her own daughter? Brutal.
- The "Cyrus" Era: Everything changed when Cyrus Rose entered the picture. Wallace Shawn and Margaret Colin had this bizarre, sweet chemistry that humanized Eleanor.
- The Finale: By the end, she wasn't just a critic; she was Blair's biggest supporter and a doting grandmother.
She started as a woman who cared more about her "Waldorf Designs" labels than her daughter's feelings. By the time the show wrapped, she was the one holding the family together while Blair and Chuck were busy being, well, Blair and Chuck.
Where is the Blair Waldorf Mom Actress Now?
Margaret Colin didn't just disappear into the Upper East Side sunset after the show ended in 2012. She’s been incredibly busy.
You might have spotted her in Veep playing Jane McCabe, or maybe in Chicago Med. She even made a return for the Gossip Girl reboot on Max in 2021, proving that once you're a Waldorf, you're always a Waldorf.
She's also a staple of the New York stage. If you're a theater geek, you've likely seen her name on Broadway playbills for years. She brings that same Eleanor-level gravitas to every role she touches.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Recast
There’s a common rumor that Florencia Lozano was fired because of her acting. That’s basically nonsense. Lozano is a decorated actress with a massive fanbase. The decision was almost entirely about the visual "math" of the show.
In the pilot, Blair’s world felt a bit more "CW-melodrama." As the show evolved into a high-fashion, satirical soap opera, they needed a mom who looked like she could actually intimidate Anna Wintour. Margaret Colin fit that bill.
Key Takeaways for Gossip Girl Fans
If you’re doing a deep-dive rewatch, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the Pilot Closely: Look at the scene where Blair is looking in the mirror. The "Eleanor" in the background is Florencia Lozano. The energy is totally different.
- Appreciate the Growth: Notice how Margaret Colin softens Eleanor’s voice over the seasons. In Season 1, she’s clipped and harsh. By Season 6, she’s much more melodic.
- Check Out the Reboot: If you haven't seen the 2021 version, Margaret Colin's cameo is one of the few highlights for OG fans.
To really understand Blair, you have to understand the woman who raised her. While Lozano started the journey, Margaret Colin finished it, giving us one of the most complex, stylish, and eventually lovable mothers in TV history.
Next time you're browsing through Margaret Colin's filmography, take a look at Independence Day or Three Men and a Baby. You'll see the same command of the screen she used to keep Blair Waldorf in line for all those years.