How Blake Lively Is Honoring Michelle Trachtenberg After Her Death
Blake Lively is sending XO to her late Gossip Girl costar Michelle Trachtenberg.
Hours after Trachtenberg was found dead at 39 in her New York City apartment, Lively recalled the first day she met Trachtenberg, who played Georgina Sparks opposite her Serena van der Woodsen, on the set of the CW show over 15 years ago.
"She was electricity," she wrote on Instagram Story Feb. 26. "You knew when she entered a room because the vibration changed. Everything she did, she did 200%."
The actress continued, "She laughed the fullest at someone’s joked, 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."
But most of all, Lively said she'll remember how Trachtenberg "always had yummy caramel smelling lipgloss on."
"Because she didn’t just want to sparkle on camera," the 37-year-old explained, "she liked creating a nice experience for anyone who was in her orbit, even down to the subtle smell of her lipgloss because she cared about the sweet details."
Calling the former child star "a kind person, through and through," Lively said the "world lost a deeply sensitive and good person in Michelle."
"Hold those you love and have loved dear," she wrote, noting that sometimes it's easy to take things for granted and "the real tragedies in life are the ones that blindside you on an idle Tuesday."
Lively added of Trachtenberg, "May her work and her huge heart be remembered by those who were lucky enough to experience her fire."
It's a sentiment shared by the rest of the Gossip Girl cast. In a tribute of his own, Chace Crawford described Trachtenberg as "one of a kind."
"I remember her coming on set for the first time and just absolutely owning it," he wrote on Instagram Feb. 26, sharing selfies of the two on set. "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."
Meanwhile, the teen drama's showrunners said they were "deeply saddened" by Trachtenberg's passing.
"Michelle was so funny, kind, and talented," Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage said in a statement to NBC News. "Her portrayal of Georgina Sparks was an iconic fan favorite, and grew from a one season villain to a beloved character who returned over the course of six seasons."
The pair continued, "She was a delight to have on set and will be deeply missed."
Read on for more tributes to Trachtenberg...
"Michelle was one of a kind," the Gossip Girl alum wrote. "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."
"My heart is heavy today," the Buffy the Vampire Slayer wrote on Instagram. "We have lost a beautiful soul. Michelle was fiercely intelligent, howlingly funny, and a very talented person. She died much too young, and leaves behind scores of people who knew and loved her."
James continued, "My heart goes out to her family who are good people, and are suffering the greatest loss anyone could bear. I hope everyone can give them space to heal in this most difficult time. Godspeed Michelle. You are missed."
The Sex and the City alum wrote of her Ice Princess costar, "Rest in peace sweet Michelle."
The Nickelodeon star wrote of his fellow alum, "Our first Nick movie star has departed us!! She was my friend and now she rests!! Check on your people!!!"
Michelle's Harriet the Spy costar told Us Weekly, "Heartbreaking. I loved her very much. She struggled the last few years. I wish I could have helped.”
"I'm so sorry your bright light died so young," she wrote of her former costar. "Our Buffy family lost a little sister today... Rest in peace lovely Mish Mish. You were loved."
Michelle's ex-boyfriend, whom she dated between 2004 and 2006, penned a tribute on social media.
"Incredibly sad to hear about Michelle’s passing," he wrote. "She was an incredible person and I will always remember the years we spent together fondly. She was loving, quirky and would never pass up a law and order SVU marathon:)"
He added, "My condolences to her mother Lana and sister Irene! This is an incredible loss!"
The Halloweentown alum expressed her grief with a simple broken heart emoji.
"I'm heartbroken to hear of the passing of @michelletrachtenberg," Melissa wrote on Instagram, alognside a throwback clip from Clarissa Explains It All. "So young, so talented and so sweet!"
She added of the clip, "I think this was about 1992 and the episode was an idea I had about babysitting a total nightmare. But Michelle was nothing like her character and even this young, we got along wonderfully."
“We are deeply saddened by the news of Michelle’s passing," the Gossip Girl creators and showrunners shared with NBC News. "Michelle was so funny, kind, and talented. Her portrayal of Georgina Sparks was an iconic fan favorite, and grew from a one season villain to a beloved character who returned over the course of six seasons."
The pair continued, "She was a delight to have on set and will be deeply missed. Our thoughts are with her family.”
"Oh Michy…," Melissa wrote on Instagram in tribute to her A Holiday for Love costar. "And we lived so close to one another…..my heart aches for your family and all those who loved you so… @michelletrachtenberg #ripsweetgirl"
"So sad to hear of the passing of @michelletrachtenberg," the Gossip Girl alum wrote on his Feb. 25 Instagram Story. "Sending prayers."
He closed his message with the praying hands and white heart emojis.
"So very sad..." Michelle's Buffy The Vampire Slayer costar wrote on social media of her passing. "Horrible News. RIP and prayers to her and her family."
The Gossip Girl alum—who played Damien Dalgaard in the teen drama—described Michelle's passing a "loss."
"Michelle was tough and a force," he added in his Instagram post. "Just a kid, so sad."
The Angel alum offered his support to those closest to the actress, writing on Instgram, "My heart goes out to her family and loved ones. What a beautiful spirit who left an amazing legacy… Rest In Peace, dear one."
(E! and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)
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