Mischa Barton

D.O.B: 24 January, 1986
Home town: New York
Star sign: Aquarius

Mischa Barton's main claim to fame may be starring in the teen drama show The OC, but don't think for a minute she isn't a serious actress. In her 23 years, the London born, New York raised star has had the training and career most actors only dream about.

Mischa comes from humble beginnings, starting out in New York theatre in 1994 where she trained with some of the countries most esteemed writers and directors. From stage to screen Mischa then went on to work alongside some of the biggest actors of the time including Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant in Notting Hill and Bruce Willis and Toni Collette in The Sixth Sense.
But despite this early success, it wasn't until she landed the small screen role of spoiled and troubled Marissa Cooper on The OC that Mischa became a household name.

Mischa: I'm not one of these people really into the latest fetishes like yoga or the Kabbalah. I can't imagine anything worse than wearing a trendy red bracelet around my arm and running around saying, 'I'm at peace with myself.'

Mischa: I do intelligent roles. I don't want to be labeled as doing silly movies. I'm more mature than kids my age because I'm constantly surrounded by adults.

Mischa: I like playing dark, offbeat, quirky characters.

Mischa: I love to draw people's faces. I do that all the time.

Mischa: It kind of irritates me that I'm seen as this pretty face. People also say I'm too thin. The truth is pretty people aren't as accepted as other people. It comes with all these stigmas.

Mischa: [denying she is a party girl] I know I look the part, and people used to come up to me in the street and talk to me as if I was a crazy party girl. But I don't go out clubbing because that whole thing is too claustrophobic. As for shopping, I'd rather walk my dogs, Ziggy Stardust and Charlie Barton. I cook a mean lasagne, and some people say my potatoes au gratin are pretty on fire. I guess some people are disappointed....