Michelle Trachtenberg’s 3 Best Performances (And Where to Watch Them)

Hollywood lost one of the actresses who really made an impact in the ’90s and 2000s. Known for roles in productions that became unforgettable to a whole generation, Michelle Trachtenberg passed away in New York at the age of 39. Her career was filled with memorable characters and performances, leaving a lasting mark on pop culture. Over the years, she showed her talent in roles ranging from the teenager Nona Mecklenberg in The Adventures of Pete & Pete to the mysterious and complex Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl. Even though she’s been out of the spotlight in the past few years, it’s impossible not to remember her talent and charm onscreen.

Trachtenberg not only won over audiences but also showed off her impressive versatility in bringing characters to life with real depth and nuance (so much so that she received several nominations and won the Young Artist Award twice). She even took part in productions across different genres, but some of her performances really stood out as her best work.

Here are the Top 3 performances from Michelle Trachtenberg that fans will always remember. RIP.

Dawn Summers – Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Buffy the Vampire Slayer was one of the most iconic series of the late 1990s, running for seven seasons. When Michelle Trachtenberg joined in Season 5, audiences were surprised to meet Dawn, Buffy’s younger sister. She was introduced via a controversial premise, as a character who wasn’t actually a biological sister, but a “mystical key” created to protect the world. Based on this, you can already understand the responsibility of the role and how challenging it was, especially since Dawn was initially seen as an intruder.

Trachtenberg knew how to bring emotional depth to the role and, as a result, add a more complex layer to the character. Her performance was quickly noticed and praised for its ability to express Dawn’s vulnerabilities as she faced a series of both supernatural and personal challenges. Trachtenberg really proved her talent by changing viewers’ perceptions and making Dawn a fan favorite.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is available to stream on Hulu.

Georgina Sparks – Gossip Girl

After breaking out in a cult-hit ’90s show, Trachtenberg added a 2000s series that impacted and marked a generation to her filmography: Gossip Girl. Playing Georgina Sparks, a villain with great secrets and ambitions, Trachtenberg completely stole the show. Although she was technically an antagonist, she also became a key figure in creating the chaos that the story always needed. For this to happen, Georgina needed layers, because, although she was manipulative and destructive, she also had a vulnerable and unpredictable side. Many of the characters in the series had their own particularities, but Trachtenberg certainly knew how to craft someone who made viewers long to see her onscreen.

[RELATED: Michelle Trachtenberg Remembered by Friends and Co-Stars Including Buffy, Gossip Girl Cast]

It’s worth noting that the actress had an incredible ability to seamlessly switch between her character’s moments of fury and vulnerability without ever feeling forced. Georgina was multifaceted and won over audiences, to the point that Trachtenberg was the only original cast member to return for the 2022 reboot.

Gossip Girl is available to stream on Netflix.

Harriet Welsch – Harriet the Spy

Few actors have been able to stand out since childhood, but Michelle Trachtenberg was certainly one of them. However, after a few jobs here and there, she really made a name for herself when she starred in her own movie as Harriet in Harriet the Spy. The role demanded a lot, as it was about a curious girl who begins observing and documenting the lives of her friends and family. For it to work, the actress needed to show maturity, as well as the depth to handle both coming-of-age and mystery at the same time – which she absolutely delivered.

Harriet the Spy is certainly one of Trachtenberg’s most worthwhile works, as it shows a clear and perceptible talent as the young actress taps into Harriet’s emotional complexities. Trachtenberg was definitely the perfect choice for the role, and that’s why it remains one of her most remembered performances throughout her career. From a very young age, she was able to show exactly what she was capable of, and it was precisely thanks to her that the movie became a great success with kids of the time.

Harriet the Spy is available to stream on Apple TV+.

RIP Michelle Trachtenberg. There are many other fantastic performances of hers for fans to find comfort in rewatching: EuroTrip, Black Christmas, 17 Again, and Killing Kennedy are just a few currently available for you to stream.