Leighton or Ed. The others aren't bad actors or anything but those two are the best.

Leighton. I love Ed, he's fantastic and I almost chose him but Leighton is amazing as Blair.

Definitely Leighton. I think she does a good job of playing different roles as Blair. She can be manipulative and sneaky, yet at the same time, you still feel for her. The others aren't bad, but Leighton can do it consistently without making me roll my eyes.

For me it was definitely between Ed and Leighton. They're my favorite characters on the show and they show the most longevity in my opinion.
Leighton is great playing this b*tchy, preppy, at times insecure and human,headband obsessed, hardworker, Blair Waldorf. She gives an easily unlikeable character likability. She can also play slutty if that's any indication on her brief guest starring role on House.
Ed Westwick! Where do I begin? Its not just that I have an overly crazy obsession where I love Edwe, when I do. He is honestly a good actor. He has more to overcome than the other, with his British accent, which shouldn't be an excuse, but not everyone can make an American accent sound quite like that of Chuck Bass. He plays an arrogant, wealthy, sexual, and at times self-obsessed(I'm Chuck Bass!) asswhole with a heart and unexpected love for the girl he fell for, oh so well. He also hasn't exactly gotten leading roles, but a truly great actor can shine in the background. I also admirer him in Son of Rambow in which his character isn't major. He doesn't try to steal the spotlight, for which the script also doesn't require, but he's just so likable, when you see what he does for his little brother.

So when it came down to it, I obviously chose Ed.

Ed without a doubt!

I read the books and he's picture perfect in every single scene. But you can tell he can really act- he's the only one on the show that has developed a "character" with actual, signature human gestures and charactistics.

I really don't think anyone else is that great. Taylor is awful!

well i'm kind of glad that they aren't saying blake - cause i'm kind of tired of her. i loved her in sisters of the traveling pants, but then her head got too big! i think that taylor has a lot of potential and she's still sooooo young!

I definitely agree that Leighton is amazing as Blair, but by no means do I think she's a particularly talented actress. Her guest role on Entourage was pretty bad imo..I'd love to see Ed in some different roles though.

Ed westwick,cuz he have to hide his accent,he does it really well!!

Ed, but Leighton is a very close second.

I think Leighton, is it just me or does Blake's voice drive anyone else nuts? It's like nails on a chalkboard to me...

I voted for Leighton. I've only seen one episode of Gossip Girl but it was enough was for me to be most impressed by her acting!

Wow! I totally thought Leighton would be the underdog and I'm happy to see she's winning by a landslide! I've never seen the show and never plan on it, but I think she's the cutest one. I hate Blake Lively.

I'm kind of glad it wasn't Blake, too. She mumbles all the time. Drives me crazy

I, too, cannot stand Blake's voice! I love Ed Westwick, but for some reason I don't ever think I can see him as anyone but Chuck Bass. I chose Taylor Momsen (though it was a hard question!). Her character's surprised me so much. Seems like she could easily take on different roles....

Glad to see viewers here see Leighton's talent!

Chace dead last (well tied with Jessica) and he's going to be in a movie already this Halloween.

Ed Westwick of course! Not only is he dead-on as Chuck, but he uses an incredibly convincing American accent and that smug accent on top! I've seen him in other things too, such as "Children of Men" and "Son of Ranbow", and he always does a great job (plus, he's in a band, and crazy hot! so he's multi-talented). Leighton's pretty good too, but I've never seen her in anything else, so I can't say for sure. Unfortunately though, most talented doesn't always mean who will be the most successful because America loves terrible actors like Blake Lively, Penn Badgley, and others (such as Megan Fox or Lauren Conrad)...

just to add, Blake Lively is awful! everytime she does that winey, "I'm so sad, I'm about to cry" scene, I just want to roll my eyes...

i voted for the queen b. glad to see almost everyone else agrees with my "leighton and ed" thing...they are amazing, who watched the episode tonight?? =)

ed and leighton definitely. they're both the strongest parts of the show, and without them, i may not even watch. they're amazing, and have so much potential!

Ed Westwick. He can act any part and his american accent is flawless. Jessica and Leighton also have potential, maybe Chace too. I'm a fan of Blake's however her acting can be slightly annoying at times. Taylor is good however I cannot really picture her in many roles except for the standard blonde with attitude.

Well I voted for Penn Badgley, because I've seen him in several other projects and he has been great in all of them. He is a bit annoying as Dan, but I think that's the way his character is.

I agree with some of you about Ed Westwick, but Leighton Meester? Not a great actress. She can pull off some great one-liners and be b*tchy, but she can not do a crying scene convincingly. She seems a bit one-note. I wish she was a better actress, because she is a beautiful girl and she could have a great career.

Blake Lively is terrible and mumbles a lot (although I thought her acting was improved in Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2), Taylor Momsen seems like she could branch out a bit more and do some different acting roles, but Chace Crawford and Jessica Szohr are terrible actors.

Leighton - she has a very expressive face. I think she'd make a great comedic actress.

Leighton first, Ed second.
All the other actors are seriously bad actors, and even if these two can be pretty cheesy, I was surprised a couple of times to see them quite have a sparkle of great acting. I really hope Leighton will get some good roles.

Leighton and Ed. Their range is amazing.

Blake is mumbling all the time.

And who voted Chace? It wasn't voting for the preetiest

Definitely Leighton or Ed, and definitely NOT Blake. She talks like she has a mouth full of marbles.

I think Leighton is fabulous and she would really do well if she branched off of Gossip Girl. I agree with the other poster who said she would make a great comedic actress a la Selma Blair.

I chose Leighton since we have already seen do a good job on Veronica Mars as well.

Don't feel too bad for James, though--he just landed a guest role on One Tree Hill. Maybe they will make him a regular! LOL! Poor James...

Ed and Leighton, definitely. Anyone who can make you hate and love them at the same time has to be doing something right.

LEIGHTON!! and ED! glad to see majoruty of us agree

majority

I voted for Ed because I love him, but I'd have to agree with Leighton too.

Blake is TERRIBLE, and that Penn dude is just as bad.

Chace, however, is the worst.

Leighton and Ed are the only ones who have impressed me with their acting skills. Blake and Chace are both horrible (and annoying) actors (although they will probably be the ones who will be embraced as Hollywood stars), I haven't been impressed by Jessica either; she seems to be just reading lines, as for Penn, I have to see him in different roles but for now it seems apparent he can only play one character: the awkward, broody type, and as for Taylor, I think there's a certain potential but I have to see her outgrow the rebellious teenager roles and mature in her acting and roles.

Definately Leighton. Blake is by far the worst despite all the hype she gets. My thumb could act better than Chace.

It's a tie between Ed and Leighton, but I chose Leighton because she's just amazing as Blair! Ed's equally fantastic too
However, Blake annoys me sometimes, especially towards the end od season 1 when she thought she killed someone!
I think Chace can improve, I don't think he's that bad

Chace....He's so hott, it'll be crazy if he doesn't become a big time actor. Lol.

I don't like Blake's acting.

Leighton and Ed are amazing! And I think Taylor has real potential too.

are you kidding? Blake would be nothing without her hot body and great make up artist and amazing clothes. She's like one of those botox ladies, her face shows no emotion. She just says the words that's it.

ed. blake mumbles too much and leighton wasn't that great in entourage outside of being blair on gossip girl.

It's really between Leighton and Ed. Both are very capable actors! However, I have seen Leighton in several different roles in which she also did very well whereas GG is Ed's only role so I can't really assess if he's a really good actor or just very capable of portraying Chuck.

Or rather, I've only seen him in GG. So my choice was Leighton.

LOVE LEIGHTON MEESTER!

Ed Westwick and Leighton are the best of the young actors on the show. I'd like to see their range in different roles though...don't think Jessica Szohr and Blake are that great but it could just be the material, in Jessica's case at least.

I feel it a bit necessary to comment on the others besides Leighton and Ed, for which I've already done.

Blake Lively isn't a terrible actress. I think most are expressing their feelings towards Serena and haven't realized it yet. I do like her in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. I'm sorta convinced that Serena isn't the most appropriate role for her to shine in.

Penn Badgley does actually have potential in my opinion. He just isn't choosing the right roles. I think he just needs to stir away from the mainstream roles, he keeps coming too. I don't know about the rest of you, but I love him as Dan. I've seen past his character to realize he isn't annoying as an actor, he's just doing his jobs. So with that he just needs to take smarter roles.

Chace Crawford doesn't have as much potential. I think he might like to challenge his image. In "Details", he expressed that he has to overcome stereotypes such as: model turned actor and "gayface". Now really I'm not saying he can't make it because of the rest of it. But if you don't let yourself shine as anything less than a hottie right away, you're doomed. All he needs to do is make an effort, but the show's writing hasn't allowed him to do that, which isn't an excuse. The "Haunting" movie he has done, doesn't exactly seem promising either.

Taylor Momsen is a little confusing. She does and doesn't have potential. At times she makes the most of what she's got with Jenny, but other times, its a little amateur. I think films like Paranoid Park will be interesting for her to just try to stir away from being that one girl. BTW! She was adorable in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, where she sang. So don't count out little T. LOl. But you also shouldn't bet all your money on her.

Jessica Szohr? Well, I might not be a "Vanessa" fan, actually I hate her so much. But you have to remember Jessica isn't Vanessa. I haven't seen her in anything else so I couldn't really say. She may surprise us because she isn't a terrible actress. She plays her part well but has yet to shine.

leighton and blake

i'm going with leighton for number one potential with ed not far behind. i believe them both so thoroughly in their characters. blake i think is beautiful and not all that bad, but i could never see her doing much more than what she is doing now. penn i think has potential but he needs to get out of highschool roles! i would like to see what happens with taylor momson. i think she might be destined to do some teen movies/slasher flicks and maybe when shes in her mid-twenties maybe something will come along that's worth some acclaim.

Leighton, but Ed is great too!

Ed first, and then Leighton.

Leighton + Ed. Ed has more potential though.

LeiGhToN alL the wAy!! =] =]
xx

Penn has star quality