Sarah Michelle Gellar celebrated her daughter Charlotte's 17th birthday with a rare photograph of the pair and a heartfelt message about their close relationship.
The 49-year-old actress shared the image on Instagram, showing herself turning towards her daughter with her lips pursed for a kiss as Charlotte smiled at the camera.
Charlotte wore a pink patterned dress with ruffled sleeves and a delicate pendant necklace, leaving her long brunette hair loose over her shoulders. Sarah wore a pale satin top with thin straps, adding layered necklaces and styling her blonde hair in soft waves.
Posing together outdoors, the mother and daughter were framed by trees and the exterior of a house.
© Instagram"Yesterday was my best friend's birthday," Sarah wrote alongside the photograph, adding a birthday cake emoji and tagging Charlotte. "I'm not sure how you are 17 already."
She continued: "You may have been the child that made me a mom, but now you are the person that brings out the best in me. (Not to mention my biggest champion) Thank you... for being you."
Sarah Michelle Gellar's family with Freddie Prinze Jr.
Charlotte, who was born on September 19, 2009, was Sarah's first child with husband Freddie Prinze Jr. The couple later welcomed son Rocky in 2012.
The birthday celebration followed another family milestone earlier in September, when Sarah and Freddie marked their 24th wedding anniversary.
© Mike WindleThe couple met while filming I Know What You Did Last Summer and married in Mexico in 2002. Sarah celebrated their anniversary by sharing throwback photographs on Instagram, reflecting on how much their lives had changed since the beginning of their relationship.
"Can you imagine telling these kids where they would be 24 years later," she wrote.
What Sarah Michelle Gellar said about parenting
Sarah previously explained that she and Freddie wanted their children to understand the importance of following through on commitments.
"Discipline and accountability are very important to both me and my husband," she told People. "It's been our secret weapon."
© AFP via Getty ImagesShe recalled encouraging Charlotte to finish a dance season even after she decided she wanted to stop. Sarah also acknowledged that their children were growing up with greater financial security than either parent had experienced, making it important to teach them responsibility.
Charlotte's interest in acting
Charlotte also developed an interest in her parents' profession, although Sarah previously explained that she wanted her daughter to finish school before pursuing screen roles.
"We have rules in place. She can't be in front of a camera until she graduates high school," she told The Hollywood Reporter in 2023, in an interview reported by Entertainment Tonight.
Sarah acknowledged that Charlotte had questioned the rule because her mother had worked as a child actress. However, she explained that growing up with two famous parents made her daughter's circumstances different from her own.
Charlotte had already accompanied Sarah to a screening of Do Revenge in September 2022, offering an occasional glimpse of their relationship away from home.
© Getty Images for NetflixSarah Michelle Gellar's marriage advice
Sarah also spoke about the effort behind her lasting relationship with Freddie, explaining that protecting their private life had remained important to them.
In an interview with People, she described keeping a distinction between her public career and her life at home.
Her advice for maintaining a relationship was straightforward: "You have to be willing to work. And that goes for relationships, friendships, anything. You have to put the work in."
Why Sarah Michelle Gellar stepped back for her children
© Getty ImagesMotherhood also changed Sarah's approach to her career. Speaking to People earlier this year, she reflected on choosing to step back from acting in 2014.
The decision followed the arrival of her second child and the death of her The Crazy Ones co-star Robin Williams, experiences that prompted her to reconsider how she spent her time.
Looking back, she valued the years she had devoted to her young family. "And I'm so glad that I did, because it's time I can never get back with my kids."
