'Gossip Girl' Star Is Addicted to Chocolate & More Set Secrets From Newbie Kaylee DeFer

Much like her 'Gossip Girl' character, Charlie, actress Kaylee DeFer is a down-to-earth girl.

"I'm just your regular girl," she promised AOL TV when we caught up with her last week to discuss her adventures on the Upper East Side.

As the glamorous Serena Van Der Woodsen's not-so-rich 18-year-old cousin, Charlie is out of her element among the obscenely wealthy socialites who inhabit the UES. The 'Gossip Girl' world is new to DeFer, too -- she hadn't seen an episode until she booked her audition for the show.

After her first taste, though, she was hooked.

"You can't help but become invested in the storylines because it's so unfathomably dramatic," DeFer said. "It's so amazing what they think of. I'm just like 'What?! Who writes this stuff? This is insane!'"

AOL TV: Can you tell me a little bit about Charlie?
Kaylee DeFer: Charlie is a unique character because she is very relatable. I think she's more relatable than most of the characters who have been brought onto the show -- she's just a normal girl. She's been raised in a very down-to-earth environment. She didn't know about her family for a long time. When she found out about them, she was told they were horrible people, but of course she wants to figure it out for herself just like any other teenager would. She starts to like it. She loves her cousin, and I think that the Upper East Side really grows on her.

Are you like Charlie at all?
I think in the sense that just like her, [I was] raised in a very low key, mellow environment. I think I have a taste for the high end, but my everyday life is just very real and so opposite of what an Upper East Side lifestyle would be like. That, to me, is not even very appealing.

The new lifestyle is a novelty factor at first, but do you think it will overwhelm her? Do you think she'll forget her roots?
I don't think Charlie will ever forget her roots. It's difficult to not lose yourself in that kind of lifestyle. How could you not, when you have everything given to you?

Do you think she'll be torn between her family's two worlds?
Whether people see it or not, she really does have her head on her shoulders in a way you would never even imagine.

She has some sparks with Dan, is anything going to happen with that?
As far as love interests go, without giving anything away, I really was so not expecting them to take that path with the storyline. I was kind of blown away. It was a total surprise to me. I don't know how big of a surprise it'll be with anybody else who follows the show, because obviously you expect the worst -- and that's what happens, almost. What's the most outrageous thing you can think of? That's what the story is.

There are a lot of eligible bachelors on the show, do you think Charlie is compatible with any of them?
Yeah, I think so. It's so funny, even the taken ones are available! Everybody dates everybody on this show, right? What would it be without some of that romantic drama? I'd like to see her take a different route than the one she takes on the show. I think that -- fingers crossed -- if the show gets brought back, I would love to be brought back and finish what Charlie started and see where they take her. I think it's a really interesting storyline that could go into such a cool, unique direction that has really not been taken yet on the show. And if that happens, I would like to see her with a different guy.

What was it like on set? Had you been to New York at all before filming?
I hadn't really spent much time in New York before coming into the show -- I totally fell in love. The city is so beautiful. I miss it. The city is pulsing in my veins. I need it. I'm addicted. I need to go back, I miss it so much! As far as being on the set, it was like nothing mattered because I was in New York. I was as happy as a clam.

It's so intimidating going on any show, whether it's mid-season or they're on their fifth season. You don't want to step on anyone's toes, you don't want to go in and be overwhelming to anyone. You want to be accepted. It's like life imitating art in that sense with Charlie.

What are your co-stars like behind the scenes?
Believe it or not, as well put-together and classy of a lady as Blake [Lively] is, she is pretty much a riot. This girl, don't give her chocolate because she is bouncing off the walls! She tried to go on like five different juice cleanses during the show, and that lasted like less than a day before she was eating an entire chocolate cake. She cannot keep her hands off of chocolate or sugar. It's insane. She's a crackup. She's hilarious. She's got a great sense of humor.

Since you hadn't spent much time in the city before, do you have any crazy "only in New York" stories?
Oh my gosh, yes. The first time I flew into New York [to film 'Gossip Girl'], I got off the plane and was ready to go out and see the city. I didn't have to work for a few days, so I called up my friend. I literally just threw on some heels and some lipstick and walked out the door and found myself outside Greenhouse, this super club, on Sunday night, which is the tranny night. I was floored -- just the most beautiful, amazing trannies I've ever seen in my entire life. Everyone was decked out to the nines. Not one person didn't have glitter on, and here I am off a plane with lipstick and heels on.

We walked in and it was such a surreal moment. I felt like I was in that movie 'Party Monster' with Macaulay Culkin -- guys jumping out of the walls fanning me with painted chests, it was just an absolutely out-of-this-world culture shock moment.

I was in heaven. I was the only girl walking through this crowd with all these gorgeous gay men. If ever there's a time to go out and make yourself feel better when you're not feeling well or you're feeling a little frumpy, go out with the gay boys. They will make you feel like you're the most beautiful creature that's ever walked the face of the earth. I'm sure my head couldn't fit through the door at the end of the night.


'Gossip Girl' airs Mondays at 8PM ET on The CW.

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