Information and quotes about Michelle's life outside of her work; education, personal and home life.
Education
Michelle attended a Brooklyn public school, Bay Academy Junior High School where she took part in a class for gifted children until she moved to California with her mother while her father and sister remained in New York. In California, Michelle attended high school Notre Dame Academy and was tutored on set during her work. Graduating magna cum laude with a 4.0 in 2003 Michelle did all the normal senior events including attending prom ('this is the last year we're going to be together and I want to be involved in planning our activities - especially prom'). She received honors in Social Studies and Religion and was also named under California Scholarship Federation. Michelle has said that she wishes to go to college (she was accepted into UCLA Film School although she has deferred to focus on her acting) her main goal is to produce and direct in the future.
Mother (Lana) - was a former actress turned puppeteer, now manages her daughter's career.
'Her much-loved mother, a smiling Russian woman, comes to
collect her. She smiles even more broadly when young Michelle is praised for
her professionalism and intelligence, but still shakes her head just a
little.'
'Sometimes she is 17 getting on 40,' her mom says 'Other time she
is just 17.'
'I do (have lovely parents). My Mom's amazing. She's the one who's given me
confidence...and that's where I'm coming from'
... and my mom, Lana (on her heroes).
Father (Michael) - a fiber optics/telephone engineer was living in Brooklyn, New York while Michelle worked on Buffy.
(Staying in touch with family while filming)
'Well, my mom comes with me wherever I go. Sometimes my sister comes up to
visit, and so does my dad. Otherwise [we] have a really big phone bill.'
'But
the most important thing in my life is my family - my mother, my sister, my
father and my cat, Casey.'
Sister (Irene) - 24, college graduate.
'My favorite Christmas was the year my sister, who's seven
years older than I am, gave me a real gold necklace with letters that
spelled out "extra special sister." It was the first time I had received a
gift from her like that--something really special. Actually, I had asked her
for a Barbie and was disappointed. But I was only eight at the time, and as
I've grown older, I've appreciated the necklace more and more.'
'My sister
takes me out often to go shopping and to the movies.'
'She used to find me trying on her prom dress and boy, would she yell.'
Friends:
In many interviews Michelle has shown that she has a close and important group of friends like her life:
On her new role in Buffy.. 'Oh my gosh! They're so excited. They gave me big old hugs. And I still have black and blue on my ribs from them.'
'I still see my friends. We go to the mall, the movies, we do the e-mail thing, listen to music. My friends will stop by [the set] and see what's going on, but they're not allowed to read any scripts and they can only stop by when the scenes that we're filming will not give anything away! I trust my friends, but they can accidentally slip! I do go online and when my friends are on I instant message, I do the whole thing, but I love eBay. It's really fun.'
'But y'know, it's not that glamorous if you actually stop for a minute and think about it. There are tons of sacrifices.'
Celebrity Friends
When asked who her closest celebrity friend was Michelle replied that it was a tie between her boyfriend Shawn Ashmore and Buffy co-star Sarah Michelle Gellar. Some of Michelle's other celebrity friends are Hilary Duff, Scarlett Johanson, Mila Kunis, Amber Benson (and rest of the Buffy cast) to name a few.
Boyfriend
(Shawn Ashmore)
Michelle and Shawn have been dating for two years, they met at an industry party (I think it was an Oscar or Globes after party).
They made their first public appearance together at Prom Queen: 'The Marc Hall Story' premier at the Regent Theatre in Toronto (a production Shawn's brother Aaron starred in) and have been to many events together since including 2004 MTV Movie Awards (at which Shawn won the Best Breakthrough Male Award), events and screenings at the Toronto Film Film Festival, Independent Spirit Awards, Ladder 49 premiere and, premiere for Ice Princess and many more.