Mischa Barton on Rehab/Breakdown Rumors

Specter — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:35:32 +0000

The Sixth Sense actress Mischa Barton in her first in-depth interview since being placed under alleged “involuntary psychiatric hold” at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in July.

A lot of people are watching you now, speculating you were in rehab back in July.
Here’s what happened: Before the show started, I was traveling abroad for contract stuff and I went through a terrible surgery—a wisdom tooth surgery, all four removed. It was a nightmare. I’ve never had surgery before—it all went wrong and I had to have a second surgery and it almost delayed shooting because it was a nightmare to me, because I couldn’t deal with the thought of not getting there on time. So with the travel, and surgery and prep for the show—it was hell.

Is this when you were checked into Cedars?
Yeah, I went through a tough spot where everything compounded on me, and it was like a perfect storm, like everything was happening to me at once. The show, travel and then this fairly routine surgery that went wrong—it’s still just healing. But I had to get through it without proper painkillers because I couldn’t take those during work. So it’s been a nightmare.

How did you end up in a psychiatric hospital?
I was down in the dumps about everything there for a while. Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom about things and have to get the most stressed-out just to feel better again. I got completely stressed-out and couldn’t handle everything, and now I feel really in control.

Was it an official nervous breakdown? Drugs?
I don’t know. I don’t know. I had a friend who had a quasi–nervous breakdown, but I’m not sure it’s the same thing. I’m not sure I’m capable of a full-on nervous breakdown, but it was pretty bad. It didn’t last that long. It was more about the pain. I have a newfound respect for people who have chronic pain. I started getting migraines.

How long were you in Cedars?
They don’t keep you in the hospital. I wasn’t there very long.

Did you sit around sharing feelings and making mosaics—that kind of thing actually helped someone I know who was in an institution.
Not really.

Did they teach you how to deal with the pain?
Not really. I just wanted to get back to work. The doctor told me I was lucky I didn’t lose feeling in my lips and face, which would have been horrifying and couldn’t act properly. My mom was like, “Now’s a good time to get it done, before the show.” And it was the worst time to do it.

What was it like for your mom?
[Rolls eyes] I don’t know. [Looks away] It was miserable for everyone. But I really don’t know.

Is your mom the one who admitted you into the hospital involuntarily?
[Nods yes and rolls eyes again] I’ll tell you that story but not the whole world. The funny thing is, if all this happened in New York, no one would care.

People would be like, “Nervous breakdown? I had one yesterday too. Where are we going to brunch?”
[Laughs] Yes, exactly, New York lets you be who you are, and people aren’t as judgmental. I’m so glad to be back here.

Sixth Sense Actress Mischa Barton hospitalized in Los Angeles

Specter — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:30:07 +0000

Actress Mischa Barton, best known for her role in the hit teen television series “The OC,” has been hospitalized after being taken from her home by police, according to US media.

Police officers were first called to Barton’s home Wednesday “for a medical issue,” said Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Richard French.

“No arrests were made and no one else was involved.”

French declined to confirm that the 23-year-old actress was taken to the city’s Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and placed in a psychiatric unit, as reported by People magazine.

Barton’s publicist, Craig Schneider, confirmed in a statement relayed by US media that the actress “was safely transferred to medical treatment for which she remains hospitalized, as per the recommendation of her doctor.”

London-born Barton was scheduled to attend the New York premiere of her film “Homecoming,” which opens in theaters Friday.

The actress, who was sentenced last year to three years of probation for drunken driving, began her film career playing a girl’s ghost in M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Sixth Sense” (1999).

Our thoughts and prayers go out to her and her family.

Mischa Barton in The Sixth Sense

-via AFP

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