Early LifeMischa Barton was born in Hammersmith, London, United Kingdom to an Irish mother, Nuala (née Quinn), a photographer, and an English father, Paul Marsden Barton, a foreign exchange broker. She has two sisters, Hania and Zoe. Barton moved to New York City at the age of four and became a naturalised citizen of the United States in Los Angeles on February 3, 2006. Barton graduated from the Professional Children's School in Manhattan in 2004, and attended classes at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in the summer of 2006.
Personal Life
Charitable affiliations
Barton is currently the spokesperson for “Climate Star”, an organization that fights Global Warming through social and legislative activism.
Barton serves as an Entertainment Industry Foundation Ambassador teaming up with QVC to spread awareness and raise funds for women's cancer research through the Fashion Footwear Association of New York Shoes on Sale Initiative.
In 2007, Barton also became a spokesperson for the SAFE (Skin Awareness for Everyone) campaign and also lent her name to the TRAID campaign (Textile Recycling for Aid and International Development) in association with Visa Swap.
Barton is an ambassador for "Save the Children" and the "One Water" campaign which brings water to remote locations in Africa., and is on the board of the "Lupus Research Committee" in Los Angeles.
Arrest
Barton was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, possession of marijuana, and driving without a valid license on December 27, 2007. She was stopped by police during the early morning hours in West Hollywood, California when she was seen "straddling the lanes and failing to signal for a turn". Police discovered during the traffic stop that Barton "was an unlicensed driver and was driving while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage". She was detained and released later the same morning from the West Hollywood Sheriff Station on US$10,000 bail.
On Thursday, January 10, 2008, Barton called into Ryan Seacrest's radio show On Air with Ryan Seacrest (KIIS FM) and took full responsibility for her actions:
"I was pulled over... just that. Obviously, I’m 100% responsible for my actions in this case and I’m really disappointed in myself... I don’t know what to say about it, except that I’m not perfect and I just don’t ever intend to do something this stupid again."
Barton was subsequently charged with two misdemeanors: driving without a valid license; and a DUI.
Romantic life
Barton dated oil heir Brandon Davis, grandson of Marvin Davis, from 2004 to 2005. From 2005 to 2007 she was in a relationship with Whitestarr lead singer, and ex of Kimberly Stewart, Cisco Adler. They separated in 2007 when nude pictures of Adler began to circulate on the internet. At the end of 2007 there were rumours of a brief fling with actor, model and musician Jamie Dornan, after the two were seen leaving an Arcade Fire gig together in Brixton, London, but Barton has always denied they pursued a relationship. Barton is currently dating Rooney guitarist Taylor Locke (who appeared with his band on an episode of The O.C. back in 2004)
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