Throughout the years, Trachtenberg proved to have major staying power.
Today, the former child star remains active and has expanded her repertoire considerably.
Keep reading as we explore Trachtenberg’s complete transformation.
Case in point: Michelle Trachtenberg.
The New York City native wasn’t born into Hollywood royalty in fact, she came from humble beginnings.
Trachtenberg hails from an immigrant family.
As a child, she learned to speak Russian, her mother’s native language.
I speak what I call grammatically incorrect Russian."
When Trachtenberg decided to pursue acting as a child, she received full support from her family.
“I was raised in a very loving and strict way,” the star toldHuffPost Live.
Trachtenberg praised her mother for guiding her in the right direction very early in life.
By age 4, she’d nabbed her first on-screen gig: a commercial for Wisk laundry detergent.
After achieving small-time success, Trachtenberg started auditioning for larger roles.
As the project unfolded, producers began searching for someone to play the main character, Harriet Welsch.
Soon, they found their leading lady: Michelle Trachtenberg.
The budding actor was cast alongside Hollywood veterans Rosie O’Donnell and Eartha Kitt.
Trachtenberg was only 10 at the time, but her skills impressed the film’s producers.
“She is simply a great actress,” a Nickelodeon executive told the Orange County Register in 1996.
Trachtenberg prepared for the role by tapping into her real-life experiences as a rouble-rousing kid.
She added, “But that isn’t the only thing I have in common with Harriet, though.
I also dress like her, and I love tomato sandwiches.”
The film was a runaway success, and Trachtenberg quickly rose to international stardom.
She enrolled in a private school in Los Angeles, but her classmates weren’t exactly welcoming.
In a heartbreakingInstagram post, Trachtenberg reflected on the years of bullying that she endured as a child.
She added, “The kids were cruel.”
Nevertheless, she tried her best to tune out the bullies.
“I’m like, ‘Dude, that means youwatchedit,” she explained.
“Like, you saw it.
So actually, who’s, like, thelosercalling out Harriet?'”
The actor proclaimed, “I think it’s appreciation of where I am and … rising above.
The show became an instant cult classic.
From the beginning, fans were completely divided over Dawn.
While some viewers immediately embraced the character, others found her insufferable.
“I rarely get the ‘Oh she ruined the show,'” she said.
“I do get a lot of ‘Oh she was so whiny!’
Hi, were you a teenager?
Oh, you were docile, sitting in the corner, doe-eyed and happy to be there?
Reflecting on the iconic scene, Trachtenberg admitted that the experience made her slightly uncomfortable.
“It was a little stressful.
“But it was such a funny situation.
And I flop up in this big, sloppy sweatshirt and take it off.”
This time, she portrayed Casey Carlyle, a shy teen who discovers her passion for figure skating.
Speaking withBlackfilmin 2005, the actor dished about her incredibly demanding training schedule.
Was constantly on the ice,” she explained.
“And then when we were shooting, I was working seven days a week.”
During the process, she sustained some torn ligaments and a dislocated knee.
By the end of filming, Trachtenberg had developed the body of an athlete.
“Oh yeah, I had killer thighs, just like rock hard,” she remarked.
So training for this movie was just quite an experience.”
“But I will not be quitting acting anytime soon, certainly not for ice skating.”
Trachtenberg portrayed Oswald’s wife, a Russian immigrant named Marina Oswald.
News, Trachtenberg stated that she was proud to be involved in sharing Marina’s obscure story.
Trachtenberg’s wardrobe for the film included a long, wavy bob and ’60s era house dresses.
On social media, fans raved about the resemblance between the actor and the real-life Marina Oswald.
As its name suggests, the show focused on infamous cases of murderers who targeted their spouses.
Speaking withEntertainment Tonight, Trachtenberg revealed some interesting tidbits about the show.
“I host, I narrated it.
We filmed it during the COVID.
And I would absolutely love people to be watching it on Tubi.
Because I, myself, am an extreme true crime fan.”
She played the villainous Georgina Sparks for six seasons until"Gossip Girl” was canceledin 2012.
The revived show featured a whole new ensemble of Manhattan elites, plus some of the original cast.
In 2022, Trachtenberg returned to the series to reprise her role as the conniving Georgina.
The new generation of “Gossip Girl” actors couldn’t wait to welcome Trachtenberg to the set.
“She’s an icon,” said Zion Moreno, who played Luna La in the reboot.
She’s a hoot for sure, and there’s never a dull moment around her.
