Mischa Barton On DUI Arrest: 'That Was A Low Point For Me'

By Access HollywoodJuly 17, 2008, 1:37 pm PDT

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Days after Kiefer Sutherland reflected on his DUI arrest, a new interview has emerged finding Mischa Barton speaking out about her own experience getting arrested on drunken driving charges.

"That was a low point for me. I never, ever would have thought I would be arrested," she told Nylon's August issue regarding her arrest last year on DUI related charges.

As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, Barton was arrested in December 2007 on suspicion of DUI. She was later charged with four counts including a marijuana charge, which was later dropped. Barton made a plea deal in April 2008. As part of her sentence, the former "OC" star was put on 36 months probation, required to attend alcohol education classes and pay a fine.

[ Mischa Barton's Lawyer Talks DUI Charges - Play it Now ]

Barton said one reason she was so disappointed over the incident was because of the people it lumped her in with.

"I was disappointed because it associated me with a group of girls that I would rather not be associated with," she said. "That was the biggest bummer for me - I didn't leave my house. I was too embarrassed. They made such a big deal out of it with these other young actresses, that, for a little bit, I wanted to crawl into a hole and die."

In the months before Barton's own DUI arrest, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan were both arrested for the same offense.

[ All Access: Celebrities - Mischa Barton - DUI's - Arrests ]

The actress, who now enjoys spending time at her apartment in France, said following the incident, she turned to her inner circle for support.

"It was a stupid thing to do. But my friends were really great, and my family was really supportive, and I've done a lot to pay back for what I did," she said.

When asked by Nylon what she did to pay back for the crime, Barton said, "Just like stuff you have to do to please the courts."

Barton said she was also disturbed by how much attention getting arrested for driving drunken and alleged marijuana possession got her.

"I make mistakes, and I never claimed to be perfect," she told the magazine. "It's weird. The way I live my life, I don't want to be so closeted that I just have to shut myself off and become some protected young starlet that's removed from reality, but I was also just shocked at what a big deal people made out of it."

During the interview, Barton also tackled the rumors she was asked to join "Gossip Girl," a show she admits she's never seen.

"I was offered to play a role, but just because I've come out of 'The OC,' why would I want to go back on another series that is exactly the same?" she asked. "It's just not what I wanted to do, and it's not the kind of material I'm looking for."

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comments

comments 1-10 of 29  | newest | < newer | older > | oldest
  • CaffieneJunkie
    All these stupid rich people can afford cabfare or to tow thier car, or to bail out of jail. People should not be supportive of drunk driving. That's enabling. Her family did the wrong thing. She should be embarrassed and ashamed that's what DUI's are all about. Think of all the people who don't get pulled over while intoxicated and cause car accidents. She is only
    report abuseposted July 22, 2008, 9:40 am PDT
  • Arabella L
    she is my favorite. Someone told me she is datting a young billlionaire on -""""""""""C e l e b C u p i d.c o m""""""""". What kind of relationship she is looking for on that site? Long-term relationship or just a dating? -----
    report abuseposted July 19, 2008, 1:30 pm PDT
  • LaffOutLoud
    I thought Mischa Barton was that old %@!*#y russian ballet dancer?
    report abuseposted July 18, 2008, 3:30 pm PDT
  • vote for politicians ...
    How can she claim to be shocked that people "made a big deal" out of it? It's supposed to be made a big deal and "celebrities" need to be made an example since they're in the spotlight.I live in a place where DUIs happen more often than most states.So we see ,almost nightly, stories of death or injury on the news. It's sad and frankly dis
    report abuseposted July 18, 2008, 12:00 pm PDT
  • Liz S.
    She should be more embarassed to leave her house cause of her outfits. What a dumb girl.
    report abuseposted July 18, 2008, 10:17 am PDT
  • Mz Nene
    Who does that all the money she has she could have calld nebody y drive drunk thats how people get killd she says she so embarrassed nd so sorry but if she wouldnt have gotten caught she would do it again this weekend! How childish nd she sayd her friends were so supportive if they were supportive they would slap her fa bein so dumb y didnt she call one of them?? Or maybe they were with her! LOL!!
    report abuseposted July 18, 2008, 9:36 am PDT
  • macenia_jones
    You know people do make mistakes. If you learn from your mistake you will prosper, if not you will never move forward in life. I do believe in the law, and I do believe if you break it you will get caught. And then you have God, he see all and you will be held accountable for your actions. What you get by with in this life there is someone who knows.
    report abuseposted July 18, 2008, 9:17 am PDT
  • Jennie
    I can't believe people like this, all the money in the world and she can't take a cab or a limo! Shes sorry till she does it again and we here the same sob story again! This is how people die cause of drunk drivers like her, its how my friend six week old got killed!!! She needs to read all these messages. Hopefully she'll get a clue but I doubt it! Shes a LOSER!!!
    report abuseposted July 18, 2008, 8:07 am PDT
  • WTF
    She's washed up, and who really cares if she's 22 or 12 she's still ACTING like a child.
    report abuseposted July 18, 2008, 6:27 am PDT
  • jazzy g
    i'm so sick of people over 17 being called a kid ! over 22 plz !! and calling grown people a "cute" couple !! nothing but excuses for driving drunk !!
    report abuseposted July 18, 2008, 4:58 am PDT
comments 1-10 of 29  | newest | < newer | older > | oldest

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