Kids on the Buffy Block

Little Sister Michelle Trachtenberg  chat it up.

January 12, 2001

Being the new kid on the Buffy block isn't the easiest thing in the world -- Michelle Trachtenberg can attest to that. When she first joined the cast as Buff's previously unseen little sister Dawn, the fans nearly revolted.

"The first two or three episodes, they're like, 'Who is she, buddy?'" laughs Michelle. "And I was like, 'Well, mister and missus, if you [watched] the show for the past two years, you know that Dawn has been hinted about!'"

Faith's "Little Miss Muffet" line, right? "Exactly!" she shrieks, clasping my arm. "Very good! I give you much credit."

The bubbly Michelle is having a grand old time at swank Pasadena restaurant Il Fornaio, where a whole constellation of WB stars is on hand to chat it up with TV critics. Like Dawn, she has a winning spark of infectious enthusiasm -- every other word is in italics. "I love playing Dawn, I love everything about her," she exclaims. "I love meeting the actual cast, seeing what happens behind the scenes. I love having my own room! I mean, I have my own in real life, but I love having Dawn's room and that whole thing."

As we all know by now, Dawn isn't exactly the precocious teen tag-along she appears to be -- rather, she's some sort of key-to-the-universe-type energy conjured into human form and sent to The Slayer for protection. "Dawn, of course, as you know, is a little special," laughs Michelle. "She's just the key to the survival of mankind."

Right. No pressure.

"Yeah, none at all, really!" she laughs. Though Dawn is oblivious to her special status -- she still thinks she's just Buff's little sis, and as evidenced by last night's episode, is just beginning to get hints that something is amiss -- Michelle says that there's an episode coming up wherein Dawn will learn more. "There is actually an episode that will air in February -- I'm really looking forward to seeing how it's put together," she says. "You have to expect an episode where Dawn gets a hint of what she is, and there will be one coming up, and I'm really proud of it. It should be fun."

Overall, Michelle couldn't be happier with the way things have worked out on Buffy, which she was a fan of prior to being cast. And, as evidenced by the protective side she brings out in The Slayer, Dawn has added a new dynamic to the show. "[Dawn]'s always full of energy, and she's exciting and she's fun and she always has her opinion!" Michelle laughs. "And she will tell you! Some days she can get a little nosey, but it's all in good fun."

And as for those persnickety fans, well...they've come around. "The fan response has been great -- they love Dawn, they think she's pretty good," Michelle says. "I hope I'm making you guys laugh and cry and smile and giggle."