Michelle Trachtenberg was "interested" in playing The Twilight Saga series leading character Bella Swan.

The 26-year-old Gossip Girl actress was up for the running to play Bella, the character currently portrayed in the films by Kristen Stewart.

While casting took place years ago, Michelle had a good professional relationship with the 2009 Twilight film's director Catherine Hardwicke.

"There was definitely interest here and there because there's only so few pale girls in Hollywood," Michelle told Us Weekly Wednesday.

"I've known director Catherine Hardwicke since the 2003 movie Thirteen. I was actually supposed to star in that, but I was on Buffy at the time."

Michelle, who played Dawn Summers on television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer at the time, was simply too caught up in ongoing projects to accept the role.

"I guess schedules never worked out," she explained.

"I already have Buffy. I've already done the vampire thing."

In light of The Twilight Saga's supreme international success, Michelle is still very happy with not playing Bella in the series.

"Hypothetical answers mean you're not living in the moment and you're looking negatively at what you're doing now," Michelle declared.