Michelle Trachtenberg, born on October 11, 1985, in New York City, is an American actress who began her career at the tender age of three with commercials. She is known for her roles in various TV shows and movies, including her breakout role as Dawn Summers on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

Her parents, Michael and Lana Trachtenberg, are Jewish immigrants from Ukraine and Germany, and she grew up in Brooklyn with her older sister, Irene. Fluent in Russian, Michelle has always been proud of her heritage.

Her early career was marked by her appearances in over 100 commercials and guest roles on TV shows like "Law & Order" and "All My Children." Her first credited role came in the Nickelodeon series "The Adventures of Pete & Pete," where she played Nona Mecklenberg.

She gained further recognition for her role as Harriet M. Welsch in the film "Harriet the Spy" in 1996. Her performance in "Harriet the Spy" earned her a Young Artist Award, setting the stage for her future success.

One of her most iconic roles was as Dawn Summers on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," a role that won her another Young Artist Award and earned her three Saturn Award nominations.

Her time on the show introduced her to lifelong friends, including Sarah Michelle Gellar, who recommended Michelle for the part. Her versatility as an actress was further showcased in films like "EuroTrip" and "Ice Princess," as well as her recurring role as Georgina Sparks on "Gossip Girl."

Michelle Trachtenberg has also been involved in producing and hosting. She hosted the Discovery Kids series "Truth or Scare," earning a Daytime Emmy Award nomination, and provided the lead voice of Judy in the Facebook Watch series "Human Kind Of."

She has also executive-produced the teen drama web series "Guidance" and the true crime television series "Meet, Marry, Murder."