Michelle Trachtenberg, Gossip Girl and Buffy actress, dies aged 39

Actress Michelle Trachtenberg, best known for her roles in Gossip Girl and other hit TV dramas, has died at the age of 39.

She was found dead in her New York apartment on Wednesday morning, local time. The exact cause of death remains under investigation.

According to police, no signs of foul play were detected, but Trachtenberg had recently undergone a liver transplant and may have suffered complications.

Born in New York in 1985, Trachtenberg began her career as a child actress, and later gained widespread recognition for her roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl.