Michelle at SkyOne

From SkyOne - March 14th, 2001

Michelle Trachtenberg may not be 15 yet but she already has an impressive list of films and television shows tucked under her (professional) belt. You may remember her as dreamy little Harriet in Harriet The Spy or as the main character`s niece in Inspector Gadget among many other commercials and American soap operas` roles. Does she seem affected by this at all? Patrizia Mazzuoccolo talks to a very level-headed and enthusiastic teenager who is `so grateful to have found her path in life so early` and enquires about Buffy`s little sister`s Dawn`s role in the brand new series of this much acclaimed cult-show...

You play Buffy`s sister, Dawn in this new series. What`s Dawn`s "real" role?

M.T.: As all the Buffy fans will know Buffy has not had a sister and there hasn’t even been a mention of her before and what’s going to happen is very interesting. She is Buffy’s sister and she is an average teenager, she has crushes on some of the boys, she keeps a diary, you know she does the whole ‘teenage’ thing. There is a little secret to Dawn and it’s worth seeing...

Are we going to find out in this series or are we going to be strung along to the next one?

M.T.: We’re going to tease you guys a little bit but you will find out in this series, in the 5th episode, I believe…you will think ‘that’s weird’ and go a little bit crazy but it is worth it (laughs)!

How about a little clue?

M.T.: Ooooooooooohhhhhhhhhh, I caaaaaaaaannnnnnnnn’t.

How did you get the part?

M.T.: I actually heard about it from my agent and I went to the audition later and they loved what I did and Sarah Michelle Gellar was very supportive – we’d worked together before on ‘All My Children’ (long running U.S. soap) – and the producer was really happy to have me join the cast, so that was great!

When did you realize you wanted to be an actress?

M.T.: When I was 3 years old I went in front of the television and stated that I wanted to be on television and wouldn’t move until I was guaranteed that I would be on it. So my mum found out all the information, found a manager from New York who sent me on my first commercial audition that was that!

Does it (acting) run in the family at all?

M.T.: No. My mum did a little bit of theatre work when she was younger but it was all me. I loved all the little girls on television and I thought I could do that, just as well and I did!

Are you still at school?

M.T.: I’m in grade 10 and it’s a whole lot of work for the next 3 years but when I do go to college I want to spend my 3rd year in London, England, going to school there. It will definitely be theatre, you know it’s my life and I’m very grateful I found out my path so early in my life.

How do you cope with being an actress and still going to school?

M.T.: My mum actually has those duties. If we ever go on location she makes sure that I get to do normal things. Like when we were in London doing an international press tour for ‘Harriet The Spy’ (Michelle played the leading role, Harriet), she made sure that we had a week after all the interviews so that I could just go around and see the Tower Of London etc. It was incredible!

Do you get special treatment from boys at all?

M.T.: I don’t necessarily think of special treatment from boys. I have a bunch of guys I hang out with, that are my friends and they still consider me ‘plain, old Michelle’. My mum keeps me grounded, you know, feet right on the ground, head on my shoulder, that kind of thing.

Have you got a boyfriend at the moment?

M.T.: No, I don’t actually (giggles)

Have you got a crush on someone at all? Maybe someone on the set of "Buffy"?

M.T.: All the guys we work with on the set are really good fun but no crushes.

Are you especially into vampires and demons?

M.T.: You know? I’ve always been a fan of the show and yes I was into all the characters that they had and all the story lines. They’ve always fascinated me.

What's your favorite show aside "Buffy"?

M.T.: I love ‘Friends’ and ‘Survivor’ (USA equivalent to a ‘Big Brother’ meets ‘Castaway’ show where 16 people are put on an island and they have to ‘survive’ the experience…)

Would you like to make an appearance in "Friends"?

M.T.: Well, it’s kind of like with Buffy, my all time favourite show and then not only did I make an appearance, I also got to stay on the show to do the whole season and it was very exciting, so who knows?!

Do you see yourself staying in the series for a while?

M.T.: Hopefully, but with the creator of the show you never know what to expect cos he has so many ideas. See what happens!

What are your future projects apart from "Buffy"?