Gina Torres Cast as Vanessa's Mom on Gossip Girl
Gina Torres has been cast on Gossip Girl as Vanessa's mother.
Gabriela Abrams, mother to home-schooled Vanessa, is described as being warm and outgoing, which will certainly be a change of pace for this show, not exactly known for parental virtuousness (much as Rufus and Lily might mean well).
She is a free spirit, herself a former Brooklynite who lives "off the grid" in Vermont and expresses strong opinions about things, especially concerning her daughter.
That sounds more like it.
Gina Torres is best known for her roles on Alias and Firefly, though she also had a recent blink-and-you-miss-it cameo on Pushing Daisies as the wayward mom of Emerson's daughter. The actress is married to CSI star Laurence Fishburne.
Gabriela Abrams is currently scheduled to appear in two episodes, but she may recur on the series. Gossip Girl returns for its third season on September 14.
Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.
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Blair: You say I always bet against you. Not this time. I'm all in.
August 24th, 2009 6:25 AM
I agree with your points - Chair4Life and Coyle? I just hope that the characters don't grow too much apart. But i can't wait to see how they all act and cope with uni life.
Gina Torres is an excellent actor and i'm glad that we'll learn more about Vanessa. I just hope that the producers actually do something with her in this upcoming season. So far IMO she has been wasted.
I also hope that they do something with Eric, as so far he has mostly been neglected.
August 23rd, 2009 12:50 AM
jessica u are so prittyyyyy
Rank: Regular Character
August 20th, 2009 7:06 PM
Sigh. Not even the amazing and awesome Gina Torres can get me to watch Vanessa. ANYONE ELSE, writers. Cast her as ANYONE else and I would be so thrilled right now.
Rank: Extra
August 20th, 2009 6:19 PM
monica: I agree!!! I "yawn" with you LOL
Rank: Guest Star
August 20th, 2009 3:09 PM
I LOVE GINA TORRES. sorry for the all caps but i cannot tell you how excited i am. i was just watching my firefly dvds last night and thinking to myself "can i please see gina torres on television again?" now, cast jewel staite as well and i will be in heaven. this is the most exciting casting news i have heard so far, gossip girl may have finally found a way to get me interested in vanessa. go figure.
August 20th, 2009 9:27 AM
To Cayle and chair4life: Yeah, you both definitely raise good points. Thanks for opening my eyes. :) Can't wait for Sept. 14!!
August 19th, 2009 3:31 PM
great - just what we need: an older vanessa.......
out of all the characters to focus on - the producers had to pick the most boring one? *yawn*
i will only be interested if mrs. abrams ends up being the mistress of grandpa vanderbilt
August 19th, 2009 1:55 PM
I agree with Cayle. Each of the core characters have their separate story to deal with. Before these characters worlds revolved around each other in some way, but with them in college they are going to grow at their own pace. New friendships would be formed and old friendships might be severed. I just hope that Serena and Blair will continue to be Bff's no matter the problems that may build before them.
August 19th, 2009 12:48 PM
to Pammi:
About the show introducing so many new characters, I think it is deliberate. Part of the college/university reality is that old friendships tend to fall apart. You often lose touch with or grow apart from people who were previously your closest friends as you all figure out who you want to be for the rest of your life. In the case of GG, it'll be about the core cast living separate lives from one another for the most part for at least a little while.
Rank: Regular Character
August 19th, 2009 10:24 AM
Wow. I actually like this casting choice when I didn't think I would care at all about a SL with Vanessa's mom. I thought they were introducing too many new characters too, but I've got a good feeling about Gina Torres. I liked her in Firefly. I still don't like the Hillary Duff casting choice, and I'm not sure about Tyra Banks, although all these celebrity cameos will probably boost ratings and generate more buzz which is good of course. BTW, I also liked the casting choice of Joanna Garcia for Bree Buckley. I never watched Privileged, but she was really funny in'Reba'