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Michelle Trachtenberg Profile |
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Birth Date: October 11, 1985
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Birth Place: New York, New York, USA
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Birth Name: Michelle Christine Trachtenberg
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Height: 5'7"
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Biography |
Michelle Christine Trachtenberg was born on October 11th,
1985, in New York City. She started acting at age 3, after
telling her mother Lana, a former actress and puppeteer,
that she wanted to be on TV.
Michelle's first job came in a commercial for Wisk: "I was a
daughter who had to throw fake cranberry juice on my
father," Michelle later explained. In the years that
followed, she appeared in over 100 commercials.
Michelle made an early appearance on a 1991 episode of Law &
Order. Then, from 1994 to 1996, Michelle had her first major
dramatic role, playing an autistic child, Lilly Benton
Montgomery, on the long-running soap All My Children. One of
her All My Children co-stars was Sarah Michelle Gellar, who
would go on to star in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In the
meantime, however, Michelle was cast in the title role in
Harriet the Spy (1996), based on the beloved children's book
by Louise Fitzhugh.
Following a few more television appearances, including the
award-winning children's show Reading Rainbow, Michelle was
seen on the big screen again, this time as precocious Penny
in the live-action film version of Inspector Gadget (1999).
Some could say that karma played a part in her landing the
role: It's rumored that Michelle had been considered for the
lead in a remake of The Parent Trap, but passed so that her
friend, Lindsay Lohan, could have the part. In return, Lohan
offered her the role of Penny in Inspector Gadget.
Trachtenberg's career took a darker turn when she moved to
Los Angeles to join the cast of the cult favorite, Buffy the
Vampire Slayer, in 2000. Michelle played Dawn, the sister of
the eponymous Buffy -- it was Sarah Michelle Gellar, her
former co-star, who had recommended Michelle for the part.
Trachtenberg remained on Buffy until the show came to an end
in 2003.
Michelle's next project was the teen comedy Eurotrip (2004),
in which, as the bikini-clad Jenny, she put to rest any
doubts that she, now 18, had grown up. She also has parts in
the upcoming movies Mysterious Skin (2004), Odd Girl Out
(2005) and Ice Princess (2005).
In between roles, Trachtenberg does charity work and pursues
her hobbies, which include swimming, rollerblading, ice
skating, bicycling, and writing short stories.
In spite of her busy work schedule, Michelle still makes
education a top priority. While filming, she was always
tutored on the set. When not working, she attended regular
school, whether it was elementary school in Brooklyn, New
York, or high school in Sherman Oaks, California. Her older
sister Irene is a recent college graduate, and Michelle
plans to follow in her footsteps. Her plan is to go to
school, but still do movies in the summer. One thing is
certain, though -- she's not keen on math. "What do you use
it for?" Michelle jokes. "'I'll have eggs and a Pythagorean
theorem, please.'" |
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Other
Information |
She worked with Sarah Michelle Gellar on "All My Children"
(1970) before "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997) and they
were good friends. Sarah was the one who recommended
Michelle for the part of Dawn.
She grew up in New York but moved to LA three years ago with
her mom. Her dad still lives in New York. Her sister Irene
recently graduated from college.
Appeared at the Xcel Center at a Sci-fi expo alongside
Kristine Sutherland (May 2002)
Said the last line ever in the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"
(1997) series.
She loves to play tennis.
She helped President Bill Clinton launch The Coalition for a
Drug Free America campaign.
Attended Notre Dame High School. She graduated with awards
in Social Studies and Religion and was also named under the
California Scholarship Federation.
Attended Bay Academy Junior High School in Brooklyn, New
York
Speaks Russian.
Her birthday is also the wedding anniversary of her "Buffy
the Vampire Slayer" (1997) cast mate Alyson Hannigan
(Willow) and _"Angel" (1999/I)_ 's Alexis Denisof (Wesley).
Was able to sneak a souvenir from the "Buffy the Vampire
Slayer" (1997) set when the show ended, a wooden stake.
Studied ballet as a child, which helped her perfect her
skating abilities for Ice Princess (2005).
Is of Russian and German descent.
Participated in the golf tournament in Jamaica hosted by
Carmen Electra.
Hobbies: Swimming, ice skating, writing poems
Attended Isaac Asimov Public School 99 for elementary
school.
Has an older sister Irene, b. 1978
Spent the summer of 2005 as a non-paid apprentice at the
Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts.
Has separately played the daughter of both actors who played
the young married couple Laura Ingalls Wilder and Almanzo
Wilder in "Little House on the Prairie" (1974). She played
Melissa Gilbert's daughter in Christmas in My Hometown
(1996) (TV) and played Dean Butler's daughter in "Buffy the
Vampire Slayer" (1997). |
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