Mischa Barton steps out looking very different from her OC days

Ahead of her new foray into reality TV, Mischa Barton has stepped out looking very different from her days on The OC.

Former teen star Mischa Barton was photographed this week looking virtually unrecognisable compared with her days on hit soapie The OC.

The British-born actress, 32, has been keeping a lower public profile in recent years but was this week spotted leaving Mr. Chow restaurant in Malibu:

Mischa in Malibu this week. Picture: DOBN / BACKGRID

The star keeps a lower profile nowadays. Picture: DOBN / BACKGRID

The star dressed down in runners and trackies. Picture: DOBN / BACKGRID

While her career’s been quieter in recent years, Barton will this month hit the small screen again in The Hills: New Beginnings, a reboot of the noughties MTV reality series The Hills.

Speaking on The Kyle & Jackie O Show this morning, the actress opened up about her surprise move into the world of reality TV.

Mischa Barton at the 2005 Golden Globes. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

“I never watched it … to be honest, I was the last person to join and I wasn’t even convinced it was something I wanted to do. It probably took like three months of thinking about it. I think the thing that pushed me over the edge was that this is the funnest of the reality shows and not so dramatic and over the top,” she said.

“Although that’s what you think, and then you get on the show …”

Mischa circa 2019. Picture: DOBN / BACKGRID

Mischa circa 2005. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Barton also revealed she had no hard feelings about The OC killing off her character Marissa in season three of the hit teen drama.

“I wanted to give the fans an opportunity to have Marissa go out in a way that felt very Marissa Cooper. We needed to ramp up the drama. I know it’s sad, it is, but it was the appropriate thing to do — the other option of sailing off into the sunset just didn’t feel right,” she said.

“It’s one of those memorable TV endings, so I feel like we made the right decision.”