Penn Badgley is remembering his late Gossip Girl co-star Michelle Trachtenberg months after her sudden and "surreal" death.

Speaking to E! News at the premiere for the final season of his hit Netflix show You, Badgley remembered Trachtenberg as having a "really pure heart" from their time starring in the beloved series together. He said that while they hadn't crossed paths "in over a decade," her tragic passing was "really surreal, really saddening."

"What I remember of her is she was incredible quick to laugh," the Easy A actor said. "She was really joyous. We all have our ups and downs, our lights and shadows, but she had this — I mean, she was mature, but she had this childlike, joyous laugh."

Trachtenberg died in February at the age of 39. While the cause of her death was not immediately known, with multiple outlets reporting that she had recently undergone a liver transplant, new reports show that she passed away from complications of diabetes.

Following Trachtenberg's passing, her Gossip Girl co-stars shared tributes to the late actress. Blake Lively remembered her as "fiercely loyal to her friends and brave for those she loved" while Chace Crawford called her "one of a kind" and a "force of nature." Additionally, Trachtenberg's Buffy the Vampire Slayer co-stars also penned touching messages to her, including an emotional note from her TV sister Sarah Michelle Gellar.

Jennie James