As Marissa and Ryan, Mischa Barton and Benjamin McKenzie captured the hearts of fans in “OC California” in the early noughties. In fact, the two also had a relationship away from the cameras, as Barton now says. It was a difficult situation for her.
Mischa Barton played Marissa Cooper on OC California for just three seasons. And yet the young actress and her series co-stars sparked a hype back then. How important the series was in terms of pop culture and how popular it still is today is shown by the fact that the participants still discuss it themselves today. Rachel Bilson (“Summer Roberts”) and Melinda Clarke (“Julie Cooper”) have their own series podcast “Welcome to the OC, Bitches”. Barton, on the other hand, was recently a guest on the successful podcast “Call Her Daddy” and was – of course – asked about the hype series.
“OC California”: Mischa Barton confirms relationship with Benjamin McKenzie
In an interview with host Alexandra Cooper, she admits for the first time that she and co-star Benjamin McKenzie (“Ryan Attwood”) were also a couple away from the cameras. But she isn’t particularly enthusiastic when she talks about the love affair. She was only 17 years old when the first season was filmed. McKenzie, on the other hand, is 25. “I went on the show as a virgin, as a child,” she says. “Playing with people older than me was a bit like, ‘Oh wow. They know what they’re doing. And there’s going to be relationships on this show and you have to play this role’. I was always in school a late bloomer, and I’ve never really dated,” Barton said. She had the feeling that she had to catch up on something back then.
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When she and her co-star became closer, it caused chaos in the production. The age difference between Barton and McKenzie was one reason for this. “The producers went to my parents’ house. It was at the very beginning of the show, before we were halfway through the season. There was a lot going on,” Barton says. Today she knows that she was too young for such a romance. Because the success and hype surrounding “OC California” changed her life suddenly.
Her serial death changed everything
She was “overwhelmed” by everything that was happening to her and ultimately ended the relationship with McKenzie. Both he and the production were angry with Barton because of this. Fans of “OC California” know how influential Barton’s role was on the series. At the end of the third season she dies the serial death. And although the rest of the cast was available again for season four, the series was unable to build on the success of the first season.
source: “Call Her Daddy” podcast
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I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
