- Michelle Trachtenberg
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Michelle Trachtenberg 
Michelle Trachtenberg, 2011Born Michelle Christine Trachtenberg
October 11, 1985
New York City, New York, U.S.[1]Occupation Actress Years active 1988–present Michelle Christine Trachtenberg (born October 11, 1985) is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Dawn Summers in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2000–03) and as Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl (2008–present). She also appearred in the films Harriet the Spy (1996), EuroTrip (2004), Ice Princess (2005), the Black Christmas (2006) remake, and 17 Again (2009).
Contents
Early life
Trachtenberg was born in New York City,[1] the younger of two daughters of Lana, a bank manager, and Michael Trachtenberg, a fiber-optics engineer.[2] Her father is from Germany and her mother was born in Russia; Trachtenberg can speak Russian fluently.[3][4][5] Her family is Jewish, and celebrates both Christmas and Hanukkah;[6][7][8] her grandparents live in Israel.[9] Trachtenberg was raised, along with older sister Irene, in Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn, where she attended P.S. 99 Elementary School and The Bay Academy for the Arts and Sciences.[10]
Career
Early career
Trachtenberg made her first television appearance at the age of three, in a commercial for Wisk Detergent.[11] She went on to feature in over 100 more commercials.[11] She appeared in her first credited role as Nona F. Mecklenberg in The Adventures of Pete & Pete from 1994 until 1996. During the same period she played Lily Montgomery in All My Children,[12] in which she first worked with future Buffy star Sarah Michelle Gellar.[8]
Breakthrough career
Trachtenberg's film career began in 1996 with the lead role in Harriet the Spy. During this time, she had a recurring role in season 2 of The Adventures of Pete & Pete, which later she became a regular. She then returned to television for Meego, for which she won a Young Artist Award.[13] She returned to film in 1999 for Inspector Gadget, as the gadget-master's niece, Penny. She also starred in the film Can't Be Heaven. In the summer of 2000, Trachtenberg took up the role of Dawn Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She remained in the role until the show ended in 2003. She also hosted the Discovery Kids series Truth or Scare from 2001 to 2003. After Buffy and Truth or Scare, she returned to film in the comedy film EuroTrip, co-starring Scott Mechlowicz, Jacob Pitts and Travis Wester, and directed by Jeff Schaffer. 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, Trachtenberg played the title character in Walt Disney Pictures' family comedy–drama Ice Princess with Kim Cattrall (Sex and the City), Joan Cusack (Working Girl) and Hayden Panettiere (Heroes). In the film, Trachtenberg played a science whiz named Casey Carlyle who gives up her future academic life in order to pursue her newfound dream of being a professional figure skater.
Guest appearances
In April 2006 Trachtenberg guest-starred in the episode of House, M.D., "Safe". She revealed on the December 22, 2006, episode of Late Night With Conan O'Brien that House is her favorite show, she is friends with one of the producers and she asked to be a guest star.[14]
In November 2006, Trachtenberg guest-starred in the sixth season of the Emmy-nominated crime drama Law & Order: Criminal Intent. In the episode "Weeping Willow", she played the role of Willow, a kidnapped video blogger based on lonelygirl15.[citation needed] Trachtenberg also made a cameo in the Fall Out Boy music video for "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race" (with fellow Buffy cast member Seth Green), Joaquin Phoenix-directed video "Tired of Being Sorry" for Balthazar Getty's band Ringside, and Trapt's video Echo. In December 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, set in Washington, D.C.[15] Trachtenberg provided the voice of Tika Waylan for Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight, a direct-to-video animated movie based on the novel of the same name.[16]
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.[17] She returned to the show for a multi-episode story arc towards the end of the second season.[18] Trachtenberg appeared in the season 3 finale and the season 4 premiere.[19] In 2009, Trachtenberg was a cast member on the NBC drama Mercy, the series however was not renewed for a second 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, where Jodie augments her friend Annie's bust with so-called chicken cutlets - which later embarrassingly slip out. She finally reprised the role on July 21, 2011, in the series finale, where Jodie and her on-again boyfriend are tormented - to the point of homelessness - by bedbugs.
On June 28, 2011, it was announced Trachtenberg would guest star on Weeds during its seventh season.[20] Her character Emma is a rival pot dealer who causes problems for Silas Botwin.
Other work
Trachtenberg returned to film with the 2009 picture 17 Again alongside Zac Efron, Sterling Knight and Matthew Perry. She also had a small role in the comedy film Cop Out.[21]
In March 2011, she was the featured cover girl in Maxim.[22]
Filmography
Films
Year Title Role Notes 1995 Melissa Lena uncredited 1996 Harriet the Spy Harriet M. Welsch Lead role
Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress
Nominated — Artist Awards for Best Young Actress/Performance in a Motion Picture Comedy1996 Christmas in My Hometown Noelle Murphy a.k.a. A Holiday for Love 1998 Richie Rich's Christmas Wish Gloria 1999 Inspector Gadget Penny Nominated — Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actress 2000 A Father's Choice Kelly McClain 2000 Can't Be Heaven Julie 2004 EuroTrip Jenny 2004 Mysterious Skin Wendy 2005 Ice Princess Casey Carlyle Lead role
Teen Film/TV Series International Awards for Best Film Actress: Lead Role
Teen Film/TV Series International Awards for Best Comedy Actress or Drama Lead Role
Teen Film/TV Series International Awards for Best Couple (shared with Trevor Blumas)
Teen Film/TV Series International Awards for Outstanding Casting for a Film (shared with cast)
Teen Film/TV Series International Awards for Outstanding Casting for a Film Comedy or Drama (shared with cast)2005 The Dive From Clausen's Pier Carrie Bell 2006 Beautiful Ohio Sandra Sarasota Film Festival Award for Breakthrough Performer 2006 Black Christmas Melissa 2007 The Hill Maggie Rogers 2008 Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight Tika voice-only 2008 The Circuit Kylie Shines 2009 17 Again Margaret "Maggie" Sarah O'Donnell 2009 Against the Current Suzanne 2010 Cop Out Ava Monroe 2010 DC Showcase: Jonah Hex Bar Girl voice-only 2011 Take Me Home Tonight Ashley TBA Sexy Evil Genius Miranda Prague[23] Television
Year Title Role Notes 1991 Law & Order Dinah Driscoll Episode "God Bless the Child"; Uncredited 1993 Clarissa Explains It All Elsie Soaperstein 1993–1996 All My Children Lily Benton Montgomery #1 1994–1996 The Adventures of Pete & Pete Nona F. Mecklenberg Recurring role, season 2; regular role, season 3 1996 Dave's World Angela 1996 Space Cases Prankster #1 1997 Meego Maggie Parker Regular role, 13 episodes
Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series - Supporting Young Actress1998 Guys Like Us Katie 1998 Blues Clues Herself Episode: "Blues Birthday" 2000–2003 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Dawn Summers Regular role: 65 episodes, guest role: 1 episode
Young Artist Awards for Best Performance in a TV Drama Series - Supporting Young Actress (2001)
Nominated — Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television (2001–2003)
Nominated — Teen Choice Award for TV - Choice Sidekick (2001)2001–2003 Truth or Scare Herself Host/Narrator, 20 episodes
Nominated — Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series (2004)
Nominated — Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series - Leading Young Actress (2002)2004 Best Week Ever 2004 Six Feet Under Celeste 4 episodes 2006 House M.D. Melinda Bardach Episode "Safe" 2006 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Lisa Willow Tyler Episode "Weeping Willow" 2006–present Robot Chicken Various Roles Voice only 2008–present Gossip Girl Georgina Sparks Season 1-present/Recurring role
14 episodes2009–2010 Mercy Chloe Payne Regular role; 22 episodes 2009–present The Super Hero Squad Show Valkyrie Voice only 2011 Love Bites Jodie Episodes: "How To...": "Banana Bread"
"Keep on Truckin'": "Cutlets"
"Modern Plagues": "Bad in Bedbugs"2011 Weeds Emma Karlin 4 episodes References
- ^ a b Tatiana Morales (March 18, 2005). "Find And Fight For Your Dream". cbsnews.com. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/18/earlyshow/leisure/celebspot/main681555.shtml. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
- ^ "Michelle Trachtenberg Biography (1985–)". Film Reference. http://www.filmreference.com/film/22/Michelle-Trachtenberg.html.
- ^ 7 Things: Michelle Trachtenberg
- ^ Neumaier, Joe (February 25, 2004). "'Buffy's' sis on trach". Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/2004/02/25/2004-02-25__buffy_s__sis_on_trach.html.
- ^ Lee, Michael J. (May 24, 2005). "Exclusive Interview with Michelle Trachtenberg". Radio Free Entertainment. http://www.radiofree.com/profiles/michelle_trachtenberg/interview02.shtml. Retrieved November 23, 2007.
- ^ "May 7, 2009 episode". Chelsea Lately.
- ^ Chesterton, Lucy (June 22, 2008). "Spotlight – Michelle Trachtenberg". The Sunday Telegraph.
- ^ a b White, Kelly (December 2000). "Under Michelle's spell". Girls' Life. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0IBX/is_3_7/ai_67718265/pg_2. Retrieved November 23, 2007.
- ^ "James Marsters and Michelle Trachtenberg interview". contactmusic.com. http://www.contactmusic.com/new/home.nsf/webpages/buffy4x01x04x04. Retrieved March 14, 2007.
- ^ Butler, Karen (March 19, 2005). "ON 'ICE': Sheepshead Bay native talks of tough workouts for lead in 'Ice Princess'". The Brooklyn Paper. http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/28/12/28_12iceprincess.html. 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."
- ^ a b Koltow, Barry (July 11, 1996). "Defining where 'Harriet' ends, Michelle Trachtenberg begins". Los Angeles Daily News. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/-a083952945. Retrieved March 9, 2008.
- ^ Morales, Tatiana (March 18, 2005). "Find And Fight For Your Dream". CBS News. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/18/earlyshow/leisure/celebspot/main681555.shtml. Retrieved March 9, 2008.
- ^ "19th Annual Awards". www.youngartistawards.org. http://www.youngartistawards.org/pastnoms19.htm. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
- ^ Michelle Trachtenberg about her Guest Appearance on House @ Conan O'Brien 22/12/2006
- ^ "Trachtenberg goes to Washington in ABC comedy". Reuters. March 8, 2007. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0726414620070308. Retrieved March 14, 2007.
- ^ "Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight". Internet Movie Database. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0825245/.
- ^ Ausiello, Michael (March 19, 2008). "Gossip Girl casts Buffy alumna Michelle Trachtenberg". Ausiello Report, TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on June 3, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080603011217/http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/Gossip-Girl-Casts/800035799.
- ^ "Michelle Trachtenberg to Return to Gossip Girl". People. January 5, 2009. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20422921.html.
- ^ Godwin, Jennifer (May 18, 2009). "This Just In: Is Georgina Joining Gossip Girl?". E! Online. http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b124592_this_just_in_georgina_joining_gossip.html.
- ^ "Michelle Trachtenberg cast as pot dealer on Weeds". http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/06/27/michelle-trachtenberg-weeds/.
- ^ McNary, Dave (December 27, 2009). "Kevin Smith's 'Dicks' becomes 'Cop Out'". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118013116.html?categoryid=1237&cs=1. Retrieved January 9, 2010.
- ^ "Michelle Trachtenberg". Maxim.com. http://www.maxim.com/amg/GIRLS/Girls+of+Maxim/Michelle+Trachtenberg.
- ^ "Seth Green, Michelle Trachtenberg Join Indie 'Sexy Evil Genius'" June 1, 2011, Hollywood reporter
External links
- Michelle Trachtenberg at the Internet Movie Database
- Michelle Trachtenberg on Myspace
- Michelle Trachtenberg on Twitter
Major members of the Buffy and Angel casts Amy Acker · Amber Benson · Marc Blucas · David Boreanaz · Nicholas Brendon · Charisma Carpenter · Emma Caulfield · Alexis Denisof · Eliza Dushku · Sarah Michelle Gellar · Seth Green · Andy Hallett · Alyson Hannigan · Anthony Stewart Head · Vincent Kartheiser · James Marsters · Mercedes McNab · Glenn Quinn · J. August Richards · Michelle TrachtenbergCategory:Buffyverse Categories:- 1985 births
- Actors from New York City
- American people of Israeli descent
- American child actors
- American film actors
- American Jews
- American people of German-Jewish descent
- American people of Russian descent
- American people of Russian-Jewish descent
- American soap opera actors
- American television actors
- American voice actors
- Jewish actors
- Living people
- People from Manhattan
- People from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn
- People from Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles
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