Adam Brody is reflecting on what more than a decade of marriage to Leighton Meester has taught him about building a lasting relationship.
The actor, who married the Gossip Girl star in 2014, said in a new interview that humility and flexibility have become essential parts of married life. Rather than expecting a relationship to remain unchanged, Brody said long-term partnership requires people to recognize their own imperfections and keep adjusting to one another.
Brody and Meester began dating publicly in 2013 and married privately the following year. They share two children, daughter Arlo, born in 2015, and a son born in 2020. Both actors have generally kept their family life private while occasionally speaking about what makes their relationship work.
Meester has previously emphasized that genuinely enjoying a partner’s company is an important foundation. Brody’s latest comments echo that idea, while adding that growth and compromise become increasingly important as the years pass.
The couple’s relationship has long attracted interest because both became defining television stars of the 2000s, Brody through The O.C. and Meester through Gossip Girl. They have nevertheless avoided turning their marriage into a public brand, choosing a comparatively low-key approach to celebrity life.
After 12 years of marriage, Brody’s takeaway is less about a single secret and more about remaining willing to learn, change and make room for the other person.
Source: People, October 2026, citing Brody’s interview with Elle.