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From Scifi.com

Sarah Michelle Gellar

Giving U.S. Voice To "The Grudge"

Thursday 12 August 2004, 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.

Takashi Shimizu-director of the upcoming supernatural film The Grudge, a remake of his own Japanese horror film Ju-On and its sequel-told SCI FI Wire that he worked closely with American screenwriter Stephen Susco to adapt the movie for a U.S. audience. "Working with an American screenwriter for the remake was easy," Shimizu said in an interview through an interpreter. "The writer saw all of the original Japanese versions and loved them, and he even wanted to direct the remake himself for America. He really loved the original movie, so it was really easy for me to work with him."

Shimizu said that Susco added an essential element to the script that he, as a native Japanese filmmaker, could not: the English language. "I can’t write a script in English for American actors, so I really needed another screenwriter to work with," he said. Shimizu added that the changes he made to his original film for the American version, which stars Sarah Michelle Gellar and Bill Pullman, were partly based on a need to challenge himself. "The story is basically the same, but being that I’m the same director as the original, I wanted to make the story a little bit different for the American version," he said.

Shimizu added that he endorses the current U.S. trend of remaking Japanese horror movies, such as Gore Verbinski’s The Ring. For now. "I feel that trend is really good, but if it keeps going on, I’m not sure that it will be [a] good thing," he said. "People will depend on more of the movies and not create new ideas. Maybe businesswise, it’s going to be good for a while. But creativitywise, it isn’t necessarily good, because there won’t be any new ideas created. I feel the filmmakers should keep coming up with new ideas and making new movies." The Grudge, which is currently in post-production, is slated for release Oct. 22.