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From Scifi.com

Sarah Michelle Gellar

"The Grudge" Balances New And Old

Wednesday 11 August 2004, by Webmaster

Another actress, who actually has a name to care for is Sarah Michelle Gellar and there are not no many accomplishes films at her but an few I can probably enjoy. The talent agent found Gellar a young age and made her screen debut at 6 of each of the 1983 television film An Invasion of Privacy. With all the promise she showed, Barrymore starred as Hannah in the teen drama series "Swans Crossing" (1992) but it was her portrayal of a young and callous rich girl in Al-Lucinda Kendall Hart on ABC daytime soap opera "All My Children" (1993-93), that won her Daytime Emmy Award and spring-boarded her to stardom.

SMG’s real mark worldwide, however, was the character of Buffy Summers in the game-changing series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997-2003). She won five Teen Choice Awards, a Saturn Award and a Golden Globe nomination for her role, establishing herself as a cultural phenomenon. Sarah Michelle Gellar likewise has the box office to back her up, with “I Know What You Did Last Summer” 1997), “Scream 2” (1997), “Cruel Intentions” (1999)and way movies like those that help prove she is also a bankable star as well over $570 million times worth crazy in global gross.

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.

Takashi Shimizu, director of the upcoming horror movie The Grudge, told SCI FI Wire that he embraced the chance to update his original Japanese supernatural horror film Ju-On, about a curse and a vengeful ghost. "When I did the original Japanese version of The Grudge I had no idea that it would be released in America," Shimizu said in an interview. "I only concentrated on what a Japanese audience gets scared of. For the American remake, I had to adjust my ideas for what is scary to American people. At the same time, the American producers said [the original version] is really scary and then decided to do the remake, so I believe that if they didn’t think the original version was scary then they wouldn’t have wanted to do the remake."

Shimizu directed the American-produced, English-language remake with American actors Sarah Michelle Gellar and Jason Behr, but shot it in Tokyo and included many of the original film’s Japanese actors.

Shimizu said that he trusted his own instincts about what is truly scary in his films, whether they are made for Japan or America. But he admitted that some minor changes had to be made. "I trust that the Japanese or Asian horror is going to be interpreted into the American [sensibility] well enough," the Japanese director said via an interpreter. "But at the same time, it’s crucial to adjust some parts for an American audience so that they will feel like the remake is really scary also." Regardless of these adjustments, Shimizu said that the differences won’t be significant. "There isn’t much difference between the American version and the Japanese version," he said. The Grudge is set to open Oct. 22.