Chace Crawford Pairs Up with Leona Lewis

Originally posted Saturday December 20, 2008 11:00 AM EST

Chace Crawford and Leona Lewis Photo by: Kevin Mazur / WireImage; Richard Young / Startraks

Chace Crawford is adding another role to his resumé – the Gossip Girl heartthrob will star in singer Leona Lewis's video for her next single, "I Will Be," which was filmed Thursday in New York City.

"He has speaking lines in the video as well as just appearing in it," a source tells PEOPLE, adding enthusiastically, "It will be the most anticipated video in January."

So how did the seemingly unlikely pair – both are 23, though she was born in London and he, in Texas – come together?

"Chace went to London a couple months ago for meetings and to promote Gossip Girl. He went to a party and ended up meeting Leona," the source reveals.

The two "hit it off and talk every once in a while and have become fast friends," the source adds.

The result? "A couple weeks ago Leona called Chace and asked if he would be in her next video. He obviously said yes."