List of Gossip Girl characters
CeCe Rhodes
#### CeCe Rhodes

Portrayed by [Caroline Lagerfelt](/wiki/Caroline_Lagerfelt "Caroline Lagerfelt") in seasons one, two, three, four and five, Celia Catherine "CeCe" Rhodes is Lily and Carol's mother and Scott, Chuck, Serena, Lola and Eric's grandmother. She is the ex\-wife of Rick Rhodes. She lives in [Montecito, California](/wiki/Montecito%2C_California "Montecito, California") and visits Lily, Serena and Eric in [New York City](/wiki/New_York_City "New York City") a few times every year. She is portrayed as a very wealthy, highly conservative, uptight, selfish, intimidating, snobbish, and impassive socialite who looks down and scorns at all people who are of middle or lower classes. She caused the breakup of Rufus and Lily by making Lily choose between her family inheritance and Rufus. Intimidated, Lily chose her inheritance. CeCe also tried to break up Serena and Dan to no avail by inviting Carter Baizen (who comes from a wealthy family) to the cotillion. During the first season, CeCe manipulated her daughter and granddaughter by declaring that she had a terminal illness, claiming that the doctors found 'something' in her lungs. Although she later admitted that this was a lie to gain sympathy, she was later seen taking pills. Her cold and [manipulative](/wiki/Psychological_manipulation "Psychological manipulation") personality changes in the second season when she lets Dan into the White party by making him her escort, seeing that he still has feelings for Serena. After Bart Bass' funeral, she reveals the reason why Lily was in a sanatorium. During the events of Serena's arrest, Lily and CeCe resume their mother\-daughter fight but later patch up their problems before CeCe leaves. CeCe's supposed sudden illness in the third season causes Lily to leave Manhattan to take care of her in California for a couple of months, with CeCe returning for an appearance on the Thanksgiving episode. CeCe returned to Manhattan in season four to support Lily's impending jail sentence along with Lily's estranged sister, Carol. In the second season episode "Valley Girls", a younger CeCe is portrayed by [Cynthia Watros](/wiki/Cynthia_Watros "Cynthia Watros").
In Season 5, CeCe Rhodes arrives back in New York where Lily and Serena are planning to throw her a Studio 54 party on her birthday.
There's a scheme at the party about her granddaughter Charlie Rhodes who is revealed as Ivy Dickens because Ivy's ex\-boyfriend came to CeCe's party by invitation of Serena. After that CeCe knew all of her fake granddaughter, Ivy Dickens', story to herself but still love Ivy because of her kindness and CeCe knew about Carol and William's affair. Ivy also finds out that CeCe is sick, but keeps it a secret. In episode 16 "Cross Rhodes", it revealed that Charlie/Ivy is caring for CeCe in the hospital and is concerned about her condition as Ivy is the only person that makes CeCe feel safe. At the end of the episode CeCe dies. Ivy Dickens is announced as CeCe's heir and we learn that CeCe was apparently aware the whole time of Ivy's real identity.


What does CeCe's story reveal about the importance of family relationships?