Michelle Trachtenberg’s final social media posts before her death were throwback photos from her Hollywood past.
The actress, known for her work on Gossip Girl and Buffy The Vampire Slayer, was found unconscious in her New York City apartment on Wednesday, February 26, police sources confirmed to Us Weekly. She was 39.
A week before her death, Trachtenberg took to Instagram to post past headshots and several photos from previous red carpet events she attended — including the School Of American Ballet’s Winter Ball in March 2011 and National Geographic Channel’s Killing Kennedy premiere in November 2013.
“A memory, a magical night in #newyork. I remember feeling like Cinderella!
Wishing everyone an ethereal weekend #throwback ,” Trachtenberg wrote in a nostalgic post on February 15. She shared a photo of herself at the Winter Ball wearing a blue chiffon Marchesa dress with embellishments. She wore her hair in a low ponytail with a side part.
She also shared a picture from the Killing Kennedy premiere, to which she wore a green gown with a criss-cross cutout neckline. “I wanted to look like naughty #tinkerbell #throwback ,” she wrote on February 19.
Trachtenberg, who began her career as a child star in commercials as well as on Nickelodeon’s The Adventures of Pete & Pete (1994-1996) before nabbing the lead role in Harriet the Spy (1996), also shared a blurry headshot on February 16, writing, “#sundayscaries ain’t got nothing on me! .”
News of her death comes after Trachtenberg sparked concern among fans over her social media posts last year. The Inspector Gadget star criticized followers for commenting on her appearance in an Instagram post in January 2024. “I’ve received several comments recently about my appearance. I have never had plastic surgery I am happy and healthy. Check yourself haters,” she wrote alongside a selfie.
“Explain to me how I look sick,” she replied to a commenter in another post, in which she posed with with pal Alexa PenaVega. “Did you lose a calendar and not realize I’m not 14. I’m 38. How sad for you to leave such a comment.”
In another throwback photo posted via Instagram on January 27, she wrote, “Haters gonna hate, #eye don’t care .”
Police sources confirmed to Us on Wednesday that Trachtenberg was found unconscious inside her Midtown West Side apartment in New York City. The incident is not believed to be suspicious. No cause of death has been reported. (The New York Post was the first to break the news.)
Following her child stardom, Trachtenberg went on to join the cast of Buffy the Vampire Slayer as Sarah Michelle Gellar’s sister, Dawn, and was a fan-favorite guest star on Gossip Girl as Georgina Sparks. She reprised the role in 2022 and 2023 episodes of the revived Gossip Girl.
More recently, Trachtenberg appeared in the film Spyral and also served as an executive producer for 2021’s Meet, Marry, Murder series, which she also hosted.
Harriet (Michelle Trachtenberg) is a precocious sixth-grader who’s destined to be a super-sleuth. She records all sorts of suspicious activity in her private notebook along with a running list of observations about everyone she knows. It all seems like harmless fun until one of her classmates finds her journal and exposes the middle schooler’s inner thoughts to the entire school. As everyone turns against her, Harriet resolves to exact revenge.
“I turned 10 years old on the first day of principal photography of Harriet this Spy,” Trachtenberg recalled to Entertainment Tonight in October 2021. “Rosie [O’Donnell] was my biggest supporter … There was a lot required of me. I’m extremely grateful for the experience.”
“When I do look at social media, which is challenging, [I see] them coming in with, ‘You inspired my life. You made me become a writer,'” Trachtenberg told ET. “All of those, just beautiful things.”
Scroll below to see what the Harriet the Spy cast has been up since their days filming the Nickelodeon movie:
Ahead of her film debut as the notebook-carrying sixth-grader in the Nick movie, Trachtenberg had bit parts on Clarissa Explains It All, Law & Order and All My Children. She later appeared in Meego, Inspector Gadget, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, EuroTrip and Six Feet Under. The New York native also starred in Ice Princess, 17 Again and played Georgina Sparks on Gossip Girl. The Adventures of Pete & Pete alum previously dated Shawn Ashmore and Scott Sanford before she was linked to talent agent Jay Cohen. Us Weekly confirmed in October 2020 that the actress had been dating the Gersh Agency partner for more than one year.
Us Weekly confirmed in February 2025 that the actress died at age 39.
The Rosie O’Donnell Show host had a lengthy career long before and after Harriet the Spy. She’s appeared in A League of Their Own, Sleepless in Seattle, The Flintstones, Tarzan, Queer as Folk, Nip/Tuck, Drop Dead Diva, Web Therapy, The Fosters and SMILF. O’Donnell also served as a talk show host on her self-titled daytime series and The View. The host was previously married to Kelli Carpenter and, later, Michelle Rounds. The comedian shares children Parker, Chelsea, Blake and Vivienne with Carpenter, and Dakota with Rounds.
The Canada native starred in Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century, The Patriot, Kate Brasher and Everwood throughout his acting career. Smith has also appeared in several episodes of Rookie Blue and Designated Survivor. He has been married to Taylor McKay since 2018. The couple welcomed their first child, son Harry, in September 2021.
The California native’s acting credits include A Little Princess, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, She’s All That, Once and Again, Veronica Mars, 17 Again, Welcome to Sanditon, Dollface, The Coop and Six Feet Apart.
The Guiding Light alum starred in The Equalizer, The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd, The First Wives Club and True Blood. The Kentucky native also appeared on HBO’s Divorce, Mozart in the Jungle, Succession and Search Party. She married Kenneth Lonergan in 2000 and the pair share daughter Nellie.
Joy has worked as both an actor and a composer over the years, with notable roles in Desperately Seeking Susan, The Equalizer, The High Life, Bull, Sweet November, Between Strangers, Fargo, CSI: NY, Crown and Anchor, The Goldfinch and Prodigal Son. He was previously married to Mary Joy, with whom he shares daughter Ruby.
The South Carolina native was an accomplished singer and actress, having starred in the likes of The Serpent Warriors, Living Doll, Fatal Instinct, The Emperor’s New Groove, Holes, My Life as a Teenage Robot, And Then Came Love and Wonder Pets. The accomplished singer was previously married to John William McDonald, with whom she shared daughter Kitt. The “Santa Baby” crooner died in December 2008 after a battle with colon cancer. She was 81.
The Law & Order: Organized Crime alum appeared in The New Ghostwriter Mysteries, How to Deal, M.V.P., The Colony, Rookie Blue, Chicago Fire, 12 Pups of Christmas and Wynonna Earp. Sullivan married Peter Stebbings in 2010. Five years later, they welcomed a daughter.
The series, created by Joss Whedon, was based on the 1992 film of the same name and ran for seven seasons on The WB and UPN from 1997 to 2003. The show’s popularity led to the spinoff titled Angel, in which Boreanaz starred for five seasons.
Buffy was praised for featuring a strong feminist hero and showcasing an LGBTQ romance between Hannigan’s character Willow Rosenberg and Amber Benson’s Tara Maclay.
However, a dark cloud came over Buffy in February 2021 when Charisma Carpenter, who played Cordelia Chase, accused Whedon of creating a toxic work environment on the set. Whedon has yet to address the accusations.
Scroll down to see what the cast has been up to since the series ended:
Gellar was a ‘90s sensation on the big screen leading up to Buffy, and she continued to find diverse work after the series. She first reprised her role as Daphne Blake in Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed before starring in The Grudge franchise and other films including Veronika Decides to Die and Do Revenge. She found her groove with TV gigs such as Ringer and The Crazy Ones, and she lent her voice to characters on Robot Chicken, American Dad! and Star Wars Rebels. She cofounded the cooking company Foodstirs in 2015 and authored a cookbook, Stirring Up Fun with Food, in 2017. In January 2023, Gellar returned to TV in the Paramount+ show, Wolf Pack, where she also serves as an executive producer.
Gellar shares daughter Charlotte and son Rocky with husband Freddie Prinze Jr.
Hannigan went on to star on How I Met Your Mother for nine seasons as Lily Aldrin. She returned for two more American Pie films — 2003’s American Wedding and 2012’s American Reunion. Additionally, she lent her voice to characters on American Dad! and King of the Hill. She also guest-starred on shows including Veronica Mars and That ‘70s Show. Hannigan hosted the shows Girl Scout Cookie Championship and Penn & Teller: Fool Us and competed on season 32 of Dancing With the Stars.
Hannigan shares daughters Satyana and Keeva with husband Alexis Denisof, a fellow Buffy alum.
Boreanaz continued to star on the Buffy spinoff, Angel, for one more season after its predecessor concluded. Though he appeared in films including Officer Down, his biggest post-Buffy roles were on prominent TV series. He played Seeley Booth on Bones for 12 seasons and has played Jason Hayes on SEAL Team since 2017.
Boreanaz has been married to Jaime Bergman since 2001. They share son Jaden and daughter Bella.
Brendon had roles on Kitchen Confidential, Criminal Minds, Faking It and Hollywood Heights after Buffy wrapped. He also voiced a character on the former Disney Channel series American Dragon: Jake Long. He’s appeared in films including Coherence in 2013 and The Nanny.
As for his personal life, Brendon voluntarily entered rehab for alcoholism in 2004. He checked into treatment for the second time in 2015 for depression, alcoholism and substance abuse. He was married to Tressa DiFiglia from 2001 to 2007 and Moonda Tee from 2014 to 2015.
After appearing in 123 episodes of Buffy, Head primarily found success on TV. He’s held prominent and recurring roles on shows including Merlin, Little Britain, Still Star-Crossed and Ted Lasso. Head’s also dabbled in voiceover work, lending vocals to video game characters such as Isaac Newton in Assassin’s Creed: Gold.
Head has been in a relationship with Sarah Fisher since 1984. They share daughters Emily and Daisy.
Marsters notably appeared on Runaways and in the Hawaii Five-0 reboot after Buffy, but he also had roles on Smallville, Supernatural and Witches of East End. He’s lent his voice to numerous animated characters on shows including The Super Hero Squad Show and Dragon Ball Super. In addition to landing roles in films like P.S. I Love You, he’s also been a part of musical group Ghost of the Robot since 2002 and started a solo music career in 2004.
After his marriage to Liane Davidson ended in 1997, he wed Patricia Rahman in 2011, although the pair separated 10 years later. He shares a son named Sullivan with Davidson. When he was 40, Marsters adopted his then-5-year-old niece after his brother was unable to care for her.
Caulfield primarily found TV gigs after Buffy ended. The actress appeared on shows including Life Unexpected, Gigantic, Once Upon a Time and WandaVision. She’s additionally starred in the films TiMER and Removal. She is set to star in Marvel Studios' upcoming series Agatha: Coven of Chaos.
The Beverly Hills, 90210 alum was married to Cornelius Grobbelaar from 2006 to 2010. She tied the knot again in 2017 to Mark Ford, with whom she shares daughter Knightley.
After Buffy, Trachtenberg went on to star in movies including EuroTrip, Ice Princess and 17 Again. She also starred on Mercy and nabbed recurring roles on shows such as Gossip Girl, Weeds and Guidance. In 2018, she lent her voice to Judy Reilly on the Facebook Watch animated series Human Kind Of. She reprised the role of Georgina Sparks in 2022 and 2023 for HBO Max's Gossip Girl reboot.
Us Weekly confirmed in February 2025 that Trachtenberg died at the age of 39.
Though Carpenter appeared in films such as The Expendables and Mail Order Monster after Buffy, she primarily landed television gigs. She’s appeared on The Lying Game, Veronica Mars and Greek. She also hosted the true-crime series Surviving Evil for Investigation Discovery, for which she also served as executive producer and consulting producer.
Carpenter got divorced from Damian Hardy, with whom she shares son Donovan, in 2008.
When Buffy ended, Sutherland took time away from acting and enrolled in a photography course at Santa Monica College. She then opened up her own studio, which specialized in portraits. She didn’t have another onscreen role again until 2008, when she guest-starred on two episodes of Comanche Moon. She also appeared on One Life to Live and The Following.
The University of Kentucky grad has been married to John Pankow since 1986. The couple share a daughter named Eleanore.
Green had a successful career before coming onto Buffy, and he continued to find his groove in Hollywood thereafter. Green notably voices Chris Griffin on Family Guy and has lent his voice to various characters on Robot Chicken, an Emmy-winning stop-motion series he co-created, co-produces, writes and directs for Adult Swim. He’s also appeared on Four Kings, Dads, That ‘70s Show and starred in films including Without a Paddle and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed. He wrote and directed his first film in 2019 called Changeland.
The actor has been married to Clare Grant since 2010.
After Buffy, Dushku starred on Dollhouse, Tru Calling and voiced multiple characters on Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. She also landed roles in films including Locked In and Eloise. In 2007, the Bring It On star founded her own production company called Boston Diva Productions. She has been married to Peter Palandjian since 2018 and they share two children together, Philip and Bodan.
Following Buffy, Blucas starred in several films including Knight and Day, The Jane Austen Book Club and Sleeping with Other People. He also had recurring and leading TV roles on The Fix, Underground and Necessary Roughness.
Blucas married journalist Ryan Haddon in 2009. He is a stepfather to Haddon’s kids Jaden and Eliana from her previous marriage to Christian Slater.
Since Buffy ended, Benson has appeared in movies including The Killing Jar and on shows such as Morganville: The Series. Behind the camera, she put her writing skills to work on the Ghosts of Albion series and directed on projects like 2010’s Drones. Outside of TV and film, she narrated the audiobook for John Scalzi’s Lock In and authored her own fantasy book series called The Witches of Echo Park.
Benson split from boyfriend Adam Busch in 2009 after seven years together.
Strong had recurring roles on Billions, Mad Men and Gilmore Girls after Buffy. He also appeared in films including Sydney White and Weather Girl. Strong also found success behind the camera, writing and co-creating Fox’s hit musical drama, Empire. He cowrote the screenplays for the final two Hunger Games films and penned the script for Lee Daniels’ The Butler. He also wrote and directed Rebel in the Rye, a biopic based on Catcher in the Rye author J.D. Salinger’s life.
He has been engaged to actress Caitlin Mehner since 2016.
Lenk continued to find TV work after Buffy on shows including Witches of East End, NCIS: Hawai’i, Batwoman and Eastsiders. Additionally, Argo, The Cabin in the Woods, Boogeyman 2 and Date Movie are among the growing list of films he’s appeared in. He also wrote and starred in the 2015 documentary Nerdgasm. He has also found success as a comedic content creator, making viral videos on Instagram and TikTok.
Landau primarily did animated voice roles after Buffy including on Ben 10: Alien Force and Justice League Unlimited. She also lent her voice to video game characters in PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale and BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea. Additionally, she tried her hand at writing and directing in 2016’s docuseries The Undead Series and had a recurring role on Amazon Prime Video’s Bosch in 2019.
She’s been married to Deverill Weekes since 2009.
McNab’s last onscreen role was in the 2011 TV movie Glass Heels. Leading up to that point, she starred in the films Hatchet II and Dark Reel. She also appeared on multiple shows including the Buffy spinoff Angel, Psych and Supernatural. The actress wed Mark Henderson in 2012 and they share a daughter named Vaunne.
Denisof’s Buffy character Wesley Wyndam-Pryce continued to appear on Angel after the WB series wrapped. He then nabbed leading roles on shows including Grimm and Finding Carter, but he also had a recurring role on Hannigan’s series How I Met Your Mother. He’s also appeared on the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Legacies and H+. Additionally, he landed a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as The Other — a character that popped up in The Avengers in 2012 and Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014.
The many shows Benz notably appeared on after Buffy include On Becoming a God in Central Florida, Defiance, Hawaii Five-0, No Ordinary Family and Dexter. She’s additionally popped up in movies including Saw V, Rambo and Punisher: War Zone. Her divorce from John Kassir was finalized in 2007 and she married Rich Orosco in 2012.
Though Fillion has starred in movies like Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters after Buffy, he mostly had success landing prominent TV roles. He appeared on Firefly, Desperate Housewives and A Series of Unfortunate Events. However, his biggest TV roles post-Buffy were on Castle and The Rookie. He’s additionally lent his voice to characters on The Venture Bros. and Big Mouth.
Michelle Trachtenberg had a liver transplant before her death, multiple sources tell Us Weekly.
News broke on Wednesday, February 26 that Trachtenberg died. She was 39 years old.
Page Six also reported of Trachtenberg’s transplant.
Police sources told Us that Trachtenberg was found unconscious inside her New York City apartment. The incident is not believed to be suspicious, per the authorities. The New York Post was first to break the news.
“It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away,” the rep said in a statement to Us on Wednesday. “The family requests privacy for their loss. There are no further details at this time.”
No additional details of Trachtenberg’s death have been released at this time.
“Heartbreaking,” Rosie O’Donnell said in a statement to Us of her Harriet the Spy costar. “I loved her very much. She struggled the last few years. I wish I could have helped.”
“So sad to hear of the passing of @MichelleTrachtenberg,” he wrote via his Instagram Story alongside a photo of him and Trachtenberg. “Sending prayers.”
One year before her death, fans of Trachtenberg expressed concern for her wellbeing. In January 2024, Trachtenberg posted a photo with pal Alexa PenaVega. One user wrote in the comments section, “Michelle u look sick. R u ok?”
“Explain to me how I look sick,” she replied at the time. “Did you lose a calendar and not realize I’m not 14. I’m 38. How sad for you to leave such a comment.”
After the interaction, Trachtenberg took to social media to address remarks about her appearance.
“I’ve received several comments recently about my appearance,” she wrote via Instagram alongside a selfie. “I have never had plastic surgery I am happy and healthy. Check yourself haters.”
The following day, Trachtenberg continued to address the online comments about her appearance.
“Fun fact. This is my face. Not malnutrition,” she shared via Instagram. “No problems. Why do you have hate? Get a calendar.”
Kristen Chenoweth hyped up Trachtenberg in the comments section, replying, “You’re GORGEOUS.”
Jay Cohen, Michelle Trachtenberg.Courtesy of Jay Cohen/Instagram
Michelle Trachtenberg was in a long-term relationship with her boyfriend, Jay Cohen, at the time of her death in February 2025.
In October 2020, sources exclusively confirmed to Us Weekly that Trachtenberg had been dating her talent agent, Cohen, for “over a year.”
At the time, Trachtenberg sparked engagement rumors by sharing a since-deleted Instagram pic of herself sporting a large diamond ring. “I picked the right one ,” she captioned the October 2020 selfie.
She went on to add, “Now that I have your attention. I know @joebiden @kamalaharris and I will be very happy together. #vote .”
Trachtenberg and Cohen never publicly addressed whether or not they were engaged, choosing to keep their romance primarily out of the public eye. However, the pair occasionally shared sweet photos of each other via social media.
Trachtenberg posted a Valentine’s Day tribute to Cohen via Instagram days before she died at age 39 on February 26, 2025. Police sources confirmed to Us that she was found unconscious in her New York City apartment. Though her cause of death was not revealed, Trachtenberg had undergone a liver transplant surgery shortly before her death.
Scroll down for a look back at Trachtenberg and Cohen’s biggest relationship moments:
October 2020
Sources confirmed the couple’s relationship status exclusively to Us, noting that Trachtenberg was a client of Cohen’s.
July 2021
Courtesy of Jay Cohen/Instagram
Cohen shared his first Instagram post with the Gossip Girl alum while celebrating the 4th of July. He captioned a selfie of the two, “#fireworks are every day with this one!! .”
February 2023
Courtesy of Michelle Trachtenberg/Instagram
“My valentine,” Cohen captioned an Instagram pic of himself and Trachtenberg. The actress called herself and Cohen “#valentines” in a Valentine’s Day post of her own, which featured another rare photo of the two.
March 2024
“Happy Birthday to the man who puts up with me @jaymcohen ,” Trachtenberg captioned a Instagram photo of herself and Cohen dressed as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde for Halloween in honor of his birthday.
February 2025
Courtesy of Michelle Trachtenberg/Instagram
Trachtenberg reposted the same Halloween costume pic via Instagram for Valentine’s Day, which marked one of her final social media posts before her death. “Happy Valentine’s Day to the man who sits still long enough for me to paint his face. ,” she wrote alongside the photo.
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Our Absolute Favorite: Open-front cardigans are the ultimate winter-to-spring layer, easily pairing with a variety of bottoms like jeans, shorts or trousers. If you’re in need of a new option, pick up the Scoop Ultimate ScubaKnit Cardigan, which shoppers have said is the “perfect weight to provide warmth without adding bulk.”
Our Absolute Favorite: Don’t get us wrong — we love a good tote, but nothing compares to a trendy shoulder bag. Luckily for us, this asymmetrical pick from Time and Tru could pass as designer but costs just $12.
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Police sources confirmed to Us Weekly that Michelle Trachtenberg’s cause of death is “not yet apparent.”
News broke on Wednesday, February 26, that Trachtenberg was found unconscious inside her Midtown West Side apartment in New York City. She was 39 years old.
The incident is not believed to be suspicious. Multiple sources told Us that Trachtenberg had a liver transplant before her death, which Page Six and ABC News also reported. (The New York Postwas the first to break the news.)
Trachtenberg got her start as a child star in the 1996 movie Harriet the Spy. She went on to join the cast of Buffy the Vampire Slayer as Sarah Michelle Gellar’s onscreen sister, Dawn, and was a fan-favorite guest star on Gossip Girl as Georgina Sparks.
Years later, Trachtenberg — who also appeared in films 17 Again, Ice Princess — voiced Judy Reilly on Human Kind Of in 2018 before reprising her role as Georgina in 2022 and 2023 episodes of the short-lived revival of Gossip Girl. She also served as an executive producer for 2021’s Meet, Marry, Murder series, which she also hosted.
Michelle Trachtenberg.MICHAEL TRAN/AFP via Getty Images
Before her death, Trachtenberg’s fans expressed concern over the actress after she shared social media posts. After Trachtenberg shared a photo with pal Alexa PenaVega in January 2024, one user wrote in the comments section, “Michelle u look sick. R u ok?”
Trachtenberg clapped back in the comments, writing, “Explain to me how I look sick. Did you lose a calendar and not realize I’m not 14. I’m 38. How sad for you to leave such a comment.”
Courtesy of Michelle Trachtenberg/Instagram
She continued to fire back at the negative comments in another post. “I’ve received several comments recently about my appearance,” Trachtenberg captioned a selfie at the time. “I have never had plastic surgery I am happy and healthy. Check yourself haters.”
One day later, Trachtenberg addressed the remarks again. “Fun fact. This is my face. Not malnutrition,” she wrote via Instagram. “No problems. Why do you have you hate? Get a calendar.”
Kristen Chenoweth showed her support for Trachtenberg in the comments section, replying, “You’re GORGEOUS.” Another user added, “Aging beautifully.”
Trachtenberg previously was spotted several times walking with a cane, which she later revealed was because of a broken ankle. “Dear 2019. My broken ankle can still kick your ass out the door,” she captioned a photo at the time. “Cuz in 2020, I’m going to be 100% that bitch. .”
Trachtenberg has since been active on social media, sharing a snap of her glammed up one week before her death. “I wanted to look like naughty #tinkerbell #throwback ,” she captioned the Instagram post.
Rosie O”Donnell embraces Michelle Trachtenberg at the 1996 premiere of ‘Harriet the Spy’Evan Agostini/Liaison
Rosie O’Donnell has reacted to the death of her Harriet the Spy costar Michelle Trachtenberg, who died at the age of 39.
“Heartbreaking,” O’Donnell, 62, said in a statement to Us Weekly. “I loved her very much. She struggled the last few years. I wish I could have helped.”
Us Weeklyconfirmed Trachtenberg’s death on Wednesday, February 26. Police sources told Us that Trachtenberg was found unconscious inside her Midtown West Side apartment in New York City. The incident is not believed to be suspicious. No cause of death has been reported.
O’Donnell and Trachtenberg starred as Ole Golly and Harriet, respectively, in the film adaptation of Louise Fitzhugh’s 1964 novel of the same name. The movie marked Trachtenberg’s film debut, which began filming on her 10th birthday.
“I probably bonded with Rosie [O’Donnell] the most,” Trachtenberg told Uproxx in 2016. “She was very caring, and so funny. When we had to be serious for a scene we would, but we always went back to giggling and playing games when that scene was done. She was a very giving actor, even off camera.”
She added, “Any scene with Rosie was so special for me. She was amazing to work with, and we genuinely had a great time together. She respected me as an actress and I learned a lot from her. The hardest scene was saying goodbye to Golly.”
Trachtenberg said she had “several rounds of auditions in front of everyone involved in the movie” before earning the coveted role.
“I wore the same thing every time, a striped Gap T-shirt and overalls, which I keep in storage to this day,” she remembered.
“I had a very outgoing personality and my mom and I worked hard on rehearsing the scenes round the clock — my passion for the role won the producers’ hearts,” Trachtenberg added. “I loved everything about Harriet, particularly that she was a writer because I had been writing stories from the second I learned how to write.”
Trachtenberg went on to star in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl, among other roles on TV and film.
Trachtenberg got her big break in 1996 when she starred as the titular Harriet the Spyopposite Rosie O’Donnell.
“I turned 10 years old on the first day of principal photography of Harriet the Spy. Rosie was my biggest supporter,” Trachtenberg recalled toEntertainment Tonight in 2021. “There was a lot required of me. I’m extremely grateful for the experience.”
After Harriet, Trachtenberg continued acting with roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Ice Princess, 17 Again and Gossip Girl. On Gossip Girl, Trachtenberg notably portrayed Georgina Sparks. While the CW drama went off the air in 2012, the actress remained tight with her fellow Upper East Siders.
“Leighton [Meester] and I actually had dinner not too long ago, and she’s also a mother,” Trachtenberg told Us Weekly and other reporters in February 2020. “I think it’s just amazing what they’ve all accomplished.”
Three years later, Trachtenberg even made a cameo on HBO Max’s rebooted version of Gossip Girl.
While Trachtenberg began her career with bit roles on Clarissa Explains It All, Law & Order and All My Children, it was Harriet the Spy that marked her film debut. Based on the book of the same name, Trachtenberg played the namesake sixth grader. In the film, Trachtenberg’s Harriet records suspicious activity and a running list of observations in a private notebook. When the journal is discovered by one of Harriet’s classmates, the whole school is resolved to turn against her.
Trachtenberg landed the role of Buffy’s sister, Dawn Summers, on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Even after the series wrapped in 2003, Trachtenberg remained close with show star Sarah Michelle Gellar.
“Slay all day! Always loved this twinning photo of us,” Trachtenberg captioned a throwback Instagram pic of the twosome in January 2025.
Trachtenberg’s next big-screen breakout was in Disney’s Ice Princess, where she played brainy Casey Carlyle with a secret passion for ice skating. Her costars included Joan Cusack, Kim Cattrall and Hayden Panettiere.
Trachtenberg’s character, Georgina Sparks, arrived on Gossip Girl shrouded in mystery as the party-going friend of Serena Van der Woodsen (Blake Lively) intent on serving up revenge. Georgina stuck around the show for the remainder of the six seasons, even briefly taking over the Gossip Girl mantle.
Us Weekly exclusively confirmed in October that Trachtenberg had been dating her Gersh Agency talent agent, Jay Cohen, for more than one year.
“Happy Valentine’s Day to the man who sits still long enough for me to paint his face,” she later gushed via Instagram in February 2025, sharing a throwback Halloween portrait of the pair.
Trachtenberg reprised her Gossip Girl role on the HBO Max reboot, where it was revealed that Constance Billard teacher Kate Keller (Tavi Gevinson) had been kidnapped by Georgina’s crew and taken to Dan and Serena’s penthouse. (In the OG series finale, Dan and Serena tied the knot.)
“They fired their staff when they thought someone was breaking in,” Georgina joked. “At first, they thought it was the doorman. But when they kept coming home to this [breaks glass vase], they put cameras everywhere. I had my son loop the image. So now, they're bringing in a paranormal expert. They have no idea I'm their poltergeist.”
After Trachtenberg and fellow actress Alexa PenaVega posed together at a hair salon, fans questioned Trachtenberg’s health.
“Explain to me how I look sick,” Trachtenberg shot back via Instagram in January. “Did you lose a calendar and not realize I’m not 14. I’m 38. How sad for you to leave such a comment.”
Trachtenberg further reiterated that she was “happy and healthy.”
“I have never had plastic surgery I am happy and healthy. Check yourself haters,” she said. “Fun fact. This is my face. Not malnutrition. No problems. Why do you have you hate? Get a calendar.”
News broke one year later that Trachtenberg had died. A cause of death has not been revealed.
According to Fox 5 DC, a judge sentenced the Bravo reality star to one year in jail on Wednesday, February 26. (Her official sentence is two years in jail with one year suspended, meaning she will be behind bars for one year.)
Both Karen and her husband, Ray Huger, testified in front of a judge and were the only people who did so on her behalf.
At one point in the proceedings, the judge responded to claims that Karen crashed because of a mix of anti-anxiety medications saying, “You were filled to the gills with alcohol.”
Fox 5 DC also reported that Karen’s sentence will start right away, and she will go right from the courtroom to jail. The outlet assumed Karen will serve her time in Montgomery County Correctional Facility.
The facility is responsible for the custody and care of male and female offenders who are either in a pre-trial status or serving sentences of up to 18 months.
Before Karen reports to jail, take a look back on how the “Grand Dame” of Potomac found herself in a DUI scandal.
Karen Huger’s Arrest
Karen HugerPaul Archuleta/Getty Images
On March 19, 2023, Karen was driving her 2017 Maserati in an “aggressive manner,” Montgomery County Police confirmed to TMZ. As a result, she struck both an intersection crosswalk sign and a parking sign before her vehicle came to a halt in Potomac, Maryland.
“With the passing of my Beloved Mother, Grief comes and goes in waves, and with Mothers Day approaching it has felt more like a tsunami,” Karen said in a statement to TMZ at the time. “Last night I met a girlfriend for dinner, we talked and brought up some very emotionally sensitive topics. I was crying on my way home and saw a car heading right for me. I swerved to avoid the head-on collision, hit the divider and then a tree. I’m hurt, bruised up a bit, but so grateful I am alive!”
Karen was later charged with a DUI and DWI, negligently driving a vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner endangering property, life and person, as well as recklessly driving a vehicle.
Karen Huger’s Trial
In December 2024, Karen was found guilty on nearly all charges. (She was found not guilty of recklessly driving.)
“Although we are disappointed in the jury’s verdict, we of course respect their decision and appreciate their time hearing our case,” Karen’s attorney, A. Scott Bolden, told People in a statement shortly after the verdict was revealed. “We continue to reserve Mrs. Huger’s right to an appeal and intend to fully pursue justice on her behalf. We appreciate your support and prayers for Mrs. Huger and her family at this time.”
Police body cam footage was released after the verdict and included video of the Bravo star name-dropping third U.S. President Thomas Jefferson and Andy Cohen following the car accident.
Karen Huger’s Involvement With ‘The Real Housewives of Potomac’
Karen HugerJC Olivera/Getty Images
While filming season 9 of The Real Housewives of Potomac, Karen maintained her innocence in the DUI case. When the show’s reunion taped in January 2025, however, she was expected to receive tough questions from Cohen and her costars about the guilty verdict and the body cam footage.
Karen ultimately did not attend the taping in person as she chose to enter a private recovery program. She did address the situation, however, in a pre-taped video that aired during the show.
“No, I’m not an alcoholic, let’s be clear,” she said. “This is very frightening but I accept full responsibility for everything that went on with my car accident. I don’t care about me right now. I care about my children, I care about my family. They are so hurt.”
Karen Huger’s Legal Consequences
While Bravo has yet to publicly comment on Karen’s future with The Real Housewives of Potomac, her sentencing includes jail time and other consequences.
According to Fox 5 DC, Karen was also sentenced to five years of probation after she gets out of jail and she won’t be able to drive a car for another year after she gets out.
Karen will need an interlock device when she’s allowed to drive again, will attend AA meetings and pay $2,900 in fines.
“Karen is accepting this jail time with peace,” her attorney told reporters outside the courtroom following sentencing.
What Do Karen Huger’s ‘Real Housewives of Potomac’ Costars Think?
Karen HugerGotham/WireImage
After Karen was found guilty, several of her costars expressed their opinions on the case.
“I always knew she was guilty,” Mia Thornton said during a January 2025 episode of Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen. “Sorry, I did. It’s very, very sad. I really feel like if she would have just owned up to what she did, then we would not know.”
Gizelle Bryant expressed her concern about Karen possibly spending a long period of time in jail.
“I mean, do I want to see her go to jail? Absolutely not. But do I want to see her take accountability? For sure,” Bryant exclusively told Us Weekly in February 2025. “So, I don’t know. I mean, Karen going to jail? That would break my heart. So we’ll see.”
Former costar Robyn Dixon, however, appeared to show little sympathy during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen.
“None of it is a surprise,” Dixon shared in February. “The deflection, the lying, the fact that she was guilty. It’s sad but not a surprise.”
While some of Hollywood’s greatest talents were taken too soon, including Bob Saget, who passed away in January 2022 at age 65, other stars left fans wanting more … even if they lived into their 90s. That was the case when Betty White died on New Year’s Eve 2021 at age 99.
News broke in February 2025 that Trachtenberg was found dead in her New York City apartment at age 39. Police sources informed Us at the time that a cause of death was not apparent.
Colin, who was the bassist for the band Train, died in May 2024 at the age of 58. He died after accidentally falling in the shower, which his mother confirmed to TMZ.
In October 2023, Perry passed away at age 54 following an apparent drowning. He was found in a jacuzzi by law enforcement who had responded to a call about someone suffering from a cardiac arrest.
The Euphoria actor died in July 2023 at age 25. Cloud’s passing came one week after he buried his father. “It is with the heaviest heart that we had to say goodbye to an incredible human today. As an artist, a friend, a brother and a son, Angus was special to all of us in so many ways,” the actor’s family said in a statement at the time. “Last week he buried his father and intensely struggled with this loss. The only comfort we have is knowing Angus is now reunited with his dad, who was his best friend.”
Cloud’s loved ones added: “Angus was open about his battle with mental health and we hope that his passing can be a reminder to others that they are not alone and should not fight this on their own in silence. We hope the world remembers him for his humor, laughter and love for everyone. We ask for privacy at this time as we are still processing this devastating loss.”
The former So You Think You Can Dance contestant died at age 40 in December 2022. His wife, Allison Holker, addressed the news in a heartbreaking statement soon after.
"To say he left a legacy would be an understatement, and his positive impact will continue to be felt. I am certain there won't be a day that goes by that we won't honor his memory. We ask for privacy during this difficult time for myself and especially for our three children," she told People. "Stephen, we love you, we miss you, and I will always save the last dance for you."
The couple tied the knot in December 2013 and raised three children together.
The Full House alum was found unresponsive in January 2022 in his Florida hotel room while in town for a comedy show. He was pronounced dead at the scene at age 65. One month later, authorities concluded that Saget passed from “head trauma” after he “accidentally hit the back of his head on something,” according to a statement from his family.“Every day it feels a little bit better, but then it’ll hit you outta nowhere,” Candace Cameron Bure, who played Saget’s eldest TV daughter on Full House, told Us in February 2022 of his passing. “I will really greatly miss his friendship and the laughs and the hugs.”
While the Golden Girls alum lived a long life — and had a very successful career in Hollywood — her death in December 2021 shocked her fans as it came just shy of her 100th birthday. The legendary actress passed away on New Year’s Eve at age 99. Her milestone birthday was on January 17, 2022.Us confirmed in January 2022 that White suffered a cerebrovascular accident, according to her death certificate. The incident causes tissue damage as a result of losing blood flow to the brain. The Hot in Cleveland alum previously suffered a stroke several days before her death.
The Sex and the City alum’s September 2021 death at age 57 came as a surprise to much of Hollywood. It was later confirmed that the actor, who was in production on And Just Like That when he died, had been fighting pancreatic cancer.“So deeply, deeply sad we have lost @WillieGarson. We all loved him and adored working with him,” former costar Cynthia Nixon tweeted at the time. “He was endlessly funny on-screen and in real life. He was a source of light, friendship and show business lore. He was a consummate professional — always.”
The Saturday Night Live alum died in September 2021 at age 61. The comedian privately battled cancer for nearly 10 years before his passing. “He was most proud of his comedy,” his longtime producing partner, Lori Jo Hoekstra, told Us in a statement at the time. “He never wanted the diagnosis to affect the way the audience or any of his loved ones saw him. Norm was a pure comic. He once wrote that ‘a joke should catch someone by surprise, it should never pander.’ He certainly never pandered. Norm will be missed terribly.”
The Saved by the Bell alum died at the age of 44 in February 2021, just three weeks after being diagnosed with stage IV small cell carcinoma. “In that time, it managed to spread rapidly throughout his system; the only mercy it exhibited was its sharp and swift execution," his rep said in a statement to Us. “Dustin did not suffer. He did not have to lie submerged in pain. For that, we are grateful.”
The Black Panther star died at the age of 43 in August 2020 at his Los Angeles home after secretly battling colon cancer for four years. “It is with immeasurable grief that we confirm the passing of Chadwick Boseman,” the family said in a statement at the time. “Chadwick was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016 and battled with it these last four years as it progressed to stage IV. A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much. From Marshall to Da 5 Bloods, August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and several more, all were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy. It was the honor of his career to bring King T’Challa to life in Black Panther. He died in his home, with his wife and family by his side.”
The former Glee star died in July 2020, following a boating incident where she went missing. On July 8, the actress, who was 33, was declared missing after taking a pontoon boat out on Lake Piru near Los Angeles with her 4-year-old son, Josey. Her child was found asleep on the vessel by a boater that afternoon, alongside Rivera’s purse, wallet and ID. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department announced on July 13 that they recovered her body following an extensive search and recovery effort.
The former L.A. Lakers player died in January 2020 in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. He was 41. The 18-time NBA All-Star was traveling with eight other people on his private helicopter when a fire reportedly broke out on board. Witnesses reported the helicopter going down quickly and then slamming into the ground, Fire Capt. Tony Imbrenda told KTLA. Bryant's 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, was also killed in the crash.
The Grown Ups actor’s family confirmed his death at age 20 in July 2019. “It is with a profoundly heavy heart that we report that this morning we lost Cameron. He passed away in his sleep due to a seizure which was a result of an ongoing medical condition for which he was being treated,” a statement read at the time. "The world is now undoubtedly without one of its brightest lights, but his spirit will live on through the kindness and compassion of all who knew and loved him.”
The Beverly Hills, 90210 and Riverdale star died at the age of 52 on March 4, 2019. He had suffered a massive stroke five days earlier at his Los Angeles-area home, and remained hospitalized until his death. “[Perry] was surrounded by his children Jack and Sophie, fiancé Wendy Madison Bauer, ex-wife Minnie Sharp, mother Ann Bennett, stepfather Steve Bennett, brother Tom Perry, sister Amy Coder and other close family and friends,” his rep said in a statement to Us. “The family appreciates the outpouring of support and prayers that have been extended to Luke from around the world, and respectfully request privacy in this time of great mourning.”
The rapper died at age 26 on September 7, 2018. The LAPD confirmed to Us that authorities responded to his home in the San Fernando Valley, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. TMZ reported that he died from an apparent overdose.
The celebrity chef died of an apparent suicide in France at the age of 61. "It is with extraordinary sadness we can confirm the death of our friend and colleague, Anthony Bourdain,” CNN said in a statement on June 8. "His love of great adventure, new friends, fine food and drink and the remarkable stories of the world made him a unique storyteller. His talents never ceased to amaze us and we will miss him very much. Our thoughts and prayers are with his daughter and family at this incredibly difficult time."
The Swedish DJ and producer, whose real name was Tim Bergling, was found dead in Muscat, Oman, on April 20, 2018, at age 28. The Grammy-nominated artist retired in 2016 due to health issues, including acute pancreatitis.
The Glee alum died at age 35 on January 30, 2017. The LAPD confirmed to Us Weekly that he passed away from an apparent suicide just three months after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography. He was facing 7 years in jail.
The rock legend died at the age of 66 on October 2 after suffering cardiac arrest. The Grammy winner was best known as the lead singer of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, the group behind hits including "Free Fallin'" and "American Girl." The band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.
The Linkin Park lead vocalist died at age 41 on July 20, 2017. According to TMZ, the singer reportedly passed away from an apparent suicide at a private residence in the Palos Verdes Estates neighborhood of Los Angeles.
The Soundgarden frontman died at age 52 on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, after the band played a sold-out concert in Detroit. He was found dead in his hotel room by a family friend. The Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office said in a statement to Us Weekly that the musician’s cause of death was “hanging by suicide.”
The Brady Bunch alum died of heart failure at the age of 82 in November 2016. According to TMZ, her death certificate revealed that she had suffered from heart disease for a decade and was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat five years before her death.
The Titanic and Big Love star died at age 61 in February 2017. He suffered an aortic aneurysm and required surgery, but had a stroke during the valve replacement operation.
The iconic actress died at age 80 in January 2017 from cardiopulmonary arrest. TMZ reported that aspiration pneumonia, diabetes mellitus and hypoxia (lack of oxygen to the tissues) also contributed to her death.
The Growing Pains star, dad of R&B singer Robin Thicke, died of a heart attack at the age of 69 in December 2016. He was reportedly playing hockey with his son Carter before he was transported to Providence St. Joseph's Medical Center in Burbank, California.
The Star Wars actress died at the age of 60 on December 27, 2016, from cardiac arrest. One day later, her famous mother passed away at the age of 84 following a medical emergency, believed to be a stroke.
The former Wham! singer died with a weakened heart and a damaged liver in December 2016 at age 53. He was found unresponsive at his home Oxfordshire, England, by his boyfriend, Fadi Fawaz, on Christmas Day.
The MTV Challenge star died in November 2014 at the age of 32, after losing her brave battle with cancer. Having overcome the disease in 2006 and again in 2012, the reality star was diagnosed with cancer for the third time in summer 2014. Still, Brown's fierce fight to survive continued to inspire many. In one of her final tweets, she wrote: "Whatever option I have to LIVE I'm grabbing! … No is not an option."
Misty Upham's body was discovered in a wooded area near Seattle in October 2014. The August: Osage County star was 32 years old. Her cause of death has yet to be determined.
The Fast and the Furious star Paul Walker’s life was cut tragically short in November 2013. While going for a drive with friend and business advisor Roger Rodas after a charity event, the car collided with a pole, engulfing the car in flames and killing both Walker and Rodas, who was behind the wheel. Walker was 40 at the time of his death.
The world got a little less funny in August 2014 when Oscar-winning actor and comedian Robin Williams died at age 63. The troubled star committed suicide after years of battling depression. He was honored later that month at the Emmys in a special tribute from his close friend Billy Crystal.
In July 2011, the British soul singer was found dead in her London apartment at the age of 27. After a history of substance abuse, Winehouse’s death was a result of consuming too much alcohol, according to the coroner.
Glee star Cory Monteith’s life was cut tragically short in July 2013 when he was found dead in his Vancouver hotel at the age of 31. Monteith had been open about past struggles with addiction and substance abuse, checking himself into rehab multiple times. His cause of death was an overdose on heroin and alcohol.
The Oscar-winning actor was found dead in his New York City apartment in February 2014. The admitted drug addict died at age 46 of a heroin overdose, leaving behind his longtime partner and three children.
Another comedy great passed away in September 2014 when Joan Rivers died at age 81 after suffering complications from a minor throat surgery. The shocking loss led to an outpouring from Hollywood stars, praising the Fashion Police’s unmerciful critiques and trailblazing comedy.
The King of Pop died suddenly at the age of 50 after suffering a cardiac arrest in June 2009. His death, however, was ruled a homicide. His personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, is the target of a manslaughter investigation for giving the singer — who was known for his ever-changing appearance, odd relationships and child sexual abuse accusations — the drug Propofol on several occasions.
The Brokeback Mountain actor was found dead in his New York City apartment January 22, 2008. The 28-year-old is survived by his ex Michelle Williams and their daughter Matilda.
Grammy-winning, iconic pop diva Whitney Houston was found dead in the bathtub in February 2012 at the age of 48. The vocal legend drowned after a drug overdose at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
Comedian Bernie Mac passed away August 9, 2008, from complications of pneumonia at age 50. "Bernie Mac was the personification of the word 'real.' He kept it real," Mac's former costar Niecy Nash told Us. "That kind of genuine spirit that he carried all the time cannot be easily duplicated, but I will do my very best to try."
The lead singer of the iconic band Nirvana battled depression and addiction before committing suicide at the age of 27 in April 1994. He is survived by wife Courtney Love and their daughter, Francis Bean.
When she was 62, the Charlie's Angels star — whose 1976 swimsuit poster is one of the most iconic ever made — chronicled her lengthy battle with anal cancer for an NBC documentary that aired a month before she died in June 2009. Although they didn't have time to do so, the bedridden actress and longtime beau Ryan O'Neal announced plans to wed.
The celebrity spinner, whose real name was Adam Goldstein, died in August 2009 of an apparent drug overdose at the age of 36. The star — who battled drug addictions and had attempted suicide before getting sober more than 10 years ago — survived a tragic plane crash that had left him critically injured.
The gifted actor — acclaimed for Stand by Me and My Own Private Idaho — died from a lethal mix of cocaine and heroin outside of a West Hollywood club in October 1993. He was 23.
The 39-year-old model, reality television star and Playboy Playmate died in February 2007, just five months after the death of her 20-year-old son. Both died from accidental overdoses. She is survived by daughter Dannielynn, the sole heir to her estate, who is now under the custody of father Larry Birkhead.
The Crocodile Hunter died at the age of 44 when his heart was pierced by the poisonous spine of a stingray in September 2006. He was videotaped removing the barb before he lost consciousness.
The SeaQuest DSV star hanged himself at age 27 at his L.A. home in November 2003. No suicide note was left, though he reportedly drank heavily and felt depressed about his career.
The Grammy-nominated R&B singer died in a plane crash in the Bahamas in August 2001. The 22-year-old had numerous hit songs to her name and was due to costar in the sequel to The Matrix.
The actor, best known for his role in the 1994 thriller The Client, died on January 15, 2008, the victim of a possible overdose. Though he had long struggled with substance abuse and legal woes, the 25-year-old was turning a corner and hoped to reunite with his 4-year-old son, who lived in Japan.
The Sopranos star James Gandolfini suffered a heart attack at age 51 in June 2013. The Emmy-winning actor was traveling in Italy at the time of his death.
The rapper (also known as Biggie Smalls, Biggie and Big Poppa) — who worked with artists including Sean Combs, Lil' Kim, Faith Evans, and Jay Z — was shot dead following the 1997 Soul Train Music Awards. He was 24.
Lopes was the 'L' in the Grammy-winning R&B trio TLC. She died at the age of 30 in a car accident in Honduras in 2002, where she was on a spiritual retreat.
The host of NBC's Meet the Press and the Washington Bureau Chief for the network died of an apparent heart attack at the age of 58 in 2008. He is survived by wife Maureen Orth and their son Luke.
The Clueless star died at age 32 after she collapsed in her Los Angeles home. She was transported to the hospital where she went into cardiac arrest. Though her death was ruled natural at the time, Murphy’s father Angelo Bertolotti claimed his daughter was murdered, but no evidence of this has been produced.
The comedian, known for movies such as Tommy Boy and his time on Saturday Night Live, died in 1997 from an overdose of cocaine and morphine at the age of 33.
Singer/songwriter Isaac Hayes died August 10, 2008 in Memphis, Tenn., after being found unresponsive at his home. A cause of death is unknown. Hayes, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, was scheduled to release his next album a month after his death.
British socialite and TV personality Peaches Geldof died in April 2014 at the age of 25. The daughter of world-famous musician Bob Geldof left behind her husband Thomas Cohen and two children after overdosing on heroin.
The 29-year-old actor — with roles in the sitcom Suddenly Susan and the 1999 romantic comedy Forces of Nature — committed suicide in a Las Vegas motel room in March 1999. The previous year he was arrested for cocaine possession and was ordered to enter rehab.
MTV Buckwild star Shain Gandee (Gandee Candy) died at age 21 in April 2013 after the car he was driving was submerged in mud, killing the reality star and his two passengers.
After battling an ongoing addiction problem for the past few years, That '70s Show actress Lisa Robin Kelly (she played Topher Grace's older sister, Laurie Forman, on the Fox comedy) died in her sleep at a rehab facility in California on Aug. 14, 2013. She was 43.
Former Disney star Lee Thompson Young committed suicide at the age of 29 in August 2013. The actor, who was starring on TNT’s Rizzoli & Isles, got his start on Disney’s The Famous Jett Jackson, in the title role.
Bachelor contestant Gia Allemand, who competed on Jake Pavelka’s season of the hit reality show in 2010, committed suicide in August 2013 at the age of 29. Fellow Bachelor alums were quick to convey their condolences, and Pavelka tweeted, “I had to pull over, I can’t stop crying. We have lost an angel.”
Before his season of The Bachelorette even aired, contestant Eric Hill’s life was cut tragically short at the age of 31 when he suffered a fatal paragliding accident in April 2014. At the time he had already been eliminated from Andi Dorfman’s season of the ABC reality series.
The icon — who released 39 studio albums, won seven Grammys and an Academy Award, and was known for hits including "Purple Rain," "Kiss," "Little Red Corvette" and "When Doves Cry," among many others — died at his Paisley Park residence in Minnesota on April 21, 2016, at 57. While his autopsy results have yet to be released, Prince was found with prescription painkillers in his possession at the time of his death. The DEA and U.S. Attorney’s Office joined the ongoing investigation into his death, and investigators are looking into whether a doctor was prescribing drugs to him prior to his death, and are considering a possible overdose.
Brown, the daughter of Bobby Brown and the late Whitney Houston, was found facedown and unresponsive in a bathtub in her Atlanta-area home in January 2015. She remained in a medically induced coma and was eventually moved to hospice care until she died at just 22 years old on July 26, 2015, nearly six months after she was found unconscious. The late R&B scion died as a result of drowning and drug intoxication, according to the autopsy results.
The WWE star was found dead at 46 on April 20, 2016, at her Redondo Beach, California, home. Though an official cause of death has yet to be determined, Chyna’s tragic passing was reported as a possible overdose to the Los Angeles County coroner’s department. After retiring from the world of wrestling, Chyna posed for Playboy and appeared in adult films and on reality TV, including the shows The Surreal Life and Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew. Most recently, she was working as an English teacher in Japan.
Vanity, the lead singer of girl group Vanity 6 and former protégé of Prince, died at age 57 from kidney failure and an abdominal illness on February 15, 2016. The pop star (née Denise Katrina Matthews) found fame after releasing her 1982 hit, "Nasty Girl," which was written and produced by the "Purple Rain" singer.
The iconic visionary died peacefully at his home on January 10, 2016, at the age of 69, following a private 18-month battle with liver cancer. Prior to his death, his wife, supermodel Iman, shared a telling quote on social media: “Sometimes you will never know the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” Bowie released his last album, Blackstar, just two days before his death. He and Iman welcomed their only child, daughter Alexandria, in 2000.
The beloved comedian died at the age of 66 on March 24, 2016. Stars such as Jimmy Kimmel, Andy Cohen, Ricky Gervais and Kathy Griffin shared their grief on social media. He was best known for his standout role on The Larry Sanders Show. In January, Shandling appeared on Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee and revealed that he had been diagnosed with a hyper parathryroid disorder. Ironically, the episode was titled “It’s Great That Garry Shandling Is Still Alive.” His cause of death has not yet been confirmed, but The Associated Press reported that it was likely a heart attack.
Natalie Cole died at age 65 from heart failure induced by lung disease on December 31, 2015. The “Miss You Like Crazy” songstress suffered a myriad of health complications during her lifetime. She was diagnosed with Hepatitis C, which she had said she believed she contracted from her heroin use in the ’80s (and required a kidney transplant in 2009). However, she made a comeback with the release her 1987 album, Everlasting. But her return to fame reached a critical peak with her 1991 album, Unforgettable Love. The Grammy-winning record was a tribute to her late father, the great Nat King Cole, and was comprised of his songs, with the feature being “Unforgettable,” a duet that came about by remixing the elder Cole’s 1951 recording with Natalie’s performance.
Speaking to Us Weekly after the visit, the shop’s owner, Theresa Conner, said meeting the Prince and Princess of Wales was “surreal.”
Ben Stansall – WPA Pool/Getty Images
“I haven’t had time to digest it, but it was an amazing day,” she said.
“When they came, I knew they would like to try and make Welsh cakes, so I asked if they had made them before. William said he’d eaten plenty but hadn’t made one before,” Conner said, adding that the couple “did a great job.”
Ben Stansall – WPA Pool/Getty Images
In a separate interview with People, Connor also said she’d “absolutely” hire the couple at the shop.
“I should have roped them in to help with St. David’s Day while I had the opportunity!” she joked.
William and Kate inherited the titles Prince and Princess of Wales after King Charles III ascended the throne in 2022.
Kate paid tribute to the nation with her outfit — a red coat, the color of the Welsh dragon, and a daffodil pin, which is the nation’s national flower. Meanwhile, William wore a smaller daffodil pin on his gray blazer, which he wore over a burgundy sweater and a blue shirt.
Later in the visit, Kate and William took the opportunity to meet with people who had been affected by severe flooding from Storm Bert in December 2024.
Conner told Us that she hoped the couple’s visit would help to “highlight these problems and help toward a resolution” following the floods.
Hilton was just spotted attending the after-party for the Burberry Winter 2025 show on February 24, 2025 during London Fashion Week. Showing Us how all of the rich moms are dressing this spring, she wore a beige trench coat, a plaid mini dress, some black below-the-knee combat boots and a black shoulder bag.
Knowing that the fashion icon was likely dressed by the brand for the occasion, her designer coat style likely runs in the thousands of dollars in terms of price. And there’s no need to dish out that extra cash when this best-selling alternative is on Amazon for just $54!
Get the Creatmo Double-Breasted Classic Lapel Trench Coat (Originally $60) on sale for just $54 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication, February 2, 2025, but are subject to change.
One of the most versatile coats you can buy, the Creatmo Double-Breasted Classic Lapel Trench Coat can help you achieve Hilton’s quiet luxury-esque style. Just like the heiress’s pick, this trench coat features a classic double breasted design, front buttons, side pockets and a collared neck. Easy to machine wash in case of any stains, it’s also made entirely of a polyester fabric.
Other features that make it the perfect spring coat style is its lightweight design, waterproof and windproof and detachable hood . . . all great for combating the ever-changing spring weather! It also has a belt that both flatters the waistline and keeps the coat locked in place. Find it in classic beige, along with an array of other color options and sizes XS to 5X too.
This isn’t just any Amazon coat though, it’s the number one best-seller in women’s trench coats. This also means that several shoppers have left it rave reviews and it has over 2,100 five-star ratings as well.
One reviewer who “needed a rain jacket” and wanted something they “could use everyday and for nice occasions” said that it’s “perfect for both.”
“It’s light but actually keeps you warm and it keeps me dry,” they said. “It looks like an expensive rain jacket but for a great price. I feel like Audrey Hepburn at the end of Breakfast at Tiffany’s every time I wear it.”
What’s great about this coat is the range it has in terms of styling. It can be thrown on over leggings and a sweatshirt when running errands but also looks elegant with a dress and some heels as well. It’s hard to find a coat that can do both! Best of all, its comfort is unmatched. It’s a cozy lightweight layer that moves with you instead of against you.
When it comes to trench coats, everyone has a style that best suits their style and body. If this one doesn’t quite check all of the boxes, we bet one of our other below options will!
Whoever popularized the concept of a capsule wardrobe, thank you. For those who aren’t familiar, the idea is to collect simple, quality pieces that can be mixed and matched to save time and money. Think neutral blouses, plain tees, versatile shoes and tailored pants.
As I approach my thirties, I’m busier, settled into my adult body and less susceptible to trends. These three things make my life incredible helpful. Having a good base of basics that I know I’ll adore for years to come is priceless.
Inspired by items in my closet, I rounded up stylish wardrobe essentials that make me feel secure, age-appropriate and pretty. You’ll find sunglasses, sneakers and everything in between, starting at just $10.
19 Elegant Basics That Are the Foundation of my Wardrobe
Tops
1. Tasteful Turtleneck: I’ve owned this black turtleneck for three years, and it elevates just about every outfit. Because it’s a bodysuit, it never bunches or wrinkles, lending a tastefully sleek look.
2. Loose-Fitting Button-Down: A cotton dress shirt is an absolute essential, and I prefer mine billowy like this striped Nordstrom pick. I wear the versatile piece to the office, then to the beach the very next day.
3. Asymmetrical Top: An off-the-shoulder shirt is both cheeky and classy, an almost impossible balance to strike. The asymmetry of this one is what makes it really stand out.
4. High-Neck Tank: I find myself reaching for my racerback tanks year-round. I layer them under cardigans and shackets in winter, or pair them with trousers and midi skirts in the summer. This one starts at just $10!
Outer Layers
5. Cozy Quarter-Zip: Even the classiest among us need to be casual on occasion. I sport this simple pullover — an Amazon bestseller — with cuffed jeans and leggings year-round.
6. Relaxed Blazer: I own a double-breasted blazer similar to this black-and-white checkered one that I’ve worn to celebrations and job interviews alike. It’s the perfect multipurpose piece.
7. Classy Overcoat: A long overcoat is certainly an investment, and I find it crucial for events where a puffer coat just won’t cut it. This Lucky Brand pick is on the looser side to accommodate layers.
8. Cutesy Cardigan: I was gifted a red Sezane sweater for my birthday, and I already know it’ll be a twice-weekly wear. This Nordstrom selection boasts a similar style and silhouette for half the price.
9. Leather Racer: This sleek racer jacket says “class” in a way that more embellished styles don’t. Hitting at the natural waist, it’s timeless, flattering and can be dressed up or down.
Bottoms and Dresses
10. Dark Denim:Neutral-wash jeans without rips or much distressing are never going out of style, no matter the cut. I’m in love with the Lake Michigan colorway of this simple, wide-legged pair.
11. Smart Slacks: Who would’ve thought business casual would infiltrate street style again?! I can’t say I’m mad about it, though, because pleated, loose-fitting trousers are insanely comfortable and sleek.
12. LBD: This full-length, spaghetti-strap dress is understated yet striking. Grab your sunnies and purse, and prepare to slay. I prefer this dress in black or natural flax.
13. Midi Magic: A maxi or midi skirt is the most effortless way to dress up an outfit. With Sambas or Mary Janes, this BP. skirt with a slit up the side is so cute, and it’s currently on sale for up to 50% off.
14. Sweet Sweater Dress: The modest neckline counterbalances the legginess of this fuzzy dress. It’s flirty without going too far. Plus, there are 17 fun colors to choose from.
Everything Else!
15. Chic Sneaks: DV by Dolce Vita is one of my favorite shoe brands. This pair of chunky sneakers is a lovely combo of neutral colors, ensuring they’ll go with all your clothes.
16. Kitten-Heeled Cuties: DV does it again with these stunning, strappy slip-ons, available in black, camel, pink or white. You’ll impress at dinners with friends or weddings with your date.
17. Sheer Tights: This fleece-lined essential keeps things classy while helping you stay warm in skirts or dresses. We call that a win-win. With 4.3 stars and nearly 1,500 Amazon reviews, the tights are available in petite and plus sizes.
18. Riding Boots: This style of boot screams stealth wealth. You’ll look stable-ready and oh, so chic in this knee-high, square-toed pair. The black and brown colors are timeless, whereas the burgundy and olive are trendy.
19. Stunning Sunnies: The gold accents on these designer lookalikes make them that much more sophisticated, and at $10, they’re an insane steal. I get constant compliments on mine!
If you fall in the large bust category, you know how difficult it can be to find flattering outfits that don’t tent out, squeeze too much, show too much or highlight unflattering angles. Tack on a budget and the pool gets even smaller!
But if you check the right section of Amazon, you’ll be pleasantly surprised — amazed, even! There are pages (and pages) of two-piece outfit sets that nail the look without sacrificing comfort. These pieces are loose and cozy, provide full coverage and don’t break the bank. Plus, nobody would ever know they’re from Amazon!
So if you want a classy, ultra-flattering outfit to wear from the couch to the party (or the other way around), read on! We rounded up our favorite two-piece outfits for larger busts, ones that will make you look and feel like a million bucks.
All you need is a comfy yet supportive bra and you’re good to go!
1. Our absolute favorite: This outfit set is the perfect thickness for transitional weather. The wide ankles pair well with sneakers, sandals, loafers or anything else that suits your fancy!
3. Sporty chic: Athleisure is the trendiest thing lately. You can wear this set on walks, to the gym, to the couch or to the coffee shop . . . or all of the above!
5. Airport envy: Don’t be surprised if people stare. You’ll look like a celebrity in this oversized sweatsuit, especially if you wear it with chunky white sneakers and sparkly jewelry.
6. Shorts outfit: Whether it’s warm outside or it’s warm in your home, it’s essential to have a staple set ready to go. We love the creamy khaki hue!
8. Detail person: Contrast hems are just one thing we love about this loose and flowy knit outfit. There are five different colors to choose from and we seriously want them all!
9. Pajama day: This short and tee set is designed for lounging, so wear it for casual Sundays around the house or quick Starbucks runs.
10. Knit and chic: We can’t believe this knit outfit set is just $38 right now. It has jogger pants, a cap-sleeve top and a swoon-worthy stretchy material that screams ‘classy’!
11. Linen look: Somewhere between a linen and gauze style, this set is skin-friendly, flowy and versatile. The button-up top can be worn with other pieces in your closet, too!
12. Viral for a reason: The Trendy Queen oversized hoodie went viral last year and the brand finally released a sweatpants duo! Added to cart.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla were put to work during a visit to a London restaurant on Wednesday, February 26.
Charles, 76, and Camilla, 77, helped package donation food boxes at Darjeeling Express, an Indian restaurant in the U.K.’s capital, in celebration of Ramadan, the Muslim Holy month.
Speaking to Us Weekly after the visit, the restaurant owner, Asma Khan, praised the couple’s “speed, focus and efficiency” as they packaged dates and chicken biryani.
“I was so taken aback by the king’s speed, focus and efficiency. I couldn’t keep up — the irony of it all is how much packing I’ve done in my life. I need the king on my team!” Khan said.
“It feels so reassuring to have monarchs who seemed so happy to go along with anything — go into a kitchen and pack,” she added. “Not sure they have done anything like this before.”
Eddie Mulholland – WPA Pool/Getty Images
The boxes will be sent to local hospitals for Iftaar (the fastbreaking evening meal) ahead of Ramadan, which takes place from Friday, February 28 until Sunday, March 30, as detailed in a press release issued to Us Weekly.
In a video from the visit, taken by the Daily Mail’s Rebecca English, Khan can be heard praising the “speedy couple” as they pack up dates.
“Sorry, I didn’t realize the king would be so fast!” she joked.
Khan also shared a video of the visit on her Instagram account.
“When he proved to be quick at packing up dates, Charles was told he could have a job there every year, to which he replied: ‘I may be past my sell-by date,’” she wrote in the caption.
Eddie Mulholland – WPA Pool/Getty Images
“Traditionally, dates are eaten as the first food to break the fast at sunset during Ramadan. Their Majesties helped pack dates that will be sent to local hospitals for Iftaar during the holy month,” the royal family’s Instagram account wrote in a post after the visit.
Darjeeling Express first opened in Soho, London, in 2017 before relocating to Kingly Court.
During Ramadan, the restaurant donates its proceeds to charity and sends food packages to hospitals as part of the Zakat al Fitr, an obligatory charitable donation of food before the end of Ramadan.
“I had met the king and queen before and when I had invited the king to my restaurant a year ago, I never imagined he would actually turn up,” Khan told Us.
“The moment they walked in, they were warm and open hearted. I was nervous while I waited for them, but the smile and warm handshake of the king put me at ease,” she continued.
“It was surreal to share such an important part of my cultural Identity in this way. But within seconds it felt as if the king and queen had come to my home. The nerves disappeared.”
Bloating always seems to come at the most inconvenient times — before a wedding, a big presentation at work, a Pilates class, a vacation . . . you know. Any time we want to look slender and sleek is when the bloating monster decides to visit, making Us feel sluggish, slow and self-conscious. We don’t want it to mess with our vibes, but a distended midsection can easily throw off our confidence.
Given the complexity of women’s hormones, it’s hard to know the cause of bloating. Maybe it’s that greasy burger or maybe it’s because our menstrual cycle is approaching, but either way, bloating is a universally unpleasant — albeit common — experience. You’re not alone!
But you don’t have to suffer the consequences of too much dairy or a late-night pizza craving. HUM Nutrition’s viral fiber supplement contains clinically-backed prebiotic fiber — GLP-1, the satiety hormone — as well as a motley crew of other enzymes and herbs that break down food, support nutrient absorption, improve digestion and much more. It works in just 30 minutes!
GLP-1 itself curbs appetite, reduces cravings and improves satiety, a combination that prevents bloat-inducing food choices in the first place. When you do go overboard, however, this supplement can instantly reduce bloat by up to two inches! The 18 full-spectrum enzymes work together to break down fats, carbs and proteins, optimizing digestion and absorption in specific pH environments. It even contains enzymes to process the nooks and crannies of your diet — think cauliflower, nuts, mushrooms, corn, sucrose, grains and milk.
In addition to the general and food-specific enzymes, this powder contains tried-and-true favorites like ginger root, peppermint and fennel seed. These ingredients improve digestion, soothe digestive discomfort and promote regularity, among other things. Flatter Me Fiber GLP-1 Booster contains everything you want without the artificial dyes, colors, sweeteners and preservatives that are commonplace in the supplement market.
It couldn’t be easier to incorporate this supplement into your diet, either. To take, simply mix two teaspoons of powder with a cup of water with or without food, up to four teaspoons a day. Reviewers notice the best results by taking this supplement before or during meals. Plus, it has a pleasant strawberry lemon taste that you’ll probably look forward to!
The only so-called “catch” is that this powder has sold out multiple times. People can’t get enough, so if it’s available while you’re shopping, you’ll want to snag a jar or two! Each container contains 20 fiber servings.
DeSorbo, 32, took to Instagram on Tuesday, February 26, to beg Tom Ford to return to Gucci as the creative director. In the snap, she wore a vintage Gucci by Tom Ford 2004 blue sequin gown featuring a cutout back that hugged her curves. The front of the dress featured a high neck and a fitted skirt that flared out at the hem into a delicate train. The dress, which was finished with sexy cutout sides, sold on Tab Vintage for $8,695.
“Men: girls just want to get married,” the Summer House star captioned the post. “Women: no we want Tom Ford back at Gucci.”
Ford, now 63, left Gucci in 2004 after serving as the label’s creative director for 10 years. While he worked at the Italian Fashion House, he created sultry pieces including slinky dresses, skinny satin shirts, metallic boots and velvet hipsters. He left the brand after a public dispute about control with a shareholder.
Since then, Ford has started his own eponymous label, selling plunging dresses, chic frocks, croc-finish skirts, suede trenches and more. He also has a beauty brand, which happens to sell Taylor Swift’s favorite (and best-selling) perfume, Santal Blush.
DeSorbo’s joke comes after announcing her breakup with Craig Conover on a December 2024 episode of her “Giggly Squad” podcast.
Courtesy of Paige DeSorbo/Instagram
“Craig and I have decided to no longer be together,” she said at the time. “I love him, I think he loves me. I think we will remain friends. No one did anything. It wasn’t a bad thing. I think we both were just being really mature and saying what we want and what we didn’t want, and I think that’s extremely powerful to be able to voice how you’re feeling in real-time and what you want for your future.” Throughout Summer House, DeSorbo was often open about not feeling ready to get married, while Conover, 36, was.
Conover later opened up about their split during a February episode of Watch What Happens Live, sharing it was not a mutual decision. “I didn’t tell her what to say [about their breakup on her podcast],” he recalled. “I got a text and she said, ‘I’m announcing it on my podcast.’”
That same month, DeSorbo got real about taking a break from dating. “What am I looking for in a guy?” DeSorbo asked while reading a question on an episode of “Giggly Squad.”
“For them to go away, is what I’m looking for,” she quipped. “For them to turn around and not talk to me, is probably the No. 1 thing on my list. So this Valentine’s Day, it’s all about me.”
Monica Lewinsky and Bill ClintonWireImage; Getty Images
Nearly three decades later, Monica Lewinsky is reflecting on her affair with Bill Clinton — and the aftermath.
“I think what, you know, what we see now in today’s world and as a grown woman — I hate to break it to any 24-year-olds listening to this, because I know from 21 to, like, 25, you think you know everything. You’re like, ‘I’m a f—ing adult now. I know everything.’ I’m so sorry to tell you, you will look back on this time. I feel like, ‘Oh, little 20-year-old me,’” Lewinsky said on the Wednesday, February 26, episode of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast. “Yeah, no. So you know, I thought it was something it wasn’t, and my feelings were real. And it was very frustrating and painful to have people talking about this in a way that was untrue.”
Lewinsky became a household name in 1998 when her two-year affair with Bill, who is married to Hillary Clinton, was revealed. Bill was impeached by the House of Representatives but was acquitted of all charges in 1999. He remained in office until the end of his second term in 2001.
Years later, Lewinsky is hoping to reclaim her identity. “Even though I will always be defined in some way by my history, I am also defined by my present,” Lewinsky said.
Scroll down to read Lewinsky’s biggest revelations on “Call Her Daddy”:
How the Affair Should’ve Been Handled
Monica Lewinsky meeting President Bill Clinton at a White House function.Getty Images
After news broke of the affair, Bill made a public statement claiming he had no sexual relations with Lewinsky. Looking back, Lewinsky thinks the aftermath should have been handled differently.
“I think that the right way to handle a situation like that would have been to probably say it was nobody’s business and to resign, or to find a way of staying in office that was not lying and not throwing a young person who is just starting out in the world under the bus,” Lewinsky said. “At the same time, I’m hearing myself say that and it’s like, ‘OK, but we’re also talking about the most powerful office in the world.’ I don’t want to be naïve either.”
Following the scandal, Lewinsky made several public apologies — but claimed she did not receive them in return from some involved.
“I have had a handful of people who were involved at the time that I’ve run into in different ways, who have acknowledged that they wish they had made different choices,” Lewinsky said. “None of the people who were, you know, sort of the above-the-fold names involved in the investigation, and I’m really grateful that I’m at a place where I don’t need it anymore.”
When asked whether there was a time she felt like she did need an apology, Lewinsky replied, “Oh, sure.”
“Well, I think that’s, you know, and that this is sort of something I don’t — I don’t know that I fully unpacked it yet for myself,” Lewinsky continued. “I think a lot of times with the writing I do, it’s like I have an idea for something and I sort of plant the seed and just let it, I’m like, ‘OK, some version of me, it’s figuring itself out to worm it its way out onto a page,’ but I think that a lot of that has to do with the intersection of as my life changed, as people saw me more and more as my true self, as I was able to have more agency, that those things became less important because I have been able to, even though I will always be defined in some way by my history, I am also defined by my present and that’s — it’s important.”
Aftermath of the Affair
Monica LewinskyCall Her Daddy
Lewinsky had “many” rock-bottom moments after news broke of the affair.
“I guess whatever the layering of, whatever had come out in the news that day, whatever it was, it was just too much,” she said. “And I had remembered thinking, OK, I was able to, the first two weeks of the investigation, I didn’t have a therapist, I couldn’t go on medication. And eventually I was able to get a therapist who had to be a forensic psychologist, who was amazing, Dr. Susan. I’m still grateful to her today. And I remember thinking, ‘OK, I’m going to call her. And if she answers, then I’m staying. And if she doesn’t, I’m out.’ So I think for me, that was rock bottom.”
Navigating her scandal led Lewinsky to become an advocate in cyberbullying prevention. “What I experienced and now why I care so much about anti-bullying with young people, because I understand what this is online and with social media, there is no border,” she said. “It literally feels like the entire world is laughing at you. And it is devastating.”
She Considered Changing Her Name
Hillary Clinton and Bill ClintonCynthia Johnson/Getty Images
As she moved forward, Lewinsky admitted she considered altering her name. “There was definitely a period of time that I contemplated it, except, given the world that we lived in, I couldn’t even see a reality of that,” Lewinsky said. “How is that really going to work? I’m going to walk down the street in L.A., where I was raised, and run into someone and they’ll say ‘Monica’ and I’ll [say], ‘Oh, my name is Rebecca now.’”
Lewinsky also contemplated changing her name on her CV but thought she would be recognized if she walked into an interview. As time moved forward, Lewinsky “came to feel very strongly” that she didn’t want to alter her moniker.
“Why should I have to change my name?” Lewinsky said. “I bet nobody has asked Bill, did he ever think about changing his name? OK, I get because he was the most famous person at the moment, and the president, etc. But just even the idea would never cross someone’s mind to a man. I regret a lot of different decisions I’ve made both prior to ’98 and post ’98, I’m a human being. But I’m not ashamed of who I am.”
Lewinsky’s name has now played a role in why she hasn’t dabbled in online dating. “Part of why I haven’t [done] online dating is that whole thing if you don’t want to use your name, you’re starting something out with a lie,” Lewinsky said. “That doesn’t totally feel right to me either.”
Her Dating Life Now
Monica Lewinsky attends the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.Karwai Tang/WireImage
While Lewinsky has “always dated,” she hasn’t been completely successful. “I was somebody who had wanted to get married and have kids, and I’m sort of past that point of having kids naturally, so I think that was a focus for a long time, but it was definitely, my dating life has been complicated, I think, at times,” she said.
Lewinsky said she has had a “couple instances” where people haven’t pursued dating for the right reasons, but she’s confident in her “bulls— detector.”
“There’s a wide spectrum of like how intimacy goes after something like this and it’s like, I mean, thankfully, no one’s ever asked me to wear a beret in the bedroom, but I mean, there have been, it’s complicated,” she said. “Look, I think our comfort level, and it might be generational, but I think comfort level of really feeling like you can own your own sexuality fully can be one layer that many of us go through when you add on the way I was sexualized and humiliated around sex. It makes it more complicated.”
Lewinsky, who does not drink but isn’t 100 percent sober, thinks she may have more intimacy if she consumed alcohol. “I joke now, if I was still drinking, I’d probably have a lot more sex,” she said, clarifying she meant “casual sex.”
Navigating Power Imbalance
Democratic presidential candidate former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her husband, former U.S. president Bill Clinton look on during a “Get Out The Caucus” at the Clark County Government Center on February 19, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada.Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
In Lewinsky’s mind, power imbalances weren’t something that were “talked about a lot” nearly three decades ago.
While acknowledging this was “not sexual assault,” Lewinsky said, “Therefore, there’s a level of consensuality that was there, and at the same time, because of the power dynamics and the power differential, I never should’ve f—ing been in that position.”
If there was one piece of advice she could tell her 22-year-old self, Lewinsky said, “Do not go to Washington.”
Police sources confirmed to Us Weekly on Wednesday, February 26, that Trachtenberg was found unconscious inside her Midtown West Side apartment in New York City. The incident is not believed to be suspicious. No cause of death has been reported. (The New York Post was the first to break the news.)
Trachtenberg rose to fame as a child star in the 1996 movie Harriet the Spy. She went on to join the cast of Buffy the Vampire Slayer as Sarah Michelle Gellar’s sister, Dawn, and was a fan-favorite guest star on Gossip Girl as Georgina Sparks.
News of her death comes after Trachtenberg sparked fan concern over her past social media posts. In January 2024, Trachtenberg shared a photo with pal Alexa PenaVega on Instagram. “Michelle u look sick. R u ok?” one user wrote in the comments section of the photo that showed the two getting their roots done at a salon.
“Explain to me how I look sick,” Trachtenberg fired back in the comments. “Did you lose a calendar and not realize I’m not 14. I’m 38. How sad for you to leave such a comment.”
Trachtenberg had continued to address the negative comments. “I’ve received several comments recently about my appearance,” she captioned a selfie. “I have never had plastic surgery I am happy and healthy. Check yourself haters.”
Michelle Trachtenberg.Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for EJAF
One day later, Trachtenberg clapped back again. “Fun fact. This is my face. Not malnutrition,” she wrote via Instagram. “No problems. Why do you have you hate? Get a calendar.”
“You’re GORGEOUS,” Kristin Chenoweth replied in the comments, while another user added, “Aging beautifully.”
The actress raised eyebrows about her health in 2019 when she was spotted several times walking with a cane. She later revealed that she had suffered from a broken angle.
“Dear 2019. My broken ankle can still kick your ass out the door,” she captioned a photo at the time. “Cuz in 2020, I’m going to be 100% that bitch. .”
After her stints on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl, Trachtenberg voiced Judy Reilly on Human Kind Of in 2018 before reprising her role as Georgina in 2022 and 2023 episodes of the revived Gossip Girl. (The reimagined series of the same name premiered in 2021, with Kristen Bell returning as the narrator.)
Trachtenberg also served as an executive producer for 2021’s Meet, Marry, Murder series, which she also hosted.
#throwback 
