Yesterday, news emerged that the actor had died at age 39. Though her cause of death is still unknown, police sources noted that she recently underwent a liver transplant.
Michelle joined the cast of the hit CW series halfway through Season 1 in her role as Georgina Sparks. Initially, she was only supposed to have a one-season arc, but the creators loved her performance so much that she kept coming back throughout the show’s six seasons.
On Blake’s Instagram story, she shared an image from the day when the two first met on set. She wrote of Michelle, “She was electricity. You knew when she entered a room because the vibration changed. Everything she did, she did 200%. She laughed the fullest at someone’s joke, she faced authority head on when she felt something was wrong, she cared deeply about her work, she was proud to be a part of this community and industry as painful as it could be sometimes, she was fiercely loyal to her friends and brave for those she loved, she was big and bold and distinctly herself.”
“And she always had yummy caramel smelling lipgloss on because she didn’t just want to sparkle on camera, she liked creating a nice experience for anyone who was in her orbit, even down to the subtle smell of her lipgloss because she cared about the sweet details,” Blake added.
“She was a kind person, through and through,” Blake continued. “Time passes. You take for granted that you get the chance to see an old friend. To paraphrase, the real tragedies in life are the ones that blindside you on an idle Tuesday.”
“Hold those you love and have loved dear. The world lost a deeply sensitive and good person in Michelle. May her work and her huge heart be remembered by those who were lucky enough to experience her fire,” Blake concluded.
Sending love to Michelle’s family and loved ones during this time.