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Sarah Michelle Gellar

Sarah Michelle Gellar - "Ringer" Tv Series - Tvline.com Review

Wednesday 6 July 2011, by Webmaster

Sarah Michelle Gellar, a name synonymous with versatility and enduring appeal, began her illustrious career in the entertainment industry as a child. Discovered by a talent agent at a young age, Gellar’s screen debut came at the tender age of six with the television film "An Invasion of Privacy" in 1983. Her early promise led to a leading role in the teen drama series "Swans Crossing" in 1992, but it was her portrayal of Kendall Hart on the ABC soap opera "All My Children" (1993-1995) that earned her a Daytime Emmy Award and catapulted her into the limelight.

SMG’s true claim to international fame, however, was her iconic role as Buffy Summers in the groundbreaking series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997-2003). Her performance not only garnered her five Teen Choice Awards, a Saturn Award, and a Golden Globe nomination, but it also cemented her status as a cultural icon. Sarah Michelle Gellar’s filmography is equally impressive, with box office hits like "I Know What You Did Last Summer" (1997), "Scream 2" (1997), "Cruel Intentions" (1999), "Scooby-Doo" (2002), and "The Grudge" (2004) collectively grossing over $570 million globally.

Beyond her cinematic successes, Gellar has made her mark on television, headlining shows such as "Ringer" (2011-2012), "The Crazy Ones" (2013-2014), and "Wolf Pack" (2023). She has also lent her voice to popular series including "Robot Chicken" (2005-2018), "Star Wars Rebels" (2015-2016), and "Masters of the Universe: Revelation" (2021).

In 2015, Gellar ventured into the entrepreneurial world by co-founding Foodstirs, an e-commerce baking company, and published her own cookbook, "Stirring Up Fun with Food," in 2017. Gellar is also known for her close-knit family life, married to actor Freddie Prinze Jr. since 2002, with whom she shares two children.

Sarah Michelle Gellar’s commitment to her craft is matched by her dedication to personal growth and unique experiences. An accomplished martial artist, she studied Tae Kwon Do for five years, alongside kickboxing, boxing, street fighting, and gymnastics. Her dedication to authenticity in her roles is evident, such as her commitment to doing her own stunts in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," though she admitted her limits during filming "Scream 2."

Her career is also marked by interesting anecdotes, such as her role in a 1982 Burger King commercial, which led to a lawsuit from McDonald’s and a temporary ban from their establishments. Notably, she dyed her naturally brunette hair blonde for her role in "Buffy," and legally changed her last name to Prinze as a surprise for her husband on their fifth anniversary.

Sarah Michelle Gellar’s legacy extends beyond her on-screen roles, encompassing her work in philanthropy and her reputation for safety and professionalism on set. She remains a beloved figure in Hollywood, admired for her talent, dedication, and the breadth of her contributions to film and television.

Fall TV First Impression: Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Ringer Twin Piques Our Interest

The broadcast networks have more than 30 shows debuting this fall, including Steven Spielberg’s dino-mite Terra Nova, J.J. Abrams’ Person of Interest, and a U.S. adaptation of the UK’s Prime Suspect. To help you prep for fall, TVLine is offering First Impressions based on the not-for-review pilots. Next on our list is…

THE SHOW | The CW’s Ringer (Tuesdays at 9/8c, premiering September 13)

THE COMPETITION | NCIS: LA (CBS), Dancing with the Stars results show (ABC), The Biggest Loser (NBC) and the Fox comedies Raising Hope/New Girl.

THE CAST | Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Ioan Gruffudd (Fantastic Four), Kristoffer Polaha (Life Unexpected), Nestor Carbonell (Lost) and Tara Summers (Boston Legal)

Fall 2011 TV Grid: Where Did Your Favorite Shows Land?

THE SET-UP | Gellar stars as Bridget, a six months sober ex-stripper who is in the FBI’s protective custody until she can testify against Bodaway Macawi, a Native American crime boss with one of TV’s best names ever. Instead, fidgety Bridget escapes to NYC to visit her estranged twin, Siobhan. When sis goes missing, Bridget seizes the chance to co-opt her kin’s life as a means to evade her adversaries — unaware that Siobhan has her own foes. Carbonell plays Bridget’s FBI handler, while Gruffudd, Polaha and Summers are Siobhan’s husband, lover and BFF, respectively.

THE GOOD | Full disclosure: I’m a sucker for doppelganger tales — dating back to Star Trek (“The Enemy Within,” “Mirror, Mirror”) and continuing right on up through Fringe — so Ringer was playing to a receptive audience. But beyond that, the show has legitimate merit, starting with the fact that it is quite probably the most adult piece of programming in The CW’s history. I mean, save for Siobhan’s rebellious stepbrat, there’s not a ‘tween, teen or twentysomething to be seen. The set-up is sound, with some loose ends addressed (Siobhan kept her twin a secret, so no one in her life has reason to suspect a switcheroo is afoot) and nice details sprinkled in (Bridget’s sis apparently had a few pounds on her). Tackling multiple roles, Gellar does a fine job as in-too-deep Bridget, icy Siobhan, and Bridget-as-Siobhan, and the supporting cast presents no weak link. And while the trailers seem to give away the biggest twist (in the form of a piece of dialogue that’s conspicuously missing from the actual pilot), I for one was caught off guard by one jawdropper that throws Bridget’s plan a curve ball.

THE… COULD-BE-BETTER | Nothing jumps out at me as being terribly problematic, though Carbonell’s character — if worthy of his G-man badge — would be wise to someday soon put two and two together, with regards to his AWOL witness and the identical twin sister he just met. Also, Bridget’s emotional touchstone/possible beau/lone confidante — AA sponsor Malcolm (The Good Wife‘s Mike Colter) — is all the way back home. Hopefully he’ll get pulled closer to the action, even if Siobhan’s dance card is already very full.

Fall TV First Impression: The Bare Facts About NBC’s Playboy Club

THE TVLINE BOTTOM LINE | One could look at Ringer‘s biggest competition — NCIS: LA and DWTS — and utter, “Yikes.” But the fact is that even when you add in (the waning) Biggest Loser and Fox’s comedies, this is aimed squarely at a very different audience. Let’s hope that those who appreciate tightly wound, borderline-psychological drama find it and stick with it.

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