In this week's Page Six Magazine, British actor Ed Westwick opens up about the "bootlicking" he's received as being the villainous but charming Chuck Bass on Gossip Girl - and rumors he's gay.
About his relationship with co-star and roommate Chace Crawford: "People think Chace is gay, and thought I was gay, that we were humping. It's not true, but hilarious. People project their fantasies onto people. I've never been someone who makes it my objective to go out and pick up chicks. But I've met some fantastic ladies here. You know those amazing conversations where you find yourself in a café talking until 2 a.m. and never see them again."
He says he refuses to let all the fan adulation go to his head. "There are perks to this job. We [the Gossip Girl cast] were all thrown into this situation with a lot of attention on us, and you get a lot of free clothes and s--t but that's no reason not to stay grounded. What am I really doing, baby? Saving the world? Nah, I'm on television."
Ed's portrayal as Chuck Bass is just as notable as his own bad behavior and sense of style. "Chuck is an iconic character and the clothes are iconic. I think I rock the look well. My style has always been good. Top notch, baby. I like the glamorous indie rock look, like the Libertines. But you know, without the heroin needle sticking out of my arm."
Ed is not shy about his late night partying, or his frequent visits to the clubs with his band Filthy Youth. "If I want to go out and drink and throw a glass in the street, I'll do it. As long as the reason is that I want to have fun and not that I want to create some sort of tension around me. Then I'd be a d--k. But I'm not."
For now, Ed plans to enjoy the city and the last warm days of the season. "I love going out in the summer. The girls wear their nice dresses. Did that sound sleazy? It really did, didn't it? Put it like this: Everyone comes out looking gorgeous in summer. We are a more beautiful species in the summer. No doubt Chuck Bass would say "cheers" to that, baby."