Despite battling health issues, Michelle Trachtenberg gave it her all in everything she did up until the very end.
According to producer Jennifer Hutchins who spoke with Us Weekly on Wednesday, the Gossip Girl actress delivered a breathtaking performance in her final project before her death, which was giving voice to the main subject in a documentary titled Spyral about a woman named Michelle Cody White who battled an undiagnosed bipolar disorder while struggling with addiction.
Related: Michelle Had The Coolest Plans Before Her Tragic Death
The producer remarked:
“The amount of energy she put into turning into Michelle Cody White, I mean, it was almost eerie how much she became her. I don’t think I’ve ever sat in a room with that amazing of acting where we were all just teary-eyed.”
Michelle joined the project in 2021 and was instantly drawn to the subject matter, Jennifer added:
“It didn’t take much thought to land on the idea of, ‘The perfect Michelle Cody White just walked into the door.’ Michelle had told me that she was really moved by this project and wanted to support mental health awareness. It was just when things are meant to be. It was just, like, the doors just opened right up for it.”
The film was made with home videos filmed by Michelle Cody White and her husband Randall, who videotaped her as her behavior changed to help her see what was happening to her was “not normal.” In the film, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer star reads aloud the lead’s personal diaries detailing her addiction issues. Jennifer shared:
“It’s not like a typical narration. It’s, like, she became her.”
The film premiered last year and will be screened again at Shattering the Silence: A Benefit Evening for Mental Health Awareness in Austin, Texas later this month. Michelle was hoping to attend the event to help raise awareness and money for the National Alliance on Mental Illness and other resources.
Jennifer concluded the Harriet the Spy alum will be remembered as “being this very powerful voice” capable of “shattering the silence for a mental health movement where we can help relay the message that it’s not ‘them and me.’” She continued:
“I’ve lived on this journey with this for so long and we were in a recording studio [together]. She’s one of those people that when you’re around her, it feels like an old friend. She’s just so sweet and warm and gentle and just such a professional.”
So sad she won’t be able to see this film reach a bigger audience.
The screening will be live-streamed on Rewarded.TV on March 12 for those interested in tuning in. See details HERE.
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[Image via Daniel Tanner/WENN]
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