Eleanor Waldorf- Rose

Eleanor Wheaton Waldorf- Rose is Blair Waldorf's cold hearted and often critical mother. She is also the owner of Eleanor Waldorf Designs. Eleanor's marriage to Blair's father, Harold Waldorf, ended when he left to pursue a gay relationship with Roman, a French male model. She is played by Margaret Colin.

Eleanor is quite focused on her career and if often absent from Blair's life. When she does return, she is often critical of Blair's weight and often seems to favour Serena van der Woodsen over he own daughter. Blair's critical self image and eating disorder seems to stem from her desire to please her mother.

In season 2, Jenny Humphrey is an intern at Eleanor's but soon proves herself as a creative and talented designer; so much so, that Eleanor incorporates many of Jenny's designs, promising Jenny that she will introduce the young protege to influential people in fashion, but Eleanor does not follow through with her bargain. Leading Jenny to split from Eleanor to try and start her own fashion line.

In the same season, Eleanor is in a relationship with Cyrus Rose whom Blair disapproves of, because he is short and loud. Despite her best efforts, she is unable to split them apart and later gives her approval for their marriage.

Eleanor is often seen as calculated and cruel, she does what she wants herself; often with no thought what it will do to those around her. She has admitted in the past that Dorota Kishlovsky has actually brought Blair up more than she has.