Media > Articles > Mischa Barton Marvelous Mischa For some, acting is a calling, a voice from the heavens echoing out a few simple commandments for living - eat, sleep, make millions pretending to be someone you're not. And for some, like 17-year-old Mischa Barton, acting comes sneaking into your life while your head's turned the other way or, more specifically, while you're reciting your summer camp monologue to an auditorium full of parents. From Barton's beginnings as an eight-year-old New York City summer camper writing and performing her own monologues, to her status as one of the hottest new teenage stars to push her way into the American subconscious, the rise to fame has been pretty smooth for this blonde beauty. She skipped the torturous audition lines for menial parts pimping cans of soup and toilet paper and never had much experience with heart-wrenching rejections or the pressure of pushy parents. Instead Barton made her break into the limelight effortlessly and gracefully, landing the part of Vodya Domik in Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kusher's theatrical production Slavs! on her first audition. And, to top it all off, Barton claims she wasn't even nervous at her big debut. "Doing Slavs! was such an amazing experience, because it was my first play. I was really young, and that was the beauty of the whole experience. I was young enough that I wasn't thinking about being nervous. I just had so much fun with Marissa Tomei and the cast, I didn't consider the fact that I was a lead in a play. If I were to go back and open a play now, I would probably be petrified because I would be so much more aware." These days, it's rare for Barton to find herself nervous about anything. Her growing resume, which includes blockbusters like the Sixth Sense and Notting Hill, has given her enough experience to turn even the most down-to-Earth girl into a full-fledged diva. Though approached on occasion by the four-foot tall fans of her Disney film, Ring of Endless Light, Barton has yet to succomb to Hollywood's fake, mega-watt persona and remains about as normal as possible for someone that's juggled a thriving career and New York public school for the last nine years. She does fly back and forth to Los Angeles frequently to film and probably makes more money than your average 30-something but that just comes with the territory. Three plays, four television shows and 13 movies later, I caught up with Barton to find out exactly how she managed as a child actress, what it's like to cross the great divide into taking more mature roles, and even who'll she'll thank if (or should I say when) she accepts her first Oscar. The most remarkable thing about Barton's journey as a young actress is how well she's handled the pressure of success in the high-profile, breakdown-inducing atmosphere of show business. While gossip magazines and E! True Hollywood Story feast on the misfortunes of the many child stars led astray, Barton has managed to stay grounded, ensuring she won't be the next actress served on a silver platter to the shark-infested waters of the American public. For Barton, the best way to steer clear of trouble is to ignore as much of the hype as she can. She keeps her life simple by reading classics like The Grapes of Wrath in her free time and listening to virtually unknown rock bands when she's in the mood for something a little more lively. Her favorites right now include All-American Rejects and the Rolling Stones. Aside from simplifying her daily life, Barton has only one secret for success, and it's so basic you could find it on almost any self-help CD, though it seems to have eluded even the biggest of stars. "I'm really lucky to be able to separate my life between New York and L.A. It's the best situation to be able to have my friends, apartment and normal life in the city, and then spend the rest of my time traveling and working in L.A. These days, I pretty much split my time equally between New York and L.A., and it's that balance that keeps me sane. In New York, it's really difficult for people to recognize you because it's such a bustling city." Though it's been Barton's intention to keep her life as normal as possible, even the most dedicated of efforts can't totally circumvent the rigors and unforgettable experiences that come along with acting. Unlike most her age, Barton has robbed a bank, watched her two female roommates fall in love with one another, joined a cult and even attended her own funeral - all on film, of course. If that's not enough to impress even the most hard-won, she's also been swimming with dolphins (Ring of Endless Light) and howled at the moon from her rooftop in her first feature film Lawn Dogs. But the craziest request Barton's had on set so far came from M. Night Shyamalan when she played Kyra Collins' ghost in 1999's Sixth Sense. I had to put this mixture of breakfast cereal in my mouth and then spit it out again to make it look like I was throwing up. The really weird part was being in this refrigerated room when we did it so it would seem like it was cold when there was a ghost in the room." The variety of her roles is only one of the factors easing the transition into movie-land adulthood for Barton. In addition to the versatility she has from her explorations into the lives of girls from all different social backgrounds, countries and periods in history, the smooth change is only facilitated by the storylines found in the majority of her films. Barton often plays a typical coming-of-age female, making it natural for her audience to accept her in mature roles since they've been watching her grow up on screen for nearly a decade. Barton fans have become so accustomed to her glowing face, it won't be a shock to see her taking more risky roles in the future. I asked Barton how it must feel as an actress to watch yourself grow-up on screen. It's bad enough for the normal person who cringes at the sight of dusty family albums filled with bad haircuts, stone-washed jeans and mismatched socks, but how does it feel when the whole world gets to revive your past with a simple click of the remote? As with everything else in her life, Barton takes it in stride and actually doesn't mind it too much. "Just having the experience of being on film sets and stages when you're a young actor makes you more mature than other people your age, because in a way you do grow up and experience different sides of life through your characters. That image of you at a certain time is kept forever in the movie, which is kind of awesome to look at how different you can be as you mature and change. When I watch my projects now, it brings back great memories." For now the past isn't Barton's biggest concern - she has too much on her plate. In addition to recently becoming the new spokesmodel for Neutrogena and tediously testing every product in an effort to be more than just a face for the skin-care line, Barton's new Fox television drama, The O.C., is scheduled to begin airing next fall. Barton will play Marissa, a girl living in Newport Beach, California (hence the show's title - O.C. stands for Orange County) who realizes her life of privilege may be lacking in some respects and begins a romance with a boy from the wrong side of the tracks. Barton has also just finished filming her most recent movie, Octane, in which she stars as a teenage girl that gets sucked into a cult despite her mother's efforts to rescue her. So how will the future shape up for Barton as she breezes past "more than a girl, not yet a woman" Britney and the new "dirrty" Christina Aguilera in her race toward leaving her child star image behind? If her past exploits and present endeavors say anything, it's definitely a case of all signs point to yes for Mischa Barton. Her extensive filmography alone speaks for itself. If her resume continues to grow at it's present rate, there will soon be more Barton at your local AMC than popcorn left on the floor after a three-hour long war movie, and more of any young, beautiful blonde beats stale popcorn any day. And now for the moment you've all been waiting for: Who will Barton thank first when she steps on stage and takes that golden god into her hands? I think I'll let her take this one. "It would definitely be my family and my mom. And even though they're not used to having someone in the family in the industry, they're really supportive. I would also love to include the great directors and producers I've gotten to work with who have made a project worthwhile - I would love to get the chance to thank them." Thanks to MISCHABARTON.com for this! 2003 Virtual Rain. This is an unofficial fansite with no relation to FOX, Warner Brothers, or any of their associates. This is just a fansite opened for the purpose of exposing the show "The O.C" to new fans across the internet. Original copyright of all photos remain to FOX/WB and are used purely for the purpose of enjoying the show and furthering its fanbase.