From teen idol to style queen, there's more to this LA starlet than meets the eye

Mischa Barton is a remarkably bright, sophisticated, and wise-beyond-her-years teenage Hollywood surperstar. Here the British-born beauty, who was brought up in London before moving to New York aged eight, talks about paparazzi pressures, and reveals her fashion philosophy and the problems of dating when you are famous.

The OC has provided an amazing ride to fame for you. Is that sometimes difficult to cope with?
'I have had to make a few lifestyle adjustments. I don't go to places where a lot of celebrities hang out and I'm very careful now about whether people are following me. I usually try to dress down and wear big sunglasses and not spend a lot of time in one store if I'm out shopping. Or if I'm with friends, I make sure we don't make a fuss or start dancing on tables because once the media picks up on that, suddenly you're this wild club girl, which I'm not. But The OC has been incredible for me and I'm very grateful.'

Do you feel you've changed since The OC started and you were a relative unknown?
'No, not really. That was a concern for me but I'm pretty determined to not become caught up in the celebrity culture and just focus on my work and keep close to my friends. Just keep it real and let the rest float by.'

Part of your appeal seems to be your status as a fashion icon. Do you feel a lot of pressure from that?
'(Laughs) I like to try out different things and I think I have my own style when I'm mixing and matching clothes. I don't try to look too sophisticated or too chic, I like something more natural although I'm always on the lookout for new things. Sometimes I like dressing up and looking sexy, but I'm not going to get trapped by being put in a position where I absolutely have to have the best outfit on. That's ridiculous and young women should feel more free to try out different looks and not feel like they always have to follow one style or another.'

Who are your favourite designers?
'I love a lot of different designers. I've worn Tom Ford dresses, I love Roberto Cavalli, I love Chanel jackets and coats, and I also wear a lot of thrift shop stuff that is kind of retro. There are also a lot of up-and-coming designers who I wear because I just like to experiment. I love being able to play with my look.'

What about the clothes that Marissa gets to wear on The OC?
'I have some great people I work with on the show to pick out Marissa's outfits. That's so much fun for me because we're all agreed that Marissa shouldn't have one fixed style. She's a smart and independent woman and her choice of clothes should reflect that so we're able to choose a lot of different looks for her and I love that.'

Do a lot of teenagers and young women come up to you on the street?
'Sometimes - they're usually really sweet. Most of the people I've met who want to talk about the show are really interested in the kinds of things Marissa is going through because they're very universal experiences in some ways. She's learning to deal with a very dysfunctional family, she's dealing with guys who aren't always that great to her, and she's trying to figure out her place in her little world. Even though she's privileged, her life isn't that much different in most respects from what a lot of young women are going through.'

How do you handle the criticism aimed at you for being too skinny?
'People always say I'm too skinny or that I'm borderline anorexic and things like that. I never even think about my weight. I eat basically whatever I want and I don't like working out except for going jogging once in a while.'

Do you identify with the kinds of problems Marissa is experiencing?
'I understand them although I have to confess my own life has been much less dramatic! (Laughs) Marissa has her darker side and she often has this sad and lonely feeling about her life and that's also something young women can relate to. There's a side to me that's like that, too, even though I have to admit my life is pretty good right now and I don't have very much to complain about.'

Do your friends ever worry about how fame might be affecting you?
'I don't think so. I'm really trying to downplay everything that's been happening to me because I realise that it's just a case of being in the right position at the right time. To have this kind of success so fast is a miracle in a way and I'm not letting it inflate my ego because of that. I suppose it would be easy to let myself get caught up in all the fuss and become completely obsessed with my image.'

There have been reports that you have a big rivalry with Paris Hilton. Is that true?
'No. It's so ridiculous. I've met Paris Hilton once. I've seen her out but there's no way you haven't seen Paris Hilton if you're in this business - she's everywhere. The one time that we met, Paris and I were at a party and we were playing on the lawn and chasing each other, calling each other silly names. Someone overheard us and blabbed that we were in a real fight. It's all so ridiculous.'

The popular impression of you is that you're the product of a very jet-setting and glamorous family. How much truth is there in that?
'That's a big exaggeration. I grew up middle-class although I did get to travel a lot and that gave me a much broader outlook on the world than I would have if I had just lived in one place all my life. The best thing about my upbringing is that I have very intelligent and dynamic parents who gave me as great an education at home beyond anything I learnt at school. I don't think I would have been able to handle a lot of the pressure I've had to deal with lately if I hadn't had the kind of grounding and support that I got from my parents.'

Hollywood is known for being very predatory when it comes to hot young actresses, how do you handle the men?
'I've been pretty careful and not rushed into big romances. I've also found out that it can be kind of complicated to date because people are so conscious of who you are and whether you're successful or not. Sometimes men are scared of me. It's like you've turned into this TV icon and people are unsure or afraid to approach you because they think you're off limits or ready to blow them away. I don't know. It's weird.'

We know that you don't want to talk about your current relationship (Mischa is dating Whitestarr rocker Cisco Alder). But can you tell us what you look for in a man?
'I'm not one of those girls who likes bad boys who are going to treat me in this cool and tough way and then expect me to chase after them. I've always believed that a man should respect you and be nice and be sweet. When I'm going out with someone, I don't want to feel that I need to put on an act. I want to feel comfortable and secure that I can be myself - a little silly or playful or whatever. I need to feel that kind of closeness and freedom.'