Michelle Trachtenberg is an actress who gained recognition for her first starring film role as the title character in the Nickelodeon movie Harriet the Spy. She is best known for her television roles as Dawn Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl.
Michelle Trachtenberg's Early Life and Family
Michelle Trachtenberg was born on October 11, 1985, in New York City, USA. Her parents are Lana and Michael Trachtenberg. Her mother, originally from Russia, was a bank manager, and her father, who has German roots, worked as a fiber optics engineer. She has an older sister named Irene.
Michelle grew up in Brooklyn and attended PS 99 Elementary School. She later attended The Bay Academy for the Arts and Sciences. After moving to California for her acting career, she attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks. She loved performing from a young age and started acting in commercials and TV shows before getting her big break in Harriet the Spy.
Michelle Trachtenberg's Career
Michelle Trachtenberg started her career as a child actress, appearing in over 62 movies and TV shows before her sudden passing at age 39. She was known for several memorable roles throughout her career, including:
- 1994: Nona Mecklenberg in The Adventures of Pete & Pete
- 1996: Harriet in Harriet the Spy
- 1997: Dawn Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- 1999: Penny Brown in Inspector Gadget
- 2001: Host and narrator of Truth or Scare
- 2004: Jenny in EuroTrip
- 2005: Casey Carlyle in Ice Princess
- 2006: Melissa in Black Christmas
- 2007: Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl
- 2009: Maggie in 17 Again
- 2015: Megan Phillips in The Christmas Gift
- 2022-2023: Georgina Sparks in the Gossip Girl reboot
She also made guest appearances in popular TV shows:
- 2006: Lisa Tyler in Law & Order: Criminal Intent
- 2006: Melinda Bardach in House
- 2013: Lily Lockhart in NCIS: Los Angeles
- 2013: Diane Turner in Criminal Minds
