The O.C. star Mischa Barton has revealed that she felt “pressured” to lose her virginity while starring in the iconic noughties TV show.
Barton was 18 years old when she began player Marisa Cooper in the series, which aired from 2003 to 2007.
In an essay written for Harper’s Bazaar, Barton spoke about how being in the entertainment industry led to her sexualisation from a young age.
On top of that, she opened up about how her character being sexually active made her feel like a “fraud” for not having lost her virginity yet herself.
“Even from a young age, I was sexualised… don’t get me wrong, I loved being an actress and my work on stage. I felt very grown-up, proud of my work and really committed myself to it, but I was still just a child,” she said.
She continued: “When I took the role of Marissa Cooper, I was 18 years old and fresh out of high school… Even being a virgin at the time in that context made me feel like a fraud.”
“I had cultivated the persona of a New York-based, young and streetwise woman who was well beyond her years. Here, I was playing a confident character who was fast and loose and yet I was still a virgin. The kids in the show were quintessential rich, privileged American teenagers drinking, taking drugs, and of course having sex.”
“I knew it was important to get this thing – my virginity – that was looming over me, the elephant in the room if you will, out of the way. I started to really worry that I couldn’t play this character if I didn’t hurry up and mature a little.”
“Did I ever feel pressured to have sex with someone? Well, after being pursued by older men in their thirties, I eventually did the deed. I feel a little guilty because I let it happen. I felt so much pressure to have sex, not just from him, but society in general,” she concluded.
In other news, Barton also recently spoke out about bullying she experienced on the set of The O.C., which she said led her to quit the show.
“There were people on that set that were very mean to me,” she told E! News.
“It wasn’t, like, the most ideal environment for a young, sensitive girl who’s also been thrust into stardom to have to put up with.”
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Check out a clip of Mischa Barton on The O.C.:
