Mischa Barton News - Mischa fan site

Mischa Barton interview

by Arieanna on October 26th, 2005

Here is a direct interview from Mischa Barton!!

When Cosmo sends me to the set of The OC in LA’s upmarket Manhattan Beach (home to yuppies, wealthy upstarts and college kids), I feel like a kid in candy shop. Here I am about to hang out on the set of one of the world’s most talked about TV shows starring one of the world’s most talked about It girls — Mischa Barton … apparently something most girls would die for. I realise this when we’re on our way to the set and Adam Brody (who plays Seth) passes us in the hallway and the work experience girl nearly has a hernia.

After a tour of the set, where I hang out at the pool with its fake beach background, lie on Ryan’s bed in the pool room and check out the bar where all the OC bands play, we walk down the hallway to Mischa’s dressing room.

The first thing I see is Adam, Mischa, Rachel Bilson (who plays Summer) and Mischa’s mum, Nuala, all laughing at Rachel and Adam’s pup, Penny (they’re together in real life, in case you didn’t know) and Mischa’s new puppy Charlie, who are both jumping all over each other. Mischa’s bouncing around with them, squealing at the top of her lungs oblivious to the fact that her aqua G-string is seriously poking out of her jeans - she’s really just a playful chick, who loves puppies and hangs out with her fellow actors like they’re at a barbecue. Just as gorgeous is her normal, caring mum not a trace of star-diva-mum behaviour. They look like best friends.

So let’s talk about Mischa (pronounced Meesha). More beautiful in the flesh, she’s made for television with her heart-shaped face, big eyes and small sculpted mouth. She has a gorgeous, pear-shaped figure, that’s the total opposite to the skeletal “attack of the clones” brat pack, and she’s very comfortable with it. She’s feminine in every respect, which gives her a sense of strength that goes beyond her 19 years.

When I comment on her funky outfit (jeans tucked into white boots and matched with a shirt that’s cut at the sleeves), she admits that even though the jeans are hers, the outfit is Marissa’s, care of The OC’s stylist.

And what I thought was her real hair, isn’t. She actually has short hair (which she’d love to cut even shorter), but for the sake of her character, she’s been wearing hair extensions. I’m also amazed at her sexy, deep baritone of a voice — not the American “valley girl” actress voice so typical of LA girls.

She has no airs or graces, just the invincibility of a mature teenager taking on the world in a real and grounded way. Her mum leaves us alone in the dressing room with Charlie, so we can discuss all there is to life as Mischa Barton …

My family

I’m very close to my mum, and I’m close to my sisters Zoe who’s 27 and a barrister in London, and Hania who’s 17 and has just moved here [LA] from New York. We’re always hanging out. Acting was never in the family until I did it. When I started working as an actor, my family’s perspective of the industry changed, so Hania might just be interested. She doesn’t know what she wants to do yet; she’s still at school.

My dog Charlie

I love his company when I’m working and a lot of my friends have dogs. He’s my best friend. Rachel and Adam also got me onto getting one because of Penny. I love running with Charlie. I don’t have a personal trainer and I don’t consistently work out; I go through phases, and if there’s an exercise fad, I’ll check it out with my friends.

World experiences

A friend once said to me that it’s a big world and a lot of stuff happens, which really stuck with me because it’s true. Life can be transient, and if you’re ever bothered, it’s easy to get away from a situation — you have the power and the options to do what you want. People can become closed-minded about one thing and forget how much the rest of the world has to offer. I’d like to live abroad for a while. And I want to be working in films: my show has been such a great platform to be able to do that. I’m definitely 19 going on 30; all the responsibilities of buying a house and having a full-time job make you grow up quickly.

Clothes!

I love Chloe, [John] Rocha, Marc Jacobs and Chanel because they’re classics. I love different eras, like Marianne Faithful from the ’60s, but then I went through a ’50s phase. Gwen Stefani has great style.

My designer handbags

I love handbags like Chloe, Fendi and Chanel. Actually, I have a lot of Chanel handbags right now.

Doing stuff for charities

It’s a weird responsibility that comes with the territory. I’d never considered myself an actress, because I felt I was just like anybody else, and suddenly I’m seen as a role model, which I love because I can turn it into something positive. I feel that the more successful you are, the more you can do to help. I have a couple [of favourite charities]: The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, The Carousel Of Hope for diabetes, and I love touring hospitals when I have the time. It’s a privilege to be exposed to these things.

My iPod

It’s great for travelling. Rachel turned me onto Britney Spears’ In The Zone. I’d never listen to this kind of pop, but she totally got me into it and now I love it. I recently downloaded The Postal Service, The Killers, most of the bands on our show and Damien Rice, who did a song for the movie I just filmed in Europe, called The Decameron.

Vintage sneakers

I do [think sneakers and dresses work], but it depends on the sneakers. Cute, flat sneakers like Keds — which are like Mary Janes — work. But a full-on running sneaker wouldn’t work; that’s too New York-on-the-subway when people are going to work in sneakers before they hit the desk in their heels (laughs). The sneakers have to be vintage and look cute, like the polka dot ones I have. It’s also very LA and New York to wear little shorts and skirts with sneakers too.

A good set of morals

I don’t like unfairness. I get fired up if I see someone abusing a situation and being mean for no good reason. It’s about people’s morals for me, so that really bothers me. In general though, I’m pretty chilled about most things, so it does take a lot for me to get fired up about stuff.

A great book

[I’m reading] The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad — it’s amazing. It’s about an Afghan family who owns a shop in Afghanistan; it’s a real insight into their life. A book that had a strong effect on me and blew me away is The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. When I read it I felt like I was in it too. It brought to my attention the era of 1930s America that I really didn’t understand — the Great Depression, the nature of human beings in hard situations and how they react, respond, adapt, don’t adapt, and the cruelty and good things that come from big life-changing events in history. It’s just so interesting.

Acting

It’s such a lucky profession that offers me so much, has given so much and has allowed me to be who I want to be. It can be very difficult for young girls to find what they want to do with their lives. The one thing that really helped me through high school and all the difficult years, was having a job. When everyone is freaking out about colleges, I have acting to fall back on.

Sleep

I’m a big sleeper — I love it. I was in bed by 9.30pm last night — very early! — because I had to be here on set at 5.30am.

Technorati Tags: mischa barton

Share This

Related Stories

• FHM Interview
• Mischa Barton Interview
• Mischa looking older
• Mischa Barton Rove Daily Interview
• Mischa Barton Nylon Podcast

POSTED IN: About Mischa Barton, Interviews