Mischa Barton is shining in a rare red carpet appearance 20 years after she left The O.C.
Barton, 40, was once a staple of gossip rags and red carpets thanks to her role as Marissa Cooper on FOX’s hit teen drama, The O.C. While she started acting young in roles like The Sixth Sense and Lost and Delirious, it was her later fame that sent her spiraling. Eventually, she ditched the bright lights of Hollywood for a quieter pace of life in Europe. Now, the star is looking better than ever on the red carpet at the MBFW Madrid closing party at Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid, Spain. With platinum blonde hair, the star made it clear that she’s only getting better with age.
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Barton Opened Up About Her Early Fame
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Being thrust into the limelight at such a young age challenged Barton, who said she was never “fully prepared for that level of fame.” Constantly hounded by paparazzi, Barton wasn’t equipped to deal with that level of scrutiny, and essentially crumbled under the pressure.
“You can go to therapy every day for the rest of your life,” Barton told The Sunday Times. “But there’s just a certain amount of trauma [from] all that I went through, particularly in my early 20s, that just doesn’t go away overnight.”
The incessant analysis of her body from bloggers at the time was incredibly damaging, as well.
“People feel so entitled to you and your body and your image. It’s a strange feeling. It’s strange,” she added. It led to significant depression and anxiety.
While Barton has done significant work to find peace in the present day, she admits that these days, she “really would much rather be anonymous.” Luckily, we still get to see her rocking the screen on occasion!
It also looks like she has a very fulfilling life in her off-hours, as well. On Memorial Day weekend of 2025, she shares a carousel of fun photos that include everything from canoeing to cuddling with dogs, which we’re definitely in favor of.
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