2024-06-07

Mischa Barton
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  • Faith: Christian - Catholic
  • Career: Actress
  • Birthday:  January 24, 1986

Mischa Barton is a television, film, and stage actress. She started her career on the stage, appearing in Tony Kushner’s “Slavs!” and took the lead in James Lapine’s “Twelve Dreams” at New York City’s Lincoln Center. She made her screen debut with a guest appearance on “All My Children” and voicing a character on the Nickelodeon cartoon series “KaBlam!” Her first major movie role was as the protagonist of “Lawn Dogs,” a drama co-starring Sam Rockwell. She appeared in other major films like “Notting Hill” and “The Sixth Sense.” Barton also starred in the indie crime drama “Pups.” She later appeared in “Lost and Delirious” and guest starred as Evan Rachel Wood’s girlfriend on “Once and Again.”

Barton played Marissa Cooper in the TV series “The O.C.,” for which she received two Teen Choice Awards. The role brought Barton into mainstream fame, and Entertainment Weekly named her the “It Girl” of 2003. She’s since appeared in the comedy remake “St. Trinian’s,” the Richard Attenbourogh-directed film “Closing the Ring” and “Assassination of a High School President.” She returned to TV, starring in the short-lived Ashton Kutcher-produced CW series “The Beautiful Life.” In 2012, Barton returned to the stage, performing in the Irish production of “Steel Magnolia.” She also appeared alongside Martin Sheen in “Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain.” She’s garnered critical praise for her roles in independent movies, with the Los Angeles Times praising her “standout” performance in “Starcrossed.” Barton was cast in the first season of “The Hills: New Beginnings,” a reboot of “The Hills.”

In 2023, she was cast in an extended guest role for the rebooted Australian soap opera “Neighbours” on Network 10 and Amazon Freevee. Barton was born in London to Nuala Quinn-Barton and Paul Marsden Parton. She stated that she briefly attended St. Paul’s Girls’ School in Hammersmith, but her father’s work took the family to New York City when Barton was five years old. In 2006, she became a naturalized citizen of the United States but retained her British citizenship. She’s also eligible for Irish citizenship through her mother. She graduated from the Professional Children’s School in Manhattan in 2004 and took a summer short course called Acting Shakespeare at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.

Barton started acting when she was eight years old, co-starring in the off-Broadway premiere of the 1994 play “Slavs!,” written by Tony Kushner. Vincent Canby of The New York Times praised Barton’s “so fine” and “chillingly authoritative” performance. New York magazine also praised her as “a darling little girl that exhibits consummate charm.” She appeared in several other off-Broadway productions, taking a lead role in “Twelve Dreams” alongside Marisa Tomei at Lincoln Center.

What religion is Mischa Barton?

Mischa Barton identifies as Catholic. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Barton said her mother wanted her to have a unique first name (Mischa) with a Catholic middle name (Anna). She was also seen leaving a service at The Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Beverly Hills after being arrested for drinking and drug offenses.


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