Michelle Trachtenberg

LOS ANGELES — Once through high school was enough for Michelle Trachtenberg.

"I had a rough experience," says the 23-year-old, best recognized from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl and currently co-starring in 17 Again.

"Kids were super-cruel to me. And all the boys made fun of me and no one asked me out. (But) whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. When you’re going through high school as a teenager, kids are horribly cruel. Even if you’re the most popular kid, there’s going to be somebody throwing stones at you. You really just have to think it’s going to get better and words are just that."

In 17 Again, which debuted at No. 1 this weekend, Trachtenberg plays the daughter of Matthew Perry (who is magically transformed into his teenage self portrayed by Zac Efron).

Off-screen, though, she says she "loves getting older. Men get sexier with age. Women are more mature and it takes awhile for men to catch up ... I wouldn’t want to go back to being younger. Everything has shaped me to be who I am today."

As for all those guys who didn’t ask her out?

"Ha! Look at me now ... I have boobs."