Rosie O'Donnell reflects on 'tragedy' of 'genius child' Michelle Trachtenberg.

The comedian got serious about her former Harriet the Spy co-star in an interview with Variety Magazine, describing the late actress as an exceptionally talented child star. "It was a tragedy. She was a real genius child who was able to memorise anything, pick up her lines, you could improvise with her, and she was connected and right there." The pair first worked together on the 1996 children's movie in which Michelle played a sixth-grade student who aspires to become a writer and spy, while Rosie played her beloved nanny.