Hailed as one of People Magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People” for 2004, Mischa Barton has come a long way at such a young age. Her irresistible, girl-next-door charm on T.V. and her precocious demeanor on the big-screen have made Mischa one of the most sought-after actresses in young Hollywood. Born in London and raised in New York City, the bright-eyed beauty found her destiny to be an actress early on. At 8, Mischa and her sister attended summer camp, where they were asked to write and perform their own monologues. Barton’s piece about turtles was so compelling that she caught the attention of an agent that was scouting new talent. Excited about the news, Mischa’s parents jumped at the opportunity to help nurture their daughter’s unique talents and supported her decision to pursue acting at such an early age. Barton first began her road to stardom in theater, where she landed the lead role in Tony Kushner’s “Slavs!” (1994-1995) and starred opposite future Oscar winner Marissa Tomei. She went on to do more Broadway productions such as James Lapine’s “Twelve Dreams” (1995) and Catherine Butterfield’s “Where the Truth Lies” (1996), which was part of the New York Shakespeare Festival. Mischa’s riveting stage presence not only opened more doors to acting, but her striking beauty also caught the attention of the modeling world.
As a pre-teen, Barton had transitioned from Broadway to the small-screen as a recurring character on the daytime soap, “All My Children” (1994), all the while juggling campaigns for big-timers such as Calvin Klein and Vogue. With a rising career, it was only a matter of time that Barton’s hard work and much deserved exposure would pay off. In 1997, Mischa made her big-screen debut with the Sundance favorite, “Lawn Dogs,” where she proved her acting chops as an alienated girl who stirs up controversy in her neighborhood after befriending an outcast. Shortly after, Barton snatched small, but lasting roles in 1999’s “Notting Hill” and the hair-raising thriller, “The Sixth Sense.” Her vast acting ability allowed Mischa to take on distinct roles, unlike most other child actors. In 2000, Barton played a young girl eager to lose her virginity in “Skipped Parts” alongside Drew Barrymore, and in 2001 she was the shy, reserved roommate of lesbian lovers at a strict boarding school in “Lost and Delirious.” At 15, Mischa had comprised an impressive acting resume that some adult actors today can only dream of having, and she didn’t stop there. In 2003, Barton landed the female-lead as Marissa Cooper, the sun-kissed, beach-beauty on “The O.C” (FOX, 2003 - ), which many have labeled the modern-day “Beverly Hills, 90210” (FOX, 1990-2000). The quick popularity of teen drama helped Mischa continue her modeling as a spokesperson for Neutrogena (2003 - ) and as a regular on the pages of magazines like YM and Seventeen.
As the new “It Girl,” Mischa has proven her talents off-screen as an excellent student, maintaining exceptional grades at the Professional Children’s School in Manhattan, with aspirations of attending the Yale School of Drama after graduating high school.
