Editing Sarah Michelle Gellar (section)

===Beginnings and breakthrough (1981–1996)===
At the age of four, Gellar was spotted by an agent in a restaurant in [[Upper Manhattan]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/26360/Sarah-Michelle-Gellar/biography |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150116212620/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/26360/Sarah-Michelle-Gellar/biography |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 16, 2015 |title=Sarah Michelle Gellar – About This Person – Movies & TV |work=[[The New York Times]] |first=Nathan |last=Southern |year=2015 |access-date=August 14, 2015}}</ref> Two weeks later, she auditioned for a part in the [[television film]] ''An Invasion of Privacy''. At the audition, she read both her own lines and those of [[Valerie Harper]], impressing the directors enough to cast her in the role.<ref name="Gellarearlyyears" /> The film aired on [[CBS]] in January 1983.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs6kYXVX8Lk  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/cs6kYXVX8Lk| archive-date=December 11, 2021 |url-status=live|title=An Invasion Of Privacy 1983 CBS Movie Promo |last=Sean Mc |date=February 3, 2015 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

While growing up, Gellar appeared in numerous television commercials for such brands as [[Shake 'n Bake]], [[Avon Products|Avon]], and [[Burger King]].<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/slay-lady-slay-sarah-michelle-gellar-and-the-power-of-buffy-hood-179423/ | title=Slay Lady Slay: Sarah Michelle Gellar and the Power of Buffy-hood | magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] | date=April 2, 1998 }}</ref> A 1982 television spot, in which she claimed Burger King made larger and better tasting burgers than competitor [[McDonald's]], was arguably the first [[attack ad]] introduced in the fast food industry.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oBj-sPpJDQcC&q=donald+smith+burger+king&pg=PA64 |title=Making Fast Food: From the Frying Pan Into the Fryer |edition=2nd |first=Ester |last=Reiter |publisher=[[McGill-Queen's University Press]] |date=March 1996 |page=66 |access-date=April 6, 2008 |isbn=0-7735-1387-6 |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122125652/https://books.google.com/books?id=oBj-sPpJDQcC&q=donald+smith+burger+king&pg=PA64 |url-status=live }}</ref> Executives at McDonald's parent company were so enraged that they sued all parties involved, naming Gellar and reportedly banning her from eating at the food chain.<ref>{{cite web |last=Salemi |first=Vicki |title=Buffy's Having A Baby |work=SheKnows.com |publisher=AtomicOnline |url=http://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/808551/sarah-michelle-gellar-pregnant |date=April 12, 2009 |access-date=November 3, 2010 |archive-date=November 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101101224900/http://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/808551/sarah-michelle-gellar-pregnant |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/sarah-michelle-gellar-was-once-banned-from-mcdonalds |title=Sarah Michelle Gellar Was Once Banned From McDonald's |work=BuzzFeed |first=Brian |last=Galindo |date=August 27, 2013 |access-date=August 14, 2015 |archive-date=September 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915060854/http://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/sarah-michelle-gellar-was-once-banned-from-mcdonalds |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://whatculture.com/tv/10-things-didnt-know-sarah-michelle-gellar.php/11 |title=10 Things You Didn't Know About Sarah Michelle Gellar – Page 11 |work=Whatculture.com |date=January 6, 2015 |access-date=August 14, 2015 |archive-date=August 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150827195048/http://whatculture.com/tv/10-things-didnt-know-sarah-michelle-gellar.php/11 |url-status=live }}</ref> In a 2004 interview, she recalled: "I wasn't allowed to eat there. It was tough because, when you're a little kid, McDonald's is where all your friends have their birthday parties, so I missed out on a lot of apple pies."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sarah-michelle-gellar-mcdonalds_n_3828955 |title=Sarah Michelle Gellar Was Banned From McDonald's As A Kid |work=HuffPost |date=August 28, 2013 |access-date=June 22, 2020 |archive-date=June 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625165102/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sarah-michelle-gellar-mcdonalds_n_3828955 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.whedon.info/Sarah-Michelle-Gellar-Sunday.html |title=Sarah Michelle Gellar – Sunday Express Interview – Article #4391 |work=Whedon.info |access-date=August 14, 2015 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304190425/http://www.whedon.info/Sarah-Michelle-Gellar-Sunday.html |url-status=live }}</ref> She also worked as a model for [[Wilhelmina Models|Wilhelmina]].<ref name="Gellarearlyyears" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Miller |first=Linda |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/article/3813851/model-competition-for-children-ages-4-7 |title=Model competition for children ages 4–7 |work=The Oklahoman |date=March 5, 2010 |access-date=February 26, 2022 |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226234609/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/3813851/model-competition-for-children-ages-4-7 |url-status=live }}</ref>

During the 1980s, Gellar played minor roles in the films ''[[Over the Brooklyn Bridge]]'' (1984), ''[[Crossroads (1986 film)|Crossroads]]'' (1986), and ''[[Funny Farm (film)|Funny Farm]]'' (1988), though her scenes in the latter two were cut.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://www.sarahgellarfan.pixel51.com/crossroads/ |title=CROSSROADS (1986) with Sarah Michelle Gellar? |website=SarahGellarFan |access-date=March 18, 2017 |archive-date=March 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319111943/http://www.sarahgellarfan.pixel51.com/crossroads/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> She obtained a larger role as the daughter of a prostitute in the [[B film|B]] thriller ''[[High Stakes (1989 film)|High Stakes]]'' (1989).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.moviefone.com/2007/11/09/stars-in-rewind-sarah-michelle-gellar-on-spenser-for-hire/ |title=Stars in Rewind: Sarah Michelle Gellar on Spenser for Hire |work=The Moviefone Blog |date=November 9, 2007 |access-date=August 14, 2015 |archive-date=July 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722044243/http://news.moviefone.com/2007/11/09/stars-in-rewind-sarah-michelle-gellar-on-spenser-for-hire/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Funny-Farm#tab=cast-and-crew |title=Funny Farm (1988) – Financial Information |work=The-numbers.com |access-date=August 14, 2015 |archive-date=July 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150726202322/http://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Funny-Farm#tab=cast-and-crew |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Canby |first=Vincent |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/17/movies/counting-on-vulnerability-in-high-stakes.html |title=Counting on Vulnerability in 'High Stakes' |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 17, 1989 |access-date=June 22, 2020 |archive-date=June 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625061202/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/17/movies/counting-on-vulnerability-in-high-stakes.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Gellar appeared in a safety skit during the November 11, 1985 episode of  ''[[Late Night with David Letterman]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/465711/sarah-michelle-gellar-remembers-her-first-david-letterman-show-appearance-watch-now |title=Sarah Michelle Gellar Remembers Her First David Letterman Show Appearance—Watch Now! |work=E! Online |last=Ossad |first=Jordana |date=October 2, 2013 |access-date=February 7, 2023}}</ref> and guest starred in various television series, such as ''[[Spenser: For Hire]]'' and ''[[Crossbow (TV series)|Crossbow]]''. At the age of nine, she acted in the off-Broadway production ''The Widow Claire'',<ref name="Gellarearlyyears" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Rich |first=Frank |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/12/18/theater/stage-widow-claire-from-horton-foote.html |title=Stage – 'Widow Claire,' From Horton Foote |newspaper=The New York Times |date=December 18, 1986 |access-date=August 14, 2015 |archive-date=August 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150826205522/http://www.nytimes.com/1986/12/18/theater/stage-widow-claire-from-horton-foote.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/1986/1231/lcla.html |title=Foote's 'The Widow Claire' and Schmidt's 'Black Sea Follies' |work=The Christian Science Monitor |date=December 31, 1986 |access-date=August 14, 2015 |archive-date=August 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150827011822/http://www.csmonitor.com/1986/1231/lcla.html |url-status=live }}</ref> as well as in the Kids Klassics Sing Along videos ''Camp Melody'' and ''USS Songboat''. In 1989, she briefly served as a co-host of the syndicated teen talk show ''Girl Talk''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://screencrush.com/way-back-when-sarah-michelle-gellar/ |title=Way Back When: Sarah Michelle Gellar |work=ScreenCrush |date=November 21, 2012 |access-date=August 14, 2015 |archive-date=July 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722105800/http://screencrush.com/way-back-when-sarah-michelle-gellar/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Gellar portrayed 13-year-old Mollie in the initial production of [[Neil Simon]]'s play ''[[Jake's Women]]'', which ran at the [[Old Globe Theatre]] in [[San Diego]], California, from March to April 1990.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-03-10-ca-1652-story.html |title=Stage Review : Neil Simon's 'Women' Is an Odd Uncoupling |last=Drake |first=Sylvie |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=March 10, 1990 |access-date=February 7, 2023}}</ref> In 1991, she was cast as a young [[Jacqueline Bouvier]] in ''[[A Woman Named Jackie]]''. The miniseries won the [[Emmy Award]] for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Series|Outstanding Limited Series]]. Gellar obtained her first leading role, as a mayor's manipulative daughter, in the 1992 syndicated teen serial ''[[Swans Crossing]]'', which chronicled the lives of a group of wealthy teenagers. She felt that playing a "villainous" character gave her the call for "better and more varied acting skills", while the gig's weekly payment proved a financial aid for Gellar and her mother.<ref name="Gellarearlyyears" /> The series ran for a 65-episode season and earned her two [[Young Artist Award]] nominations for Best Young Actress.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.youngartistawards.org/pastnoms14.htm |title=14th Annual Awards |work=Youngartistawards.org |access-date=August 14, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217002739/http://www.youngartistawards.org/pastnoms14.htm |archive-date=February 17, 2011 }}</ref>

Gellar made her debut on the ABC soap opera ''[[All My Children]]'' in 1993, playing [[Kendall Hart]], the long-lost teenage daughter of character [[Erica Kane]] ([[Susan Lucci]]). As she got the role, Gellar was complimented as having the acting talent and the "forceful personality" needed to go up against Lucci's experience; Kendall was supposed to be like a younger version of Erica.<ref>{{cite book |first=Kathleen |last=Tracy |title=The Girl's Got Bite: The Original Unauthorized Guide to Buffy's World ... |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tlE1_oTihcUC&q=Kendall+Hart+soap+opera&pg=PA63 |isbn=0-312-31258-X |publisher=St. Martin's Press |year=2003 |page=384 |access-date=October 24, 2020 |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624203311/https://books.google.com/books?id=tlE1_oTihcUC&q=Kendall+Hart+soap+opera&pg=PA63 |url-status=live }}</ref> Her stint on the show was successful as "longtime fans of the soap saw her as the second coming of Erica".<ref name="smgamc">{{cite book |first=Kathleen |last=Tracy |title=The Girl's Got Bite: The Original Unauthorized Guide to Buffy's World ... |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tlE1_oTihcUC&q=Kendall+Hart+soap+opera&pg=PA63 |isbn=0-312-31258-X |publisher=[[St. Martin's Press]] |year=2003 |pages=63–66 |access-date=October 24, 2020 |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624203311/https://books.google.com/books?id=tlE1_oTihcUC&q=Kendall+Hart+soap+opera&pg=PA63 |url-status=live }}</ref> Writers showcased her more after her initial reception and she became a household name to the soap opera medium.<ref name="smgamc" /> In 1995, at the age of eighteen, she won a [[Daytime Emmy Award]] for [[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series|Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series]] for the role.<ref name="www.movietome.com">{{cite web |title=Sarah Michelle Gellar Biography |work=movietome.com |access-date=March 17, 2008 |url=http://www.movietome.com/people/52/sarah-michelle-gellar/bio.html |archive-date=July 6, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706195908/http://www.movietome.com/people/52/sarah-michelle-gellar/bio.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The same year, Gellar left the show and moved to Los Angeles to pursue other acting opportunities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.soapcentral.com/all-my-children/news/2011/0804-gellar.php |title=Sarah Michelle Gellar confirms return to AMC |work=[[Soapcentral]] |access-date=February 26, 2022 |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226234617/https://www.soapcentral.com/all-my-children/news/2011/0804-gellar.php |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/gallery/all-my-children-famous-alums-239345#2-sarah-michelle-gellar-kendall-hart |title='All My Children': Famous Alums of ABC's Daytime Drama |work=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=August 14, 2015 |archive-date=July 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150726203315/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/gallery/all-my-children-famous-alums-239345#2-sarah-michelle-gellar-kendall-hart |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1996, she filmed the [[Walt Disney]] television film ''[[Beverly Hills Family Robinson]]'', in which she played a spoiled adolescent.