Mischa Anne Marsden Barton (born January 24, 1986) is an
English-born
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,
[www.popstarsplus.com/actress_mischabarton.htm] United Kingdom to an
Irish mother,
[www.tv.com/mischa-barton/person/97167/summary.html] Nuala (
née Quinn),
[thebosh.com/archives/2007/05/mischa_barton_hurts_her_parents.php] a photographer, and an
English father, Paul Marsden Barton,
[thebosh.com/archives/2007/05/mischa_barton_hurts_her_parents.php] a foreign exchange broker. She has two sisters, Hania and Zoe.
[Mischa Barton Biography (1986-)][An in-depth look at your favourite celebrity personalities - hellomagazine.com, HELLO!] 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 attended classes at The
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in the summer 2006.
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.
[www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/mischa-barton-growing-pains-765756.html]
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",
[www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVyggTKDcOE] and
Enrique Iglesias' music video "
Addicted".
[www.youtube.com/watch?v=NISYgsnAxo8]
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 because of the large fan base,
[www.tv.com/the-o.c./the-o.c.-obsess-completely/episode/357877/summary.html] and it put Barton on the map as
Marissa Cooper, until her departure 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.
['The O.C.' Cancelled Due to Poor Ratings. FoxNews.com.]
In July 2006, Barton appeared on the British comedy variety show
The Friday Night Project as a guest host.
[technorati.com/videos/youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dxq4Ihs3Ylc4]
In 2007, Barton appeared nude briefly in the film
The Oh in Ohio, and again in
Closing the Ring.
[ www.egotastic.com/entertainment/celebrities/mischa-barton/mischa-barton-nude-video-from-closing-the-ring-003362 ]
Recently, Barton was cast in an upcoming international film produced by the Russian band
t.A.T.u., called
You and I.
She appeared in
Assassination of a High School President, co-starring
Bruce Willis, when the film premiered at the
2008 Sundance Film Festival. She is also set to appear in
Walled In,
Homecoming and
Don't Fade Away.
She recently appeared on the popular show
Gok's Fashion Fix on
Channel 4.
[www.mischanews.com/2008/07/19/mischa-barton-on-goks-fashion-fix/] In the episode, Gok goes on an exclusive shopping trip in Paris with Mischa.
[www.mischanews.com/2008/07/19/mischa-barton-on-goks-fashion-fix/]
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.
[Keds sales increase] In
Australia, she appears in commercials for teen magazine
Famous and was the guest of honor at retail giant
David Jones Tahitian Summer Collection launch.
[welovehollywood.com/celebrity_circle_lastup_8_2743.html] She has also modeled jewelry for the company Waxing Poetic.
[www.einspiredcreations.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=Inspired&Product_Code=6101WP]
In 2007, Barton also became a
spokesperson for the SAFE (Skin Awareness for Everyone) campaign.
[www.mischanews.com/2007/04/22/mischa-barton-safe-campaign/] In addition, she lent her name to the TRAID campaign (Textile Recycling for Aid and International Development) in association with Visa Swap.
[www.mischanews.com/2007/07/17/mischa-barton-cleo-magazine/] Barton was photographed in April 2007 for the Fall 2007/2008 advertising campaign for Italian clothing brand Iceberg, modeling with Nicolas Bemberg.
[SASSYBELLA.com » Blog Archive » Mischa Barton fronts Iceberg’s fall 2008 ad campaign]
In July 2008, she created a 14 piece handbag collection for online retailer, ASOS.com.
[www.asos.com/Mischa-Barton/Mischa-Barton-Online-Exclusive-Leather-Bow-Clutch/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=298304&cid=5153&clr=Black&sh=0] 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.
[SASSYBELLA.com » Blog Archive » Mischa Barton’s handbag line for ASOS unveiled]
Personal life
Charitable affiliations
Barton is currently the spokesperson for "Climate Star", an organization that fights Global Warming through social and legislative activism.
[In Step With...Mischa Barton | PARADE Magazine]
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.
[Mischa Barton Joins QVC, the Fashion Footwear Charitable Foundation and the Entertainment Industry Foundation in the Fight Against Breast Cancer]
In 2007, Barton also became a spokesperson for the SAFE (Skin Awareness for Everyone)
[Mischa Barton’s ‘Safe Sun’ Message | Celebrity Brands :: Fashion, Beauty, Cosmetics, Lifestyle] campaign and also lent her name to the TRAID campaign (Textile Recycling for Aid and International Development) in association with Visa Swap.
[Mischa Barton TRAID]
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.
[www.lupusny.org/downloads/theloop/fall2007.pdf]
Arrest
Barton was arrested on suspicion of
driving under the influence, possession of
marijuana, and driving without a valid license on 27 December 2007.
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".
She was detained and released later the same morning from the West Hollywood Sheriff Station on US$10,000 bail.
On 10 January 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% 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."[Mischa: I'm 100% Responsible for DUI]
Barton was subsequently charged with two misdemeanors: driving without a valid license; and a DUI.
[Mischa Barton charged with drunk driving]
Filmography
