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| AP Photo Archive |
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| Mischa Barton arrives for the British Academy Film Awards in London on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2005. |
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While most 18 year olds were busy graduating from high school and packing their bags for college this year, The OC’s Mischa Barton found herself skyrocketing to the high ranks of Hollywood’s A-list as a much sought-after young starlet.
Born in London, England, Barton moved to New York in 1990 when her father took a job on Wall Street, according to www.people.com.
Since then, she has developed a film and theatrical resume that sets her apart as one of the most experienced young actresses of her generation.
Her 1998 feature film debut in the Sundance Film Festival’s Lawn Dogs was a festival favorite, followed by Pups, a modern-day version of the story of Bonnie & Clyde.
Barton has since been seen in major films such as The Sixth Sense with Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment, and Notting Hill with Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant.
Other film credits include Sundance films Lost and Delirious, Julie Johnson, Skipped Parts, Tart and Paranoid.
Barton also held a recurring role for three seasons on the daytime drama All My Children, and starred in series and made-for-television movies for Showtime, Disney and ABC.
Barton’s biggest acting endeavor as of late, however, has been her starring role as Marissa Cooper in Fox’s primetime hit, The OC.
According to www.fox.com, Cooper is a young Orange County native who “seemed to have it all; great friends, great family and the perfect boyfriend.”
That is, until she met Ryan Atwood (Benjamin McKenzie), and has since been forced to “make tough choices and take responsibility for her life.”
Now in its third season, The OC has quickly become a cult favorite among teenagers and young adults.
The new season of The OC premiered on September 8. Episodes are at 8/7c Thursdays on Fox.
