Mischa Barton Speaks!

The most recent cover girl for Cosmo recently gave fans a treat with the following interview:

What was your first big movie role?

My first big film was Lawn Dogs, which became an indie cult thing. I was really lucky because it was a lead role, and I was only 10 or 11.

What's the weirdest acting job you've had?

Well, in The Sixth Sense, I was throwing up and dead.

Did you have any idea that The O.C. was going to be such a big hit?

That was a bit of a surprise. I didn't know if anyone was going to care about Orange County or these people and their lives. Things that are hits on TV are kind of funny and farfetched, like CSI. People are interested in murder investigations, so I wondered if there was room for a one-hour drama about families and relationships. We've been very, very lucky.

Do you get recognized on the street?

People started recognizing me the day after the pilot aired. They love the line "Welcome to the OC, bitch." These 45-year-old men come up to me with their daughters and they'll say, "Will you say, 'Welcome to the OC, bitch' to my daughter?" And I'm like, "How old is your daughter?" Then there are the people who are very concerned for your character, like when Marissa overdosed in an episode. I have to say, "I'm not Marissa. I did not OD."

Do you get weird fan mail from guys, or men asking you out on the street?

I get a lot of "Will you kiss me?" Silly stuff like that. I think it's funny. But I also get nervous. Sometimes when they meet me, they act crazy and I don't know what to do.

Did you have a lot of boyfriends growing up?

No. I was a late bloomer and certainly not cool. I couldn't deal with boys. I was a dork around guys.

Do you get nervous when you have to kiss on-screen?

Now it's old hat. We're so close that it's just really funny. Most of the time we're cracking up and making jokes right before we do a scene like that.

- leightons3