TVGuide.com: Now, I've actually already seen this week's episode....
Westwick: Oh, have you? A sneak preview, huh?
TVGuide.com: Yeah. I thought it was the best one!
Westwick: It feels like it's kind of the climax almost, because everything is boiled up and it's ready to explode. There's the tiff that happens between Nate and Chuck. Blair has her breakdown.... S--t hits the fan, so to speak.
TVGuide.com: Blair's world basically gets turned upside down. She's really the focus.
Westwick: Yeah, I think what everyone got from the previous episodes is that she's a control freak and has this hold on every aspect in her life — it appears that way. In this [episode], everything is ripped away from her. Things are totally out of her control and she really struggles to deal with it and Serena comes to her rescue and persuades her to stay.
TVGuide.com: Do you think Nate and Chuck will reconcile someday?
Westwick: I have no idea. Who knows what angle the writers will [take], whenever they come back. I'm incredibly excited to see what happens. There is that relationship and that history of two best friends, and there's always that possibility of getting back together, but Chuck [hasn't] really done a light thing [by sleeping with Blair].
TVGuide.com: What do you love about playing Chuck?
Westwick: Well, it's the multiple layers, it has to be. He has this dark side that has this interesting angle because the other characters are a nicer bunch, and Chuck has this demonic, evil side. But we saw in later episodes that he does help other people out and then goes back to his old ways with the whole love affair with Blair. He's actually in love with her, he thinks he's found the one. I think we've only seen a small part of what he is.
TVGuide.com: It's nice that we do see a vulnerable, softer side of him when it comes to Blair.
Westwick: It was needed. It's good to mix it up.
TVGuide.com: To let him show his feelings and jealousy.
Westwick: It's just made him more interesting and helps the storyline.
TVGuide.com: Would you like to see Chuck and Blair reunite at some point?
Westwick: Maybe. You know, they always say opposites attract, but in this case they're very much the same. The extent of her attraction toward him is not as much as his attraction for her. To put two characters like Chuck and Blair together and to see them go at it and see what they fire up can definitely provide very, very good entertainment.
TVGuide.com: Do you get recognized a lot now?
Westwick: I'm actually at home in London and I have been recognized here, which is strange. But in New York, I've had people come up to me and tell me how much they enjoy the show, which is great because it means people are watching and it means you're doing your job well. It's great to be a part of something that is successful. The show hasn't even hit here yet, but people know already.
TVGuide.com: Do you guys all hang out off-set?
Westwick: We do. For me, especially, moving to the U.S. and not really having any friends, I relied on getting on with the rest of the cast and people I met through them. I was open to making friends, and luckily, I work with a great bunch of people and we really hit it off — there's definitely lifelong friendships being formed.
TVGuide.com: So after this week's ep, the strike cut us off. Have you been out to the picket lines at all?
Westwick: I have not. We finished in December, so I've been enjoying the holidays. It's all you can do at a time like this. It's one of those times that can be frustrating because the show's been picking up momentum, but you have to get on with it — see friends, family, go on a vacation — and look forward to going back to work when people are ready. It's nothing to worry about.
