Sarah Michelle Gellar is 44: What is she doing now?

The feeling with Sarah Michelle Gellar is that her talent has been under-exploited in Hollywood. It's been almost two decades since the world said goodbye to her most legendary character, Buffy Summers, and although she has done a lot of film and a lot of television, her career has not gone where everyone expected and hoped it would.

But the millions of fans who adore and revere her are reassured. Sara Michelle Gellar is now a happy woman, married to the man of her life and the mother of two adorable children. To scroll through her Instagram account is to visit a place brimming with love, happiness and inner peace. The question is, how did Sara Michelle Gellar go from hunting vampires to absolute happiness?

Sarah Michelle Gellar was born on 14 April 1977 in New York. She was affectionately nicknamed 'Sassy' by her family. Sadly, the future actress saw her parents divorce when she was just seven years old.

Little Sassy went to live with her mother on the exclusive Upper East Side that Blair Waldorf and Serena Van der Woodsen made so fashionable in 'Gossip Girl'. She moved away from her father, who would die of liver cancer in October 2001. At the time of her parents' divorce, Sarah Michelle Gellar already had regular jobs as a model and actress. In fact, she was discovered by an advertising agent in a Manhattan restaurant when she was just four years old.

As a model, Gellar appeared in a Burger King ad attacking McDonald's. The big 'M' responded with a lawsuit that led to a very young Sarah Michelle Gellar testifying before a judge as a defence witness. The matter was resolved with a settlement between the parties.

Jobs, a trial and a divorce made Sarah Michelle Gellar grow up faster than she should have. The model was a responsible and well-educated child. It was clear to the young girl that acting was her thing and, as such, she studied acting at the Professional Children's School of New York and the Fiorello LaGuardia High School of Music Art and Performing Arts of New York.

In parallel with her studies, Sarah Michelle Gellar began accumulating roles in film and television. 'Over the Brooklyn Bridge ' (1984) was her official debut in a TV Movie, alongside Jeff Daniels. From there, titles such as 'Spencer: For Hire', 'Funny Farm' and 'High Stakes' followed.

It was her appearance in 'Swans Crossing' (1992) and, above all, her Kendall Hart in 'All My Children' (1993) that raised Sarah Michelle Gellar's fame to another level. She was 16 years old and not yet aware of how she would dominate the television and film decade of the 1990s.

In 'All My Children' she would meet Michelle Trachtenberg, who would end up being her sister in 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and who, to this day, is one of her best friends.

Buffy, the Vampire Slayer: how is the cast now?

The year 1997 marked Sarah Michelle Gellar's coronation in film and television. That year saw the start of 'Buffy', a series that would run for seven seasons and 145 episodes. A pioneering show, 'Buffy' is now considered a cult series - making Sarah Michelle Gellar a cult TV legend.

That same year, she participated in two films that marked the teen horror genre of the late twentieth century: 'I know what you did last summer' and 'Scream 2'.

As a requirement of the script and the character, Sarah Michelle Gellar began to take Taekwondo classes for Buffy's regular fights against the demons. The actress got so hooked on this martial art that she has continued practising it to this day. The actress, portrayed here with Katie Holmes and Selma Blair, is a black belt and an expert in the martial art.

Also in 1997, she met the man who would become the love of her life, although at the time they didn't know it yet: Freddie Prinze Jr. The couple didn't start dating until 2002, when they met again on the set of 'Scooby Doo.'

They would shoot the sequel to this film, 'Scooby Doo: Monsters Unleashed', as husband and wife in 2004.

'Cruel Intentions' (1999), 'The Scream' (2004) and 'The Return' (2006) were some of the most relevant titles of the actress in the new century. However, her star was waning and 'Possession' (2009) was her last film appearance until today.

In television, however, Sarah Michelle Gellar has continued to be active. She is best remembered for two series: 'The Crazy Ones' (2013-2014) and 'Ringer' (2011-2012). On the latter series, many agree that it deserved a better run.

At the time, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. were already parents to a girl and a boy: Charlotte Grace (2009) and Rocky (2012).

Despite the fact that Sarah Michelle Gellar agreed with Freddie Prinze Jr. that he would take care of the household and raising their children, the actress decided to reduce her workload and devote herself to her family and other projects.

In recent years, Sarah Michelle Gellar has been able to create an organic food company called 'Foodstirs' which, among other curious elements, has a line of kitchen tools for children. In fact, she has even published a book of recipes called 'Stirring up Fun with Foods'.

In addition, the New York actress has been a recognisable and friendly face in the field of solidarity. She has been especially supportive of research against breast cancer and poverty in the world. She even created her own NGO, Project Angel Food, which provides food to AIDS patients.

Staying away from Hollywood has also allowed her to strengthen her friendship with other celebrities, such as the aforementioned Michelle Trachtenberg, Shannen Doherty and Selma Blair.

Read about Shannen Doherty, who recently turned 50 and is battling cancer

It seems that Sarah Michelle Gellar's period of relative rest has come to an end. At the moment, she is working on three series: 'Sometimes I Lie', 'Other People's Houses' and 'Masters of the Universe: Revelation'.

Regarding the latest controversy involving 'Buffy, The Vampire Slayer,' in which Charisma Carpenter revealed that director Joss Whedon abused his power on set, Sarah Michelle Gellar has been supportive of Carpenter.

Gellar chose not to keep quiet and to give her opinion on Instagram. "I'm proud to be associated with Buffy Summers, but I don't want to be associated with Joss Whedon. I support survivors of abuse and am proud of them for speaking out."

Mother, businesswoman, supportive friend and colleague, funny, committed, a loving wife... It is clear that, almost 20 years later, Sarah Michelle Gellar is still the heroine the world needs.