Washington [US], February 27: Actress Blake Lively has paid a heartfelt tribute to her late Gossip Girl co-star Michelle Trachtenberg, who tragically passed away at the age of 39. Lively shared a moving post on her Instagram stories, recalling the vibrant energy Trachtenberg brought to the set of the beloved teen drama.
The two stars appeared together on Gossip Girl from 2007 to 2012, with Trachtenberg playing the role of Georgina Sparks, a notorious “bad girl” and a frenemy to Lively’s character, Serena van der Woodsen. Lively fondly remembered their first meeting, describing it as a memorable moment filled with Trachtenberg’s unique presence. She wrote, “This was the first day I met Michelle. She was electricity. You knew when she entered a room because the vibration changed. Everything she did, she did 200%.”
Lively continued her tribute by reflecting on the qualities that made Michelle special: “She laughed the fullest at someone’s joke, she faced authority head on when she felt something was wrong, she cared deeply about her work, she was proud to be a part of this community and industry as painful as it could be sometimes. She was fiercely loyal to her friends and brave for those she loved. She was big and bold and distinctly herself.”
The actress also reminisced about the small, but meaningful details that Trachtenberg brought to their time on set, recalling how Michelle would wear “yummy caramel smelling lip gloss” during shoots. “She didn’t just want to sparkle on camera, she liked creating a nice experience for anyone who was in her orbit, even down to the subtle smell of her lip gloss because she cared about the sweet details.”
Lively ended her tribute by expressing her sorrow over the lost connection with her friend, writing, “Time passes. You take for granted that you get the chance to see an old friend. To paraphrase, the real tragedies in life are the ones that blindside you on an idle Tuesday. The world lost a deeply sensitive and good person in Michelle. May her work and her huge heart be remembered by those who were lucky enough to experience her fire.”
Blake Lively was not the only Gossip Girl cast member to mourn Trachtenberg’s passing. Ed Westwick and Chace Crawford also shared their memories on social media. Crawford, who portrayed Nate Archibald on the show, expressed his grief, saying, “Michelle was one of a kind. I remember her coming on set for the first time and just absolutely owning it. She was a force of nature and just so, so unapologetically funny and magnetic… remembering those years with a big smile. Just a terrible loss. Love you.”
Trachtenberg was found “unconscious and unresponsive” by police on Wednesday morning. Sources close to the late actress revealed that she had been struggling with health issues and had been open with her inner circle about the difficulties she was facing.