Mischa Barton opens up about pressure to lose her virginity while acting in The OC
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Growing up in the early '00s, it was common to see every aspect of Mischa Barton's life - from her relationships to her weight - splashed all over the front pages, along with the likes of Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan.
Mischa, who played Marissa Cooper in the much-loved coming-of-age drama The OC from 2003 to 2006, has certainly experienced the highs and lows of fame, from being an It girl in Hollywood to being hounded by paparazzi and experiencing a public breakdown.
Now, at the age of 35, Mischa has opened up about her life in the limelight in a powerful essay for Harper's Bazaar about being sexualised as a child and feeling pressure to lose her virginity during her OC years.
In the article, Mischa revealed that while she loved her career as a child actor, there were tough times from the start. She starred in the movie Pups when she was 13, having her first kiss on screen and in real life in front of the film crew.
"My character had her first period in one scene, something I hadn’t even experienced in life yet. The movie blew up in Asia, and I became a strange sex symbol over there," Mischa recalled.
Taking on the role of Marissa Cooper at the age of 18, Mischa was "constantly pressured into meeting needs, demands and goals set by people twice my age or older. I never had the option to speak up for myself," she said.
In the essay, Mischa remembered times she opened up about her experiences on set as a young girl and was shut down and referred to as a "nightmare" to work with. Her mother was deemed "annoying" when she intervened to ensure her daughter was protected, Mischa said.
Mischa recalled feeling like a "fraud" for being a virgin while playing the sexually active Marissa.
"I knew it was important to get this thing – my virginity – that was looming over me, the elephant in the room if you will, out of the way. I started to really worry that I couldn’t play this character if I didn’t hurry up and mature a little," she said.
"Did I ever feel pressured to have sex with someone? Well, after being pursued by older men in their thirties, I eventually did the deed. I feel a little guilty because I let it happen. I felt so much pressure to have sex, not just from him, but society in general," Mischa wrote.
Elsewhere in the article, Mischa spoke about the toll of constant media attention akin to feeling "hunted" on her mental health.
"I had a few breakdowns. But no one questioned why I was having those breakdowns. I became a target of nasty attacks when I was clearly expressing signs for needing help... It becomes a sport, an addiction even, to the people hunting you," Mischa said, adding that she has since suffered with PTSD, with cameras or noises that sound like a lens shutter causing panic attacks.
Mischa ended the piece with her hope that girls and women are better protected in the future, and won't have to experience what she's been through.
"If my story can help even one young girl stand up for herself and not let the world tear them down, then all of this will be worth it."
Read the full essay on Harper's Bazaar UK.
Cosmopolitan UK's current issue is out now and you can SUBSCRIBE HERE.
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