Mischa Barton
Mischa Barton, 2006
Born	Mischa Anne Marsden Barton 24 January 1986 (1986-01-24) (age 23) Hammersmith, London
Occupation	Film, television actress, presenter, model

Mischa Anne Marsden Barton, (born 24 January 1986) is an British-American film, television, and stage actress, perhaps best known for her role as Marissa Cooper in the American television series The O.C.

Early life

Mischa Barton was born in Hammersmith, London,¹ United Kingdom to an Irish mother,² Nuala (née Quinn),³ a photographer, and an English father, Paul Marsden Barton,⁴ a foreign exchange broker. She has two sisters, younger Hania and elder Zoe, a barrister in London.⁵⁶ Barton moved to New York City at the age of five and became a naturalised citizen of the United States in Los Angeles on 3 February 2006. Barton graduated from the Professional Children's School in Manhattan in 2004, and took a summer short course called Acting Shakespeare at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in June and July 2006⁷, at Sir Richard Attenborough's urging ^{8 9}, after he directed her in Closing the Ring.

Career

Barton began acting at the age of eight (as she said on The Friday Night Project), co-starring in the Off Broadway premiere of Slavs!, written by Tony Kushner. She appeared in several other Off Broadway productions, taking a lead role in James Lapine's Twelve Dreams at Lincoln Center. She made her film debut in Lawn Dogs, which won awards at film festivals around the world. Since then, she has appeared in several films, such as The Sixth Sense, Notting Hill, St Trinians, and Closing the Ring. In St Trinians, she appeared as a former head girl of that school advising current senior pupils on fashion and style.¹⁰

Barton first appeared on television in 1996, as young Lily Montgomery in the soap opera All My Children, and in a modern re-make of Bonnie and Clyde. She guest-starred in eight episodes of the television series Once and Again as Jessie Sammler's (Evan Rachel Wood's) girlfriend, Katie Singer. Other television appearances include an episode of the Fox series Fastlane, James Blunt's music video "Goodbye My Lover",¹¹ and Enrique Iglesias' music video "Addicted".¹²

In August 2003, Fox premiered the television series The O.C., about affluent teenagers with stormy personal lives who reside in scenic Orange County, California. The show became an overnight success due to its large fanbase,¹³ and resulted in Barton's fame being increased through her role as Marissa Cooper. Barton departed from the show in the third-season finale in May 2006. The O.C. dropped in ratings dramatically during its third and fourth seasons, and ended in early 2007.¹⁴

In July 2006, Barton appeared on the British comedy variety show The Friday Night Project as a guest host.¹⁵

In 2007, Barton appeared nude briefly in the film The Oh in Ohio, and again in Closing the Ring.¹⁶ She also appeared in the R-rated comedy film Virgin Territory with Hayden Christensen, which was a flop, going straight to DVD and being ignored by most critics. Later in 2007, Barton was cast in the international film produced by the Russian band t.A.T.u., called You and I.¹⁷

In 2008, Barton appeared on the popular show Gok's Fashion Fix on Channel 4.¹⁸ In the episode, Gok goes on an exclusive shopping trip in Paris with Mischa.¹⁹ She was filming Bhopal: Prayer for Rain in India alongside Martin Sheen.²⁰ She appeared in Assassination of a High School President, co-starring Bruce Willis, when the film premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. She has completed filming Walled In, Homecoming and Don't Fade Away, which are all expected to be released in 2009. You and I and Assassination of a High School President are also scheduled to be released in 2009.

It has been widely reported that Barton is in talks to join the cast of the hit television series Ugly Betty in a 5-episode guest appearance.²¹²² In a December 2007 interview, she indicated that she would return to television for the right project; "It's not that I dislike doing television at all. It would be interesting having more creative control over where the storylines go or the characters. But for the right thing, of course."¹⁰

Barton was recently cast in The Science of Cool.²³ According to reports, she will also be starring in A Beautiful Life a new series on The CW.²⁴²⁵

Endorsements

Barton has been in many television commercials and print advertising campaigns. Long time friend and mentor Ivan Bart of IMG Models New York has represented her throughout her career. Barton has modeled for companies Calvin Klein, bebe stores, Aéropostale, Monsoon Accessorize, Dooney & Bourke, JC (Jeans and Clothes), European clothing line Morgan de Toi, Jaspal, and Neutrogena skincare products. She became the spokesperson for Keds Sneakers, substantially increasing their sales.²⁶ In Australia, she appears in commercials for teen magazine Famous and was the guest of honour at retail giant David Jones Tahitian Summer Collection launch.²⁷ She has also modeled jewelry for the company Waxing Poetic.²⁸

In 2007, Barton also became a spokesperson for the SAFE (Skin Awareness for Everyone) campaign.²⁹ In addition, she lent her name to the TRAID campaign (Textile Recycling for Aid and International Development) in association with Visa Swap.³⁰ Barton was photographed in April 2007 for the Fall 2007/2008 advertising campaign for Italian clothing brand Iceberg, modeling with Nicolas Bemberg.³¹

In July 2008, she created a 14 piece handbag collection for online retailer, ASOS.com.³² Barton was reportedly very involved in the line which retails from £20 to £145. She told ASOS magazine that she first discovered the website through her sister.³³

In December 2008, Barton premiered her line of headbands released on the Stacy Lapidus line. The headbands cost from $90 to $200. She also has a handbag line for London-based Ri2k, which is sold in the United Kingdom and Australia only.³⁴

In early 2009, Mischa Barton became the "new face" of Herbal Essences.³⁵

"Hey guys. As some of you might have heard, I've been working with Herbal Essences on their latest ad campaign."

Personal life

In December 2008, there were reports that she was dating The Kooks frontman Luke Pritchard³⁶ . The reports were confirmed during the relationship by Luke; Mischa only confirmed the relationship after the pair split in March 2009.³⁷³⁸

When asked in interviews if she feels English or American, she states she feels English.³⁹⁴⁰

Charitable affiliations

Barton is currently the spokesperson for "Climate Star", an organization that fights Global Warming through social and legislative activism.⁴¹

Barton serves as an Entertainment Industry Foundation Ambassador teaming up with QVC to spread awareness and raise funds for women's cancer research through the Fashion Footwear Association of New York Shoes on Sale Initiative.⁴²

In 2006, Barton also became a spokesperson for the SAFE (Skin Awareness for Everyone)⁴³ campaign and also lent her name to the TRAID campaign (Textile Recycling for Aid and International Development) in association with Visa Swap.⁴⁴

Barton is an ambassador for Save the Children and the "One Water" campaign which brings water to remote locations in Africa, and is on the board of the "Lupus Research Committee" in Los Angeles.⁴⁵

Arrest

Barton was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, possession of marijuana, and driving without a valid license on December 27, 2007.⁴⁶ She was stopped by the police during the early morning hours in West Hollywood, California when she was seen "straddling the lanes and failing to signal for a turn". Police discovered during the traffic stop that Barton "was an unlicensed driver and was driving while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage".⁴⁶ She was detained and released later the same morning from the West Hollywood Sheriff Station on US$10,000 bail.

On January 11, 2008, Barton called into Ryan Seacrest's radio show On Air with Ryan Seacrest (KIIS FM) and took full responsibility for her actions:

"I was pulled over... just that. Obviously, I’m 100 percent responsible for my actions in this case and I’m really disappointed in myself... I don’t know what to say about it, except that I’m not perfect and I just don’t ever intend to do something this stupid again."⁴⁷

Barton was subsequently charged with two misdemeanors: driving without a valid license; and a DUI.⁴⁸

Filmography

Theatre

References

External links

• Official Website
• Mischa Barton at the Internet Movie Database
• Mischa Barton at Allmovie
• Mischa Barton at TV.com
• Mischa Barton at People.com