Michelle Trachtenberg’s natural talent shone in everything from Harriet the Spy to Buffy | Veronica Esposito
Trachtenberg, who has died aged 39, was the fortunate child actor: successfully pivoting into an adult career peppered with millennial hits
Michelle Trachtenberg, who has died aged 39, is most famous for two very different roles in two very different shows that both loom large in the millennial consciousness. She was a fifth season addition to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, taking on the role of Buffy’s mysterious sister Dawn, a complicated, maturing young woman who came to occupy a central role in the series’ mythology. Four years later, she began a recurring role on Gossip Girl, as the Cruella-squared pot-stirrer Georgina Sparks, whom Trachtenberg once described as “basically the evil bitch from hell”.
With their very different aesthetics and intended audiences, Trachtenberg’s two hit series speak to very different parts of her fanbase: Buffy has a campy, B-movie charm, whereas Gossip Girl is as slick and indulgent as a delicious dessert. As those two shows indicate, her career defied easy generalisation – what to say of the woman who had her breakout role aged 11 in Harriet the Spy, before moving on to the racy teen raunchfest EuroTrip and the wholesome Disney banger Ice Princess?
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Michelle Trachtenberg, 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and 'Gossip Girl' actor, dies at 39
Michelle Trachtenberg, who starred in 'Harriet the Spy,' 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and 'Gossip Girl,' was found dead in her home Wednesday at age 39.Los Angeles Times - 1d -
Michelle Trachtenberg, 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and 'Gossip Girl' star, dies at 39
Michelle Trachtenberg, child actor in "Harriet the Spy" who went on to TV roles in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Gossip Girl" was found dead at her New York City home, police said Wednesday.NBC News - 1d -
'Buffy' and 'Gossip Girl' actress Michelle Trachtenberg dead at 39
Michelle Trachtenberg, an actress best known for her roles in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Gossip Girl," has died at age 39.ABC News - 1d -
Michelle Trachtenberg, 'Buffy' and 'Gossip Girl' star, dies at 39
Former child star and beloved millennial actor Michelle Trachtenberg, best known for her roles in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Gossip Girl," has died at 39 years old. The New York Medical ...NBC News - 1d -
Michelle Trachtenberg, ‘Gossip Girl’ and ‘Buffy’ Actress, Dies at 39
Police officers, responding to a 911 call, found her unresponsive in a Manhattan apartment on Wednesday morning, the authorities said.The New York Times - 21h -
Michelle Trachtenberg, Gossip Girl and Buffy actress, dies aged 39
Trachtenberg, 39, found fame in television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and later Gossip Girl.BBC News - 12h -
As 'Buffy's' Dawn Summers, Michelle Trachtenberg was all of our kid sister
Dawn Summers on 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' was magical energy turned human. Michelle Trachtenberg made her everyone's kid sister.Los Angeles Times - 11h -
Michelle Trachtenberg's "Buffy" co-stars, others react to her death
Cast members of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Gossip Girl" and more are remembering their co-star Michelle Trachtenberg after the news of her death.CBS News - 4h -
Sarah Michelle Gellar mourns Michelle Trachtenberg, her 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' sister
Actor Sarah Michelle Gellar paid tribute to her “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” costar Michelle Trachtenberg a day after police found the 39-year-old dead in her New York City home.NBC News - 7h
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