Michelle Christine Trachtenberg (born October 11, 1985) is an American television and film actress, known for her roles on Nickelodeon in both television and a movie as well as Dawn Summers in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer in the later seasons.
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 (I) 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)'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 Jewish 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 (I)'s daughter in Christmas in My Hometown (1996) (TV) and played Dean Butler (II)'s daughter in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997).
Was submitted for Emmy consideration for her guest-starring role on "House M.D." (2004).
Her grandparents live in Israel.
Ranked #86 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2007 list.
Shares birthday with actress Emily Deschanel.
