Michelle Trachtenberg's portrayal of Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl character’s most iconic scenes.

Trachtenberg's keen comedic timing and dramatic flair transformed what could have been a one-dimensional villain into a fan favorite. This is a testament to the skill of Michelle Trachtenberg, who sadly ed away on February 26, 2025. She left viewers eager for Georgina’s next calculated disruption. This “evil b*tch from hell” is responsible for some of Gossip Girl’s best episodes, each illustrating Trachtenberg's indelible performance and knack for deadpan comedy.

10 “You Can Tell Jesus…”

In season 2, Episode 23, “The Wrath of Con”, Georgina Sparks’ line delivery highlights why both writers and actors loved working with Michelle Trachtenberg. One such writer, Joshua Safran, wrote a tribute thread on X praising how Trachtenberg’s “devious, delicious, direct” delivery style and humor made her a joy to write for, and continued to inspire her dialogue. Her dramatic entrance in this episode is certainly one of those moments.

Georgina gave a quippy response that went down in teen drama history...

Like so many iconic conversations in Gossip Girl, it takes place over a cell phone call with Blair, with an oversized pair of sunglasses to boot. When Blair said she doesn’t think Jesus would approve of her actions, Georgina gave a quippy response that went down in teen drama history: “Well, you can tell Jesus that the b*tch is back.” The best thing about Georgina’s appearance in this episode is that she is taking part in one of Blair’s schemes.

9 “Now, If You’ll Excuse Me…”

In season 4, episode 22, “The Wrong Goodbye”, Georgina is as candid as ever. While her constant reappearance often felt like a running gag, her boredom with domesticity and eagerness to dive back into scandal were both petty and hilarious.

Trachtenberg’s quick wit and perfectly delivered lines, such as "Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go get drunk enough to make all of you seem interesting," and "I haven’t been this bored since I believed in Jesus," cemented her as a chaotic force. This was a moment that transcended a simple plot device, showcasing Georgina's enduring ability to inject a unique brand of villainy and humor, ultimately making her return a high point for the character and the show.

8 Because She Can

Season 1, episode 16, “All About My Brother”, established Georgina Sparks as the ultimate chaos agent in the show. She says to Serina that maybe she did it on purpose, stating that she knows things about Serina's family and boyfriend before she does.

This stands as one of her most defining and impactful moments, largely due to Michelle Trachtenberg's exceptional portrayal of the character. Her delivery is a perfect blend of insouciance, veiled malice, and a touch of almost childlike glee. While characters like Blair and Chuck operate within a relatively understood set of rules, Georgina exists outside of their standards.

7 “Dan, Meet Milo…”

One of Georgina’s best and most unhinged moments was tricking Dan into thinking Milo was his son in Season 3, Episode 22, “Last Tango, Then Paris”. She manages to convince him to take care of a baby that is not his and signs a birth certificate after Georgina presents a fake paternity test. It was then revealed that Milo’s father is a married Russian man with whom Georgina had an affair.

It’s the way Georgina delivers (no pun intended) the news that is so iconic. She shows up wearing a fur to conceal the bump and says she has something for Dan, and then pulls it open for a dramatic reveal. She is wearing both sequins and metallic for the most over-the-top accentuation of the bump possible and says, “Congratulations, daddy.” It is Georgina’s shamelessness, acted so well by Trachtenberg, that makes her such a joy to watch.

6 Georgina’s Alter-Ego

In season 1, episode 15, “Desperately Seeking Serena”, Georgina appears for the first time in the series. However, introducing herself to Dan with her real name would have set off alarm bells once Serena caught wind of it, so she goes by a fake identity, the cheerful and unassuming Sarah. This is one of Georgina’s wildest moments in retrospect.

It wasn’t enough for Georgina to just turn up and re-enter Serena’s life, taunting her with her past. She tracks Dan down in Central Park, somehow gets a dog, and poses as a friendly dog-walker who happened to talk to Dan by happenstance. All while plotting to use him in her scheme to undermine Serena. This is top-tier plotting, and even more fun to rewatch.

5 Announcing Rufus’ Love Child

Season 3, episode 5, “Rufus Getting Married” is another classic Georgina moment. A serious exchange between Lily and Rufus is delightfully ruined by Trachtenberg’s chaotic yet lovable character. She cuts in, saying, “Your love child, yeah. Not dead. Congratulations - it’s a boy!”

It’s Trachtenberg’s line delivery that makes this so great, as she announces the shocking news with a disconcertingly cheery smile before happily sauntering off, while the rest of the cast look incredulous and speechless. This breezy disregard for other people’s feelings is what makes Georgina so delightfully despicable.

4 Her Sacrilegious Elevator Zinger

Some of the best dialogue in Gossip Girl was right before someone had to hop in an elevator and make a speedy exit, especially when Gossip Girl’s Serena had to go. In Season 5, Episode 13, “G.G.”, Georgina perhaps takes the crown for the most dramatic elevator moment in the series.

Because of her history with Bible Camp, Georgina’s dialogue is known for gleefully sacrilegious comments. This iconic moment is no exception - she involves nothing other than the sanctity of the priesthood in one of her schemes, and delivers the memorable quip, “Bless us, father, I have a feeling we’re about to sin,” as the elevator doors close.

3 Georgina’s Stint As Gossip Girl

One of Georgina’s best wider moments in the series beyond her iconic quotes was her stint as Gossip Girl herself when she hacked into the website in season 5. Previously, Gossip Girl had gone on hiatus because of Blair and Chuck’s car accident.

Georgina becoming Gossip Girl in season 5 satisfied her cravings for meddling with the lives of the Upper East Siders. The scenes that show Georgina typing the words of Gossip Girl and g off with the signature “XOXO” are so satisfying - of course, she is not really Gossip Girl, but her impeccable imitation of the blogger’s tone of voice shows that she is more than capable of taking the helm. After g off, she says she has “never felt more invigorated”, showing that Georgina is never more in her element than when causing chaos.

2 Proving A Match For Blair

One of Georgina’s best quotes in Gossip Girl serves to tell the viewer that only Georgina is a match for Blair Waldorf. In Season 3, Episode 3, "The Lost Boy”, she says, “When it comes to Blair Waldorf, I don’t have to do much… but light the match and watch her go up in flames.”

This is especially powerful because by season 3, it is well established that Blair is not a character you want to get on the wrong side of. The best Blair and Serena fights in Gossip Girl illustrate this Upper East Sider’s ruthlessness, yet Georgina seems to barely see Blair as a challenge. She claims just a small amount of meddling will make her unravel. Blair can hold her own, but Georgina will go to insane lengths to stir up drama.

1 Seeing Right Through Dan Humphrey

Dan Humphrey stands out as Gossip Girl's most divisive character. While some are drawn to his brooding demeanor and impressed by his ability to manipulate his way into the group, others, like Georgina, recognize his manipulative nature. Interestingly, Georgina ires this quality, often employing similar tactics for her own amusement.

In Gossip Girl season 5, episode 24, "The Return Of The Ring”, Dan and Georgina talk conspiratorially in the car. Georgina says, “Nothing like a scorned lover to scorch the earth.” For better or for worse, Georgina sees right through Dan, perhaps seeing similar qualities to herself. Georgina's encouragement of his tell-all book in this scene shows that the pair are cut from the same cloth, and Georgina is just more upfront about it.

Source: X