In 1996, the Nickelodeon favorite ‘Harriet the Spy’ brought the beloved children’s book character to life on the big screen. Michelle Trachtenberg and Rosie O’Donnell, the movie’s dynamic duo, sat down with Entertainment Tonight for an exclusive behind-the-scenes chat about their experiences on set. The rapport between the two stars was evident as they couldn’t stop joking around with each other, showing their playful and light-hearted chemistry.
During the interviews, a young Michelle Trachtenberg revealed that she shared a love for tomato sandwiches with her character, Harriet. This detail added a personal touch to her portrayal of the iconic character and connected her to the source material in a special way. Trachtenberg’s enthusiasm for the role and attention to detail shone through in her performance, making her the perfect choice for the part.
In addition to Trachtenberg and O’Donnell, Entertainment Tonight also caught up with Vanessa Chester and Gregory Smith, who played supporting roles in the film. The actors jokingly compared notes on who was the most immature, showcasing the playful and fun atmosphere on set. The camaraderie among the cast members translated onto the screen, creating a sense of authenticity and chemistry that resonated with audiences.
‘Harriet the Spy’ was a hit with audiences of all ages, thanks in large part to the talented and charming cast. Michelle Trachtenberg and Rosie O’Donnell’s performances brought the beloved characters to life in a way that captured the hearts of viewers. The behind-the-scenes interviews from 1996 offer a glimpse into the making of the film and the camaraderie that made it a memorable experience for all involved.
Watch the video by Entertainment Tonight
Video “Harriet the Spy: ON SET in 1996 With Michelle Trachtenberg and Rosie O’Donnell” was uploaded on 02/26/2025 to Youtube Channel Entertainment Tonight
RIP Michelle 39 is no age
Gone too soon
💔💔💔💔💔💔
Rest in peace ice princess 😭❤️⛸️❄️👑
Rest In peace Michelle
RIP 😞
😭💔💔
RIP
Qepd 😢
I can name the people who are gonna be at her funeral
Sarah Michelle gellar
Freddie prize jr
Rosie o Donell
Kristen bell
Sterling knight
Leslie Mann
Hayden panettiere
Joan Cusack
Hillary duff
Leighton meester
Toby Huss
Danny tamberelli
Michael c maronna
Alison fanelli
😭😭😭😭
I can’t believe she’s gone! 😭😭😭😭😭
MY SHAYLAAAA 😭😭😭😭💔💔💔
❤️💔💖🙏🤍
RIP Michelle. Loved you in Harriet The Spy & Eurotrip. You will be missed!
Michelle was one of the few child stars that was able to have success as an adult. Her later roles didn't get as much attention as her earlier roles but she was never forgotten. It's a shame that her life was cut short! 😢
R.I.P. Michelle Christine Trachtenberg
(October 11, 1985 – February 26, 2025)
(February 26, 2025 – 3:45 P.M.)
RIP Michelle so sad 😢😢😢😢
This is too much 😢🥺💔
I’m getting too old and shits getting too real. Rip. I’m sad today.
Noooooooo
RIP Michelle Trachtenberg. Another 90s star is gone. Life is taking all these things away from us.
Rip 😔💔
It’s one thing when people who are one or two generations older than you pass….its another when people in your generation pass. I was born in 92 but I grew up watching Harriet the Spy, ice princess and Buffy so she was part of my childhood and my generation. This sucks. RIP Michelle.
🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
💔💔
R.I.P. 🙁
Why couldn't it have been Rosie instead
As a millennial I just can’t believe it. I usually don’t care but 39? This one hurt. That poor girl. RIP❤
My Crush FOREVER 💔😭💔
I am not a big Rosie fan, but she seemed to be so kind to Michelle. Thank you Rosie 💗
Back then I thought she was one of the coolest girls I've ever seen and went hard. Hoped to be friends with girls that were like her. RIP to a real one..🤲🏾
I thought harriet the spy was so damn cool.
RIP. Had this on yellow VHS.
😢😢😢
This is one of my favorite actors actually and is an important part of my #Gangstalking case yo! I’m upset about the distractions I have set to get me to the end of someone’s life every time but I recently planned to watch Harriet the spy but the actual screen share hackers that were hired to help take something off my screen never got taken off at AT&T so ever since then anything I do someone’s revving a engine truth best wishes even happened twice in one year with my PayPal I was her fan still am hoop it’s not true and a cover up so she can I’ve put of the spot light either way what even happened? 😢😮😢
😭😭😭😭😭😭 My girl!! Rest peacefully beautiful! ♥️♥️♥️♥️ My childhood.
😥😥🙏🙏
This is so sad. I had a crush on her back in the day.
So sad to hear this news 😢
Rest in Peace young lady 🕯️
This is sad, I like this movie so much I named my daughter Harriet
😭😭😭 ❤ so sad
too young to die..
😢