Michelle Trachtenberg

MICHELLE TRACHTENBERG

Date of Birth: October 11, 1985

Best known for her role as Buffy's sister Dawn on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Michelle Trachtenberg was born in New York City and made her professional acting debut at the age of three in a TV commercial. At five, she landed a guest appearance on the drama series Law & Order, and at seven she was on an episode of Clarissa Explains It All. By the time she was eight, Trachtenberg had a regular role playing Lilly Benton Montgomery on the soap opera All My Children, as well as a regular role on the Nickelodeon series The Adventures of Pete & Pete. She stayed with both shows for two years before making her feature film debut at the age of 10, playing the title role in Harriet the Spy (1996) opposite Rosie O'Donnell. Trachtenberg won the Young Artist Award for Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film for her work in that film. The following year she won another Young Artist Award for her supporting role in the short-lived CBS sitcom, Meego (1997).

Her second feature film role as Penny in Inspector Gadget (1999) opposite Matthew Broderick earned her yet another Young Artist Award nomination. In 2001, she won her third Young Artist Award for her role on the series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Other credits include telefilms such as Christmas in My Hometown (1996) and A Father's Choice (2000) and the independent feature Can't Be Heaven (2000).

When Buffy ended in 2003, Trachtenberg took on the role of Jenny in the feature film Eurotrip (2004). She also stars with Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the independent film drama Mysterious Skin (2005), based on the novel by Scott Helm. In Ice Princess (2005) she starred as a girl who realizes her dream of becoming a champion figure skater. On television, Trachtenberg filmed four episodes of HBO's award-winning series Six Feet Under.

Teen People named her one of the "20 Teens Who Will Change the World" for her active participation in a number of charities, including many anti-drug campaigns. She currently lives in Los Angeles.

Filmography:

Young Americans (2010)
Cop Out (2010)
17 Again (2009)
Against the Current (2009)
Black Christmas (2006)
Beautiful Ohio (2006)
Mysterious Skin (2005)
Ice Princess (2005)
Eurotrip (2004)
Can't Be Heaven (2000)
Inspector Gadget (1999)
Harriet the Spy (1996)