Monday, October 7, 2013

HOT CELEBRITIES: Actress Michelle Trachtenberg





Michelle Trachtenberg

   
Michelle Trachtenberg
Trachtenberg (crop).jpg
Trachtenberg in June 2008
BornMichelle Christine Trachtenberg
(1985-10-11) October 11, 1985 (age 27)
New York City, New York, U.S.[1]
OccupationActress
Years active1988–present
Michelle Christine Trachtenberg (born October 11, 1985) is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Nona F. Mecklenberg in The Adventures of Pete & Pete, Dawn Summers in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2000–2003) and Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl (2008–2012). She also appeared in the films Harriet the Spy (1996), EuroTrip (2004), Ice Princess (2005), Black Christmas (2006), and 17 Again (2009).

 

Early life

Trachtenberg at the Buffy the Vampire Slayer wrap party in 2003
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 German and her mother is Russian; Trachtenberg speaks Russian fluently.[3][4][5] Trachtenberg is of Jewish descent;[6] her grandparents live in Israel.[7] She celebrates both Christmas and Hanukkah;[8][9][10] Trachtenberg was raised, along with older sister Irene, in Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn,[11] where she attended P.S. 99 Elementary School and The Bay Academy for the Arts and Sciences. She later moved to Los Angeles and attended Notre Dame High School.[12]

Career

Early career

Trachtenberg made her first television appearance at the age of three, in a commercial for Wisk Detergent.[13] She went on to feature in over 100 more commercials.[13] 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,[14] in which she first worked with future Buffy star Sarah Michelle Gellar.[10]

Breakthrough career

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.[15] She returned to film in 1999 for Inspector Gadget, as the inspector's niece, Penny. She also starred in the film Can't Be Heaven. In the summer of 2000, Trachtenberg took on the role of Dawn Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer; she remained in the role until the show ended in 2003. Trachtenberg also hosted the Discovery Kids series Truth or Scare, from 2001 to 2003. After Buffy and Truth or Scare, she appeared in the comedy film EuroTrip, directed by Jeff Schaffer and co-starring Scott Mechlowicz, Jacob Pitts, and Travis Wester. 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, Joan Cusack, and Hayden Panettiere. 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.

Guest appearances

Trachtenberg in June 2008
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 was her favorite show, she was friends with one of the producers and she asked to be a guest star.[16]
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.[17] 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.[18]
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.[19] She returned to the show for a multi-episode story arc towards the end of the second season.[20] Trachtenberg appeared in the season 3 finale and the season 4 premiere.[21] In 2009, Trachtenberg was a cast member on the NBC drama Mercy. The series 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.[22] Her character Emma is a rival pot dealer who causes problems for Silas Botwin. In June 2012, Trachtenberg was cast opposite Katie Cassidy, Gina Gershon, and Eliza Dushku in the upcoming film The Scribbler, directed by John Suits and produced by Gabriel Cowan.[23] On January 16, 2013 Trachtenberg made a guest appearance on the CBS drama Criminal Minds as Spencer Reid's girlfriend's stalker.

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.[24] In March 2011, she was the featured cover girl in Maxim.[25]

Filmography[edit]

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
1995MelissaLenaUncredited
1996Harriet the SpyHarriet M. Welsch
1996Christmas in My HometownNoelle MurphyTelevision film
1998Richie Rich's Christmas WishGloriaDirect-to-video
1999Inspector GadgetPenny
2000Father's Choice, AA Father's ChoiceKelly McClainTelevision film
2000Can't Be HeavenJulie
2004EuroTripJenny
2004Mysterious SkinWendy
2005Ice PrincessCasey Carlyle
2005Dive from Clausen's Pier, TheThe Dive from Clausen's PierCarrie BealTelevision film
2006Beautiful OhioSandra
2006Black ChristmasMelissa Kitt
2008Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn TwilightTika (voice)Direct-to-video
2008Circuit, TheThe CircuitKylie ShinesTelevision film
2009Against the CurrentSuzanne
200917 AgainMargaret "Maggie" Sarah O'Donnell
2010Cop OutAva Monroe
2010DC Showcase: Jonah HexBar girl (voice)Short film
2011Take Me Home TonightAshley
2013Sexy Evil GeniusMiranda PragueDirect-to-video
2013Killing KennedyMarina OswaldTelevision film; completed
2014Scribbler, TheThe ScribblerAlicePost-production
Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1991Law & OrderDinah DriscollEpisode: "God Bless the Child"; uncredited
1993Clarissa Explains It AllElsie SoapersteinEpisode: "Babysitting"
1993–1996All My ChildrenLily Benton Montgomery #1
1994–1996Adventures of Pete & Pete, TheThe Adventures of Pete & PeteNona F. MecklenbergRecurring (season 2); main cast (season 3); 21 episodes
1996Dave's WorldAngelaEpisode: "Solitaire"
1996Space CasesPrankster #1Episode: "All You Can Eaty"
1997MeegoMaggie ParkerMain cast
1998Blue's CluesHerselfEpisode: "Blue's Birthday"
1998Reading RainbowHerself (voice)Episode: "Math Curse"
1998Guys Like UsKatieEpisode: "Maestro's First Crush"
1998–1999Figure It OutHerselfPanelist (seasons 2–3); 12 episodes
2000–2003Buffy the Vampire SlayerDawn SummersMain cast (seasons 5–7); 66 episodes
2001–2003Truth or ScareHerselfHost/narrator
2004Six Feet UnderCeleste4 episodes
2006HouseMelinda BardachEpisode: "Safe"
2006–2012Robot ChickenVarious voices5 episodes
2006Law & Order: Criminal IntentLisa Willow TylerEpisode: "Weeping Willow"
2007Hill, TheThe HillMaggie RogersUnsold ABC pilot
2008–2012Gossip GirlGeorgina Sparks28 episodes
2009–2010MercyChloe PayneMain cast
2009Super Hero Squad Show, TheThe Super Hero Squad ShowValkyrie (voice)2 episodes
2011Untitled Peter Knight PilotGracieUnsold CBS pilot
2011Love BitesJodie3 episodes
2011WeedsEmma Karlin5 episodes
2013Criminal MindsDiane TurnerEpisode: "Zugzwang"

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
1997Young Artist AwardBest Performance in a Feature Film: Leading Young ActressHarriet the SpyWon
1998Young Artist AwardBest Performance in a TV Comedy Series: Supporting Young ActressMeegoWon
2000YoungStar AwardBest Young Actress in a Comedy FilmInspector GadgetNominated
2000Young Artist AwardBest Performance in a Feature Film: Supporting Young ActressInspector GadgetNominated
2001Teen Choice AwardTV – Choice SidekickBuffy the Vampire SlayerNominated
2001Young Artist AwardBest Performance in a TV Drama Series: Supporting Young ActressBuffy the Vampire SlayerWon
2001Saturn AwardBest Supporting Actress on TelevisionBuffy the Vampire SlayerNominated
2002Young Artist AwardBest Performance in a TV Comedy Series: Leading Young ActressTruth or ScareNominated
2002Young Artist AwardBest Performance in a TV Comedy Series: Guest Starring Young ActressMADtvNominated
2002Saturn AwardBest Supporting Television ActressBuffy the Vampire SlayerNominated
2003Saturn AwardBest Supporting Television ActressBuffy the Vampire SlayerNominated
2004Daytime Emmy AwardOutstanding Performer in a Children's SeriesTruth or ScareNominated
2007Sarasota Film FestivalBreakthrough PerformerBeautiful OhioWon
2012Teen Choice AwardChoice TV VillainGossip GirlNominated

References

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Tatiana Morales (March 18, 2005). "Find And Fight For Your Dream". cbsnews.com. Retrieved July 21, 2010. 
  2. Jump up ^ "Michelle Trachtenberg Biography (1985–)". Film Reference. 
  3. Jump up ^ 7 Things: Michelle Trachtenberg
  4. Jump up ^ Neumaier, Joe (February 25, 2004). "'Buffy's' sis on trach". Daily News. 
  5. Jump up ^ Lee, Michael J. (May 24, 2005). "Exclusive Interview with Michelle Trachtenberg". Radio Free Entertainment. Retrieved November 23, 2007. 
  6. Jump up ^ "March 14, 2013 episode". Kathy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeX4JW6OW1Y.
  7. Jump up ^ "James Marsters and Michelle Trachtenberg interview". contactmusic.com. Retrieved March 14, 2007. 
  8. Jump up ^ "May 7, 2009 episode". Chelsea Lately.
  9. Jump up ^ Chesterton, Lucy (June 22, 2008). "Spotlight – Michelle Trachtenberg". The Sunday Telegraph. 
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b White, Kelly (December 2000). "Under Michelle's spell". Girls' Life. Retrieved November 23, 2007. 
  11. Jump up ^ 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." 
  12. Jump up ^ "Gossip Girl Transformations - Michelle Trachtenberg". InStyle. Retrieved February 11, 2013. 
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b Koltow, Barry (July 11, 1996). "Defining where 'Harriet' ends, Michelle Trachtenberg begins". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved March 9, 2008. 
  14. Jump up ^ Morales, Tatiana (March 18, 2005). "Find And Fight For Your Dream". CBS News. Retrieved March 9, 2008. 
  15. Jump up ^ "19th Annual Awards". www.youngartistawards.org. Retrieved March 9, 2011. 
  16. Jump up ^ Michelle Trachtenberg about her Guest Appearance on House @ Conan O'Brien 22/12/2006
  17. Jump up ^ "Trachtenberg goes to Washington in ABC comedy". Reuters. March 8, 2007. Retrieved March 14, 2007. 
  18. Jump up ^ "Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight". Internet Movie Database. 
  19. Jump up ^ Ausiello, Michael (March 19, 2008). "Gossip Girl casts Buffy alumna Michelle Trachtenberg". Ausiello Report, TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on June 3, 2008. 
  20. Jump up ^ "Michelle Trachtenberg to Return to Gossip Girl". People. January 5, 2009. 
  21. Jump up ^ Godwin, Jennifer (May 18, 2009). "This Just In: Is Georgina Joining Gossip Girl?". E! Online. 
  22. Jump up ^ "Michelle Trachtenberg cast as pot dealer on Weeds". 
  23. Jump up ^ http://www.deadline.com/2012/05/the-scribbler-starts-production-with-katie-cassidy-starring/
  24. Jump up ^ McNary, Dave (December 27, 2009). "Kevin Smith's 'Dicks' becomes 'Cop Out'". Variety. Retrieved January 9, 2010. 
  25. Jump up ^ "Michelle Trachtenberg". Maxim.com. 

External links

      








 

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