Michelle Trachtenberg: Gossip Girl Star Dating Knicks' Danilo Galliari

Michelle Trachtenberg, Gossip Girl star, is dating New York Knicks power forward Danilo Gallinari, according to a New York Post report.

If you don't know who Trachtenberg or Gallinari are, this slide show is meant to inform you.

Both aren't yet household names, but Trachtenberg is only 26, and Gallinari is only 22, so that could all change in the future....especially since the Knicks are looking to once again be relevant. 

Since we assume you would rather just look at pictures of her, rather than him, we'll do the best to accommodate that.

And for many of you, with wives or girlfriends who are Gossip Girl fans, when you get through this slide show, you can tell them you know all about the character Georgina Sparks and her scheming ways!

Child Actress

Trachtenberg began her acting career at a very young age.

She appeared in commercials and a few television episodes (Law and Order, All My Children), before her "big break" came in 1996, as the lead/title character in Harriet the Spy.

After that, she appeared in Richie Rich and Disney's Inspector Gadget, as the cartoon star's daughter, Penny.

One of Italy's Best Exports

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CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 04: Danilo Gallinari #8 of the New York Knicks looks to pass under pressure from Ronnie Brewer #11 of the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on November 4, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Knicks defeated the Bulls 120-112. NOTE TO USER:

Gallinari came to the Knicks by way of the Olimpia Milano team in Italy, where he averaged 17.5 points, 5.6 assists and 6.2 rebounds per game. 

In the spring of 2008, he declared himself for the NBA draft, and the Knicks took him with their sixth overall selection.

An Odd Couple

Trachtendberg is reportedly five-feet, seven-inches tall.

If her boyfriend didn't happen to be an NBA power forward, there probably wouldn't be such a huge height difference.

But he does, and Gallinari is six-feet, 10-inches tall.

All Grown Up

After growing out of the child roles, she's had major roles in hit movies like 17 Again and Cop Out.  

At the same time, she's been a big television star as well, with recurring roles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and as the deceiving two-faced character Georgina on the CW's Gossip Girl, with Blake Lively and Leighton Meester.

Power Forward Meets Actress

According to the New York Post report, Trachtenberg and Gallinari "are seeing each other, but it is very early days. Michelle seems pretty excited about Danilo and was overheard talking about him at the Knicks game recently, saying she really likes him."

Trachtenberg attended the Knicks game on Monday at Madison Square Gardens, wearing Gallinari's number "8" jersey.

Her new beau scored 17 points in the team's 121-114 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Star of NBC Drama

Following her recurring role on Gossip Girl, Trachtenberg landed one of  the lead roles on the NBC drama Mercy about a fictional New Jersey hospital.

She played Chloe Payne, a nurse who just finished her training.

After its first season in 2009, the show was not picked up for a second.

Gallinari, a Key Part of a Knicks Revival?

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NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 20: Danilo Gallinari #8 of the New York Knicks against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Madison Square Garden on February 20, 2010 in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or usin

The Knicks have been at the bottom of the Eastern Conference food chain for several years now. Not since 2004 has New York reached the NBA playoffs.

And last year, they went 32-50.

But in 2010, the Knicks are off to a great start. They are 14-9 and in second place in the Atlantic Division behind the reigning conference champion Celtics.

Gallinari has been a huge part of that fine record. He's averaging 15.3 points per game and is the team's premier three point shooter.

Friends With Sarah Michelle Gellar

Trachtenberg was a regular guest star on the WB's Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Alongside the show's star, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Trachtenberg appeared in 66 episodes as the character Dawn Summers.

But a decade before that, the pair worked together on the soap opera, All My Children, during the mid-1990s.

A Well Traveled Gal

Trachtenberg was born in New York City in 1985, and she currently lives in Los Angeles, but her father is German, her mother is Russian, and her grandparents live in Israel. 

Despite being born in America, she actually is fluent in Russian, having picked it up from her mother and grandparents.

A Great Sense Of Humor

Trachtenberg has done her share of serious and/or semi-serious acting roles: Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Gossip Girl, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and others.

But she certainly has a lighter side to her career.

Trachtenberg appeared on VH1's Best Week Ever and was on several episodes of Adult Swim's Robot Chicken.

No Longer Harriet The Spy

One of the roles that helped Trachtenberg shed her Harriet the Spy, child-actor image was her character, Jenny, in the 2004 comedy EuroTrip.

Several somewhat raunchy scenes appeared in the film, including an infamous beach/bikini scene and one in which Trachtenberg makes out with her character's brother!

The one above is one that was a bit too much and left on the cutting room floor.

Almost a Trojan

Trachtenberg was accepted to USC Film School in 2004 but deferred to continue her movie career.

In a 2005 interview with Radio Free Entertainment, she said,

"I wouldn't study theater. I've never taken any acting classes. I don't believe anyone has a right to tell me how to be an actress other than my director, so I've never responded to that. I would study the history of film, I'd study producing and directing and just the beauty of film."

What's Next for Trachtenberg?

In October, E! News reported that Trachtenberg and the producers of Gossip Girls, Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, are working on another CW show.

"Right now I'm producing my own show that I created so that's taking up some time," Trachtenberg said. "It's something that is very female-driven, and it is an hour long drama. It will be really cool and different, something you haven't seen before."

The show should air in the fall of 2011.

Like Father, Like Son?

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

NEW YORK - DECEMBER 22: Danilo Gallinari #8 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket against the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden on December 22, 2009 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading an

The Knicks hiring Mike D'Antoni in May 2008 helped pave the way for Gallinari's entry in the the NBA.

Gallinari's father, Vittorio, was a basketball star in Italy during the 1980s and played with both D'Antoni and future Hall of Famer Bob McAdoo for one season in Milan.

Eventually, the tough defender retired and became a sports agent.

Coincidentally, six weeks after the Knicks hired D'Antoni as their head coach, he and management took Vittorio's son, Danilo, with the sixth pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.

Active In Causes

Several years ago, Trachtenberg was named to by Teen People magazine to their list of "20 Teens Who Will Change the World."

She has participated in charitable causes like The Starlight Children’s Foundation, R.A.D.D., and DARE America and helped launch "The Coalition for a Drug Free America" campaign along with former President Bill Clinton.