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Michelle Trachtenberg

Michelle Trachtenberg

Actor, also producer · Died February 26, 2025, aged 39 · New York City, New York, USA

Michelle Christine Trachtenberg (October 11, 1985 – February 26, 2025) was an American actress who achieved widespread recognition as both a child star and a prominent television and film performer. Beginning her career at the age of three in television commercials, she landed her first major credited television role in Nickelodeon's The Adventures of Pete & Pete (1994–1996) and transitioned to the big screen with the title role in the 1996 family comedy Harriet the Spy. Trachtenberg rose to international prominence as a teenager and young adult through iconic television and film projects. She is best known for portraying Dawn Summers in the fantasy drama series Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2000–2003) and playing the memorable villain Georgina Sparks on the CW teen drama series Gossip Girl (2008–2012). Her diverse film credits also include the comedies EuroTrip (2004) and 17 Again (2009), as well as the Disney ice skating film Ice Princess (2005). On February 26, 2025, Trachtenberg was found dead at the age of 39 in her New York City apartment. The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner later announced that she died from natural causes resulting from complications of diabetes mellitus.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 11, 1985
Died
February 26, 2025 (aged 39)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
44 on MovieCove · 56 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 65 days to Oct 28Down 42% in 30 days

What are Michelle Trachtenberg's films like?

Across their 28 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Animation3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 14th percentile
: browse their Action movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
31%
Self
28%
Survival
19%
Morality
14%
Society
4%
Ideas
4%
Family bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 25 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 14 · Serious 3 · Dark 8

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 15 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 9 · Charged 10 · Intense 6

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 17 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 3

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 14 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 4

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 13 · Even-paced 10 · Relentless 2

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 16 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 1

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 18 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

12 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 5 of 12 analyzed roles.

Ally
5 of 12
Hero
3 of 12
Herald
3 of 12
Trickster
1 of 12
Show the 12 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
12
Hopeful
11
Melancholic
10
Warm
7
Romantic
7
Other
28

How their films linger

Feel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Happy13
  • Bittersweet6
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous7

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Michelle Trachtenberg's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 35 of their 44 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Roku Channel (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Michelle Trachtenberg's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

56 credits, 44 with a MovieCove page; 17 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Spyral (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Michelle Cody White (voice)

  • Unicorn Boy(2023)

    as Violet (voice)

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Meet, Marry, Murder Hosted by Michelle Trachtenberg(2021)

    Show 13 episodes · Executive Producer · as Self - Host

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Gossip Girl(2021)

    Show 2 episodes · as Georgina Sparks

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all shows

  • Human Kind Of (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 21 episodes · as Judy (voice)

  • Sister Cities(2016)

    as Dallas Baxter

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Christmas Gift(2015)

    as Megan

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Guidance(2015)

    Show 30 episodes · Executive Producer · as Anna

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all shows

  • The Scribbler(2014)

    as Alice

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Last Week Tonight with John Oliver(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Voice Over (voice)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Killing Kennedy(2013)

    as Marina Oswald

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Sleepy Hollow(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Abigail Adams

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Sexy Evil Genius(2013)

    as Miranda Prague

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Love Bites (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 3 episodes · as Jodie

  • Take Me Home Tonight(2011)

    as Ashley

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Bar Girl (segment "Jonah Hex") (voice)

  • Jonah Hex(2010)

    as Bar Girl (voice)

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Cop Out(2010)

    as Ava

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Mercy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 22 episodes · as Chloe Payne

  • NCIS: Los Angeles(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Lily Lockhart

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • The Super Hero Squad Show(2009)

    Show 52 episodes · as Valkyrie

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all shows

  • 17 Again(2009)

    as Maggie O'Donnell

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Against the Current(2009)

    as Suzanne

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Circuit(2008)

    as Kylie Shines

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight(2008)

    as Tika (voice)

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Gossip Girl(2007)

    Show 28 episodes · as Georgina Sparks

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • The Hill(2007)

    as Maggie Rogers

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Black Christmas(2006)

    as Melissa Kitt

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Beautiful Ohio(2006)

    as Sandra

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Criminal Minds(2005)

    Show 2 episodes · as Diane Turner

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Weeds(2005)

    Show 5 episodes · as Emma Karlin

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • The Dive from Clausen's Pier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Carrie Beal

  • Mysterious Skin(2004)

    as Wendy Peterson

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Ice Princess(2005)

    as Casey Carlyle

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Robot Chicken(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Gummy Bear / Wife / Woman (voice)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • House(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Melinda Bardach

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • EuroTrip(2004)

    as Jenny

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Best Week Ever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • Law & Order: Criminal Intent(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Lisa Willow Tyler

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Six Feet Under(2001)

    Show 4 episodes · as Celeste

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • A Father's Choice(2000)

    as Kelly McClain

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Can't Be Heaven(1999)

    as Julie

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Inspector Gadget(1999)

    as Penny

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Richie Rich's Christmas Wish(1998)

    as Gloria

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Wonderful World of Disney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Meego (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 13 episodes · as Maggie Parker

  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer(1997)

    Show 66 episodes · as Dawn Summers

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • A Holiday for Love(1996)

    as Noelle Murphy

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Blue's Clues(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • Harriet the Spy(1996)

    as Harriet

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Space Cases (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Secret Sins(1995)

    as Lena

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • The Adventures of Pete & Pete (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 14 episodes · as Nona Mecklenberg

  • Dave's World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Angela

  • Clarissa Explains It All(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Elsie Soaperstein

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Dinah Driscoll (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 56 titles, 55 of them dated from 1990 to 2024; peak year 2005.

Biggest box office

17 Again (2009)

$136M worldwide

Highest rated

Mysterious Skin (2004)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)

Film career

19902024

Peak 2005 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 9 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting55 of 56: 54 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score52ndProducing2 of 56: 1 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1990s15 · acting2000s22 · acting2010s14 · 14 acting · 1 crew2020s4 · 3 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 23% of 22 roles
960111

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Michelle Trachtenberg's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 44th percentile, the median of all 26; across their 25 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 44th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Approval · how many liked their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Reach · how many have seen their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Midcredits score across 44 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up12
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th9

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 44 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Mixed15

Most divisive · actor

The Hill (2007)

98th percentile spread · 46% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Six Feet Under (2001)

Midcredits 97th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 62/100 in their films, across 23 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 38. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Michelle Trachtenberg's work okay for kids?

Across up to 11 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films and violence & gore lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore9 titles27–87 · median 33 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity11 titles21–76 · median 50 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity9 titles19–86 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs9 titles25–78 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense9 titles11–88 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Michelle Trachtenberg work with?

People who share at least 2 of Michelle Trachtenberg's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Brett Davern shares the most, 2.

Actors

Producers