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Sarah Michelle Gellar

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

Monday 12 September 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.

Sarah Michelle Gellar returns to The CW in a psychological thriller sans vampires.

It was probably best for all involved that CBS passed on the drama Ringer, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, allowing sister network The CW a chance to pick up a fully formed drama with designs on intrigue if not gravitas.

It makes a lot of sense. Gellar might have elicited shrugs from the CBS demo, and, to be straight, might not have had enough heft as an actress to make that network’s audience really care. But on The CW, Gellar is, of course, Buffy. So why not? In the realm of The CW’s acting lineup, Gellar is pretty much Helen Mirren.

Although she often looks like a frail, wet cat in Ringer, compared to everyone else in the hyper-young-female world of The CW, she’s projecting gravitas. And the series itself, despite a number of flaws, might be something fans of The CW and its warren of rich gossip girls, vampires, witches and models can view as highbrow fare.

Ringer is about twins, both played by Gellar. We first meet Bridget, a stripper and drug abuser from Wyoming, while she’s at an NA meeting. She winds up in the Hamptons, where her twin sister, Siobhan, has invited her for a visit. Of course, Siobhan has not told her millionaire British husband she has a sister. Once Bridget reacquaints herself with her posh sister, they go for a boat ride. Bridget wakes up to find Siobhan gone, presumably having killed herself. Seeing an opening, Bridget decides to become Siobhan.

If you’re in the writers room, you can have a lot of fun with Ringer. But the pilot doesn’t waste time getting to the major complications of Bridget’s big lie. Turns out Siobhan was into a lot of bad things. So much for the grass being greener in the Hamptons.

The downside to Ringer is that unless you’re weaned on The CW’s fare, it really doesn’t have a lot of weight, and Gellar seems stretched a bit thin playing dual roles. In Buffy, she was a major ass-kicker with a smart-aleck streak. In Ringer, she’s called on to be mysterious, both downbeat as Bridget and high-class as Siobhan, but ends up looking confused and meek. It hardly lends confidence that she’s capable of being the cornerstone of such a show.

Give it a few episodes and see if Gellar has the range to be a dramatic magnet. If it turns out you’d rather see her driving a stake into vampires, then Ringer will be a show that didn’t work on two networks, and you’ll know what to do about that.

Airdate: 9 p.m. Sept. 13 (the CW)

Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Kristoffer Polaha, Ioan Gruffudd, Nestor Carbonell

Executive Producers: Pam Veasey, Peter Traugott

Director: Richard Shepard

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