Michelle Trachtenberg

Michelle Trachtenberg
Trachtenberg in June 2008
Born Michelle Christine Trachtenberg
(1985-10-11) October 11, 1985[1]
New York, New York, U.S.
Occupation Actress
Years active 1990–present

Michelle Christine Trachtenberg (/ˈtræktənbɜːrɡ/ TRAK-tən-bərg; born October 11, 1985[1]) is an American actress. She is best known for playing the lead role of Harriet M. Welsch in Harriet the Spy, Nona F. Mecklenberg in The Adventures of Pete & Pete, Dawn Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl.

Early life and education

Trachtenberg was born in New York City,[2] the youngest of two daughters of Lana, a bank manager, and Michael Trachtenberg, a fiber-optics engineer.[3] Her father is German Jewish and her mother is Russian Jewish, and she is of the Jewish religion,[4] with her grandparents living in Israel.[5] She was raised with her older sister Irene in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, where she attended junior high school at The Bay Academy for the Arts and Sciences.[6] She later attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California.[7]

Career

Trachtenberg made her first television appearance at the age of three, in a commercial for Wisk detergent.[8] She went on to feature in over 100 more commercials.[8] She appeared in her first credited role as Nona F. Mecklenberg on the Nickelodeon series The Adventures of Pete & Pete from 1994 until 1996. During the same period she played Lily Montgomery on the soap opera All My Children.[9][10]

Trachtenberg's film career began in 1996 with the title role in Harriet the Spy. During this time, she also began a recurring role in season two of the television series The Adventures of Pete & Pete, of which she later became a regular. She then starred in the short-lived television series Meego, which garnered her a Young Artist Award.[11] She returned to film in 1999 for Inspector Gadget. She also starred in the film Can't Be Heaven. In the summer of 2000, she took on the role of Dawn Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, remaining in the role until the show ended in 2003. She also hosted the Discovery Kids series Truth or Scare from 2001 to 2003.

Trachtenberg at the Buffy the Vampire Slayer wrap party, April 18, 2003

After Buffy and Truth or Scare, Trachtenberg appeared in the comedy film EuroTrip. She also had a recurring role in the HBO series Six Feet Under as Celeste, a spoiled pop star for whom Keith Charles served as a bodyguard. In March 2005, she played the title character in Walt Disney Pictures' comedy sports drama Ice Princess. In the film, Trachtenberg played a science whiz named Casey Carlyle, who is torn between a future in academia and her newfound dream of being a professional figure skater.

In April 2006, Trachtenberg guest-starred in the episode of House, "Safe". She revealed on the December 22, 2006, episode of Late Night with Conan O'Brien that House was her favorite show, and that she was friends with one of the producers and had asked to be a guest star.[12]

In November 2006, Trachtenberg guest starred in season six of the crime drama Law & Order: Criminal Intent. In the episode "Weeping Willow", she played the role of Willow, a kidnapped video blogger, likely based on lonelygirl15. Trachtenberg also appeared in the Fall Out Boy music video for "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race", the Joaquin Phoenix-directed music video for "Tired of Being Sorry" by Ringside, and the video for the Trapt song "Echo".

In 2006, Trachtenberg starred in Black Christmas, the remake of the 1974 slasher of the same name. In 2007, she was cast as the female lead in an ABC comedy pilot called The Hill, based on the newspaper of the same name in Washington, DC.[13] She provided the voice of Tika Waylan for Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight, a direct-to-video animated film based on the novel of the same name.[14]

Trachtenberg appeared on The CW hit show Gossip Girl as Georgina Sparks, who recently left rehab and brings back the dark past Serena van der Woodsen desperately wants to leave behind.[15] She returned to the show for a multiple-episode story arc towards the end of season two.[16] Trachtenberg appeared in the season-three finale and in season four. She also appeared several times in season five, and in almost every episode of season six, the show's final season.[17] In 2009, Trachtenberg was a cast member on the NBC drama Mercy; the series lasted one season.

On June 9, 2011, Trachtenberg guest-starred on Love Bites as Jodie, who, after being unceremoniously dumped, decides – with a vengeance – to accept her ex's offer to "be friends". She reprised the role on June 16, 2011, and in the series finale on July 21, 2011. In the same year Trachtenberg was a guest-star on Weeds during its seventh season.[18], portraying Emma, a rival pot dealer who causes problems for Silas Botwin. In June 2012, Trachtenberg was cast in the film The Scribbler, produced by Gabriel Cowan.[19]

In the Criminal Minds episode "Zugzwang", Trachtenberg played Diane Turner, the criminal stalker to Spencer Reid's girlfriend, Maeve Donovan. She returned to film with the 2009 film 17 Again. She also had a small role in the comedy film Cop Out.[20] In March 2011, she was the featured cover girl in Maxim.[21]

In early April 2017, Trachtenberg explained to Entertainment Weekly the backlash her Buffy character Dawn received from fans over the years.[22]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1995 Melissa Lena Uncredited
1996 Harriet the Spy Harriet M. Welsch
1998 Richie Rich's Christmas Wish Gloria Direct-to-video
1999 Inspector Gadget Penny
2000 Can't Be Heaven Julie
2004 EuroTrip Jenny
2004 Mysterious Skin Wendy
2005 Ice Princess Casey Carlyle
2006 Beautiful Ohio Sandra
2006 Black Christmas Melissa Kitt
2008 Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight Tika (voice) Direct-to-video
2009 Against the Current Suzanne
2009 17 Again Margaret "Maggie" Sarah O'Donnell
2010 Cop Out Ava Monroe
2010 DC Showcase: Jonah Hex Bar girl (voice) Short film
2011 Take Me Home Tonight Ashley
2013 Sexy Evil Genius Miranda Prague Direct-to-video
2014 The Scribbler Alice

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1991 Law & Order Dinah Driscoll Episode: "God Bless the Child"; uncredited
1993 Clarissa Explains It All Elsie Soaperstein Episode: "Babysitting"
1993–96 All My Children Lily Benton Montgomery #1 Daytime drama
1994–96 The Adventures of Pete & Pete Nona F. Mecklenberg 21 episodes
1996 Dave's World Angela Episode: "Solitaire"
1996 Space Cases Prankster #1 Episode: "All You Can Eaty"
1996 A Holiday for Love Noelle Murphy Television film
1997 Meego Maggie Parker 13 episodes
1998 Blue's Clues Herself Episode: "Blue's Birthday"
1998 Reading Rainbow Herself (voice) Episode: "Math Curse"
1998 Guys Like Us Katie Episode: "Maestro's First Crush"
1998–99 Figure It Out Herself (panelist) 12 episodes
2000 A Father's Choice Kelly McClain Television film
2000–03 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Dawn Summers 66 episodes
2001–03 Truth or Scare Herself (host and narrator) 20 episodes
2004 Six Feet Under Celeste 4 episodes
2005 The Dive from Clausen's Pier Carrie Beal Television film
2006 House Melinda Bardach Episode: "Safe"
2006–18 Robot Chicken Various voices 6 episodes
2006 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Lisa Willow Tyler Episode: "Weeping Willow"
2008–12 Gossip Girl Georgina Sparks 28 episodes
2008 The Circuit Kylie Shines Television film
2009–10 Mercy Chloe Payne 22 episodes
2009 The Super Hero Squad Show Valkyrie (voice) 2 episodes
2011 Love Bites Jodie 3 episodes
2011 Weeds Emma Karlin 5 episodes
2013 Criminal Minds Diane Turner Episode: "Zugzwang"
2013 Killing Kennedy Marina Oswald Television film
2013 NCIS: Los Angeles Lily Lockhart Episode: "Merry Evasion"
2015 Sleepy Hollow Abigail Adams Episode: "Pittura Infamante"
2015 SuperMansion Blood Moon (voice) Episode: "A Midsummer Night's Ream"
2015 The Christmas Gift Megan Television film
2016 Chopped Junior Herself (guest judge) 1 episode
2016 Sister Cities Dallas Baxter Television film
2016 Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Herself (guest) 1 episode

Web series

Year Title Role Notes
2015 Guidance Anna 30 Episodes
2018 Human Kind Of Judy (voice) 21 episodes

Music videos

Year Title Artist
2004 Echo Trapt
2005 Tired of Being Sorry Ringside
2007 This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race Fall Out Boy

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
1997 Young Artist Award Best Performance in a Feature Film: Leading Young Actress Harriet the Spy Won [23]
1998 Young Artist Award Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series: Supporting Young Actress Meego Won [24]
2000 YoungStar Award Best Young Actress in a Comedy Film Inspector Gadget Nominated
2000 Young Artist Award Best Performance in a Feature Film: Supporting Young Actress Inspector Gadget Nominated [25]
2001 Teen Choice Award TV – Choice Sidekick Buffy the Vampire Slayer Nominated
2001 Young Artist Award Best Performance in a TV Drama Series: Supporting Young Actress Buffy the Vampire Slayer Won [26]
2001 Saturn Award Best Supporting Actress on Television Buffy the Vampire Slayer Nominated
2002 Young Artist Award Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series: Leading Young Actress Truth or Scare Nominated [27]
2002 Young Artist Award Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series: Guest Starring Young Actress MADtv Nominated
2002 Saturn Award Best Supporting Television Actress Buffy the Vampire Slayer Nominated
2003 Saturn Award Best Supporting Television Actress Buffy the Vampire Slayer Nominated
2004 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series Truth or Scare Nominated [28]
2007 Sarasota Film Festival Breakthrough Performer Beautiful Ohio Won
2012 Teen Choice Award Choice TV Villain Gossip Girl Nominated

References

  1. 1 2 Cusumano, Josephine (October 11, 2015). "Michelle Trachtenberg Celebrates Her 30th Birthday". instyle.com. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  2. ↑ Tatiana Morales (March 18, 2005). "Find And Fight For Your Dream". cbsnews.com. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
  3. ↑ "Michelle Trachtenberg Biography (1985–)". Film Reference.
  4. ↑ "March 14, 2013 episode". Kathy.
  5. ↑ "James Marsters and Michelle Trachtenberg interview". contactmusic.com. Retrieved March 14, 2007.
  6. ↑ Butler, Karen (March 19, 2005). "ON 'ICE': Sheepshead Bay native talks of tough workouts for lead in 'Ice Princess'". The Brooklyn Paper. Retrieved November 16, 2009. When Michelle Trachtenberg was a young girl growing up in Sheepshead Bay, she dreamed of being a championship ice skater like her childhood idols, Michelle Kwan and Oksana Baiul.
  7. ↑ "Gossip Girl Transformations - Michelle Trachtenberg". InStyle. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
  8. 1 2 Koltow, Barry (July 11, 1996). "Defining where 'Harriet' ends, Michelle Trachtenberg begins". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved March 9, 2008.
  9. ↑ Morales, Tatiana (March 18, 2005). "Find And Fight For Your Dream". CBS News. Retrieved March 9, 2008.
  10. ↑ White, Kelly (December 2000). "Under Michelle's spell". Girls' Life. Retrieved November 23, 2007.
  11. ↑ "19th Annual Awards". www.youngartistawards.org. Archived from the original on April 14, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Michelle Trachtenberg about her Guest Appearance on House @ Conan O'Brien 22/12/2006". YouTube. August 18, 2010. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Trachtenberg goes to Washington in ABC comedy". Reuters. March 8, 2007. Retrieved March 14, 2007.
  14. ↑ "Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight". IMDb.
  15. ↑ Ausiello, Michael (March 19, 2008). "Gossip Girl casts Buffy alumna Michelle Trachtenberg". Ausiello Report, TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on June 3, 2008.
  16. ↑ "Michelle Trachtenberg to Return to Gossip Girl". People. January 5, 2009. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012.
  17. ↑ Godwin, Jennifer (May 18, 2009). "This Just In: Is Georgina Joining Gossip Girl?". E! Online.
  18. ↑ Hibberd, James (June 27, 2011). "Michelle Trachtenberg cast as pot dealer on Weeds". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  19. ↑ Fleming, Mike (May 9, 2012). "'The Scribbler' Starts Production With Katie Cassidy Starring". Deadline.com. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  20. ↑ McNary, Dave (December 27, 2009). "Kevin Smith's 'Dicks' becomes 'Cop Out'". Variety. Retrieved January 9, 2010.
  21. ↑ "Michelle Trachtenberg". Maxim.com.
  22. ↑ Stack, Tim (April 4, 2017). "Buffy reunion: Michelle Trachtenberg talks fan backlash to Dawn". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  23. ↑ "18th Annual Youth in Film Awards 1995-1996". Young Artist Award. Archived from the original on March 4, 2011. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  24. ↑ "19th Annual Youth in Film Awards 1996-1997". Young Artist Award. Archived from the original on April 14, 2015. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  25. ↑ "21st Annual Young Artist Awards for 1998-1999". Young Artist Award. Archived from the original on April 3, 2011. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  26. ↑ "22nd Annual Young Artist Awards 1999-2000". Young Artist Award. Archived from the original on September 28, 2014. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  27. ↑ "23rd Annual Young Artist Awards 2002". Young Artist Award. Archived from the original on April 10, 2016. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  28. ↑ "31st Annual Daytime Emmy Award Nomination" (PDF). emmyonline.org. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
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