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Mischa Anne Marsden Barton (born January 24, 1986) is a British-American film, television and stage actress perhaps best known for her role as Marissa Cooper in the American television series The O.C. 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. Mischa Barton was born in Hammersmith, London, to an Irish mother, Nuala (née Quinn), a photographer, and English father, Paul Marsden Barton, a foreign exchange broker. 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. She has two sisters, Hania and Zoe. Barton moved to New York City at the age of four and became a naturalised citizen of the United States in Los Angeles on February 3, 2006. Barton graduated from the Professional Children's School in Manhattan in 2004, and attended classes at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in the summer of 2006. Barton began acting at the age of nine, co-starring in the Off Broadway premiere of Slavs!, written by Tony Kushner. She appeared in several other Off Broadway productions, taking a lead role in James Lapine's Twelve Dreams at Lincoln Center. She made her film debut in Lawn Dogs, which won awards at film festivals around the world. Since then she has appeared in several films, such as The Sixth Sense, Notting Hill, St Trinians , and Closing the Ring. 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.” Barton first appeared on television in 1996, as young Lily Montgomery in the soap opera All My Children, and in a modern re-make of Bonnie and Clyde. She guest-starred in eight episodes of the television series Once and Again as Jessie Sammler's (Evan Rachel Wood's) girlfriend, Katie Singer. Other television appearances include an episode of the FOX series Fastlane, James Blunt's music video "Goodbye My Lover", and Enrique Iglesias' music video "Addicted". 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. In August 2003, Fox premiered the television series The O.C., about affluent teenagers with stormy personal lives who reside in scenic Orange County, California. The show became an overnight success and it put Barton on the map as Marissa Cooper until her departure from the show in the third-season finale in May of 2006. The O.C. dropped in ratings dramatically during its third and fourth seasons, and ended in early 2007. In July 2006, Barton appeared on the British comedy/variety show The Friday Night Project as a guest host. Recently, Barton was cast in an upcoming international film produced by the Russian band t.A.T.u., called Finding t.A.T.u.. She appeared in Assassination of a High School President, co-starring Bruce Willis, when the film premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. Barton has been in many television commercials and print advertising campaigns. Long time friend and mentor Ivan Bart of IMG Models New York has represented her throughout her career. Barton has modeled for companies Calvin Klein, bebe stores, Aéropostale, Monsoon Accessorize, Dooney & Bourke, JC (Jeans and Clothes), European clothing line Morgan de Toi, Jaspal, and Neutrogena skincare products. She became the spokesperson for Keds Sneakers, substantially increasing their sales. In Australia, she appears in commercials for teen magazine Famous and was the guest of honor at retail giant David Jones Tahitian Summer Collection launch. In 2007, Barton also became a spokesperson for the SAFE (Skin Awareness for Everyone) campaign and also lent her name to the TRAID campaign (Textile Recycling for Aid and International Development) in association with Visa Swap. Barton was photographed in April 2007 for the Fall 2007/2008 advertising campaign for Italian clothing brand Iceberg, modeling with Nicolas Bemberg. She is currently the spokesperson for “Climate Star”, an organization that fights Global Warming through social and legislative activism. She also serves as an Entertainment Industry Foundation Ambassador teaming up with QVC to spread awareness and raise funds for women's cancer research through the Fashion Footwear Association of New York Shoes on Sale Initiative. In 2007, Barton also became a spokesperson for the SAFE (Skin Awareness for Everyone) campaign and also lent her name to the TRAID campaign (Textile Recycling for Aid and International Development) in association with Visa Swap. She is an ambassador for "Save the Children" and the "One Water" campaign which brings water to remote locations in Africa., and is on the board of the “Lupus Research Committee” in Los Angeles |
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