Mischa Barton is speaking out for the first time since she was hauled away to the psychiatric ward of Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, CA last month after it was reported she suffered a mental breakdown. Just weeks after she was hospitalized in LA, Mischa made her way to NYC to begin production on her new CW TV series The Beautiful Life (in the role of a fashion model with a penchant for drugs). Time Out New York magazine scored the exclusive first interview with Mischa wherein she explains in her own words what happened last month. Here are excerpts from her interview that focus on her mental breakdown:
As part of its Fall Fashion issue, on stands September 10, Time Out New York met with Mischa Barton for her first in-depth interview since being placed under alleged “involuntary psychiatric hold” at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in July. Other medical issues nearly delayed filming of her New York–set TV series, The Beautiful Life: TBL. Barton, 23, plays model Sonja Stone, a drugged-up diva trying to get her career back on track (real life, meet show!). Yet during our talk—on the couch in a Tribeca photo studio—the O.C. starlet looks healthy, sits tall and comes off as self-aware and self-deprecating …
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.
HMMM … I have to say all the “eye rolling” sounds as if she doesn’t understand the severity of her dangerous behavior. Where it not for her mother who wouldn’t let her “be who [she] is” who knows what could’ve happened to her. Earlier in the interview she mentions how she’s been going to nightclubs (with designer Zac Posen) since she was 15 because she “grew up in New York and [she] grew up fast” … it seems that she didn’t quite learn all the lessons that she prolly should have. To be honest, I’m glad that she seems to be OK now and that she seems more focused but … I dunno … I really fear that her reckless behavior might have very unfortunate circumstances some day. Eye rolling aside, I truly hope she has learned to curb her dangerous behavior … for her own good.
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I am sorry but she is a twit!! Gag, I don’t care.
Hm, she really doesn’t look healthy for her age in that picture. I hope she is good, she should start respecting her body more, for a mental breakdown is usually a sign you should start taking things easy(for awhile).
Also about going to nightclubs since she was 15, because she had to grow up fast. In which way did she have to grow up fast? In the way that she should get involved in drinking and partying at all nights. I had to grow up fast too, but its at those times you know your limit of having fun. When you grow up, the less time you have to ‘party’ because you have more responsiblites. I hope she does recover, and becomes healthy again, and is able to get some good work(maybe that will help her)
It doesn’t seem like she learned a thing while “hospitalized”. All the all eye rolling and mom bashing (between the lines) is super annoying and makes her look like a 12 year old brat. Grow up and handle your shizz….
That pic-wow.
ok.. so.. she’s untalented, anorexic, and .. crazy!? cool.
Crack whore much???
very simple: drugs and partying
My God, she looks like complete ass.
Awful picture of her, and I don’t blame her for trying to downplay the hospitalization. I would do the same thing if I were in her shoes because no one NEEDS to know what really went down besides her employers and of course her family. She is young; @23 most ppl are still getting their shit together so I’m not gonna hate on Misha for her seemingly poor attitude. Good luck to her, and I hope she wises up and focuses on her health and career…mainly avoiding clubs and the party scene because it’s getting her nowhere.
When I see pics of her, it makes me feel REALLY pretty. :)
How can they not have their break down’s in private like the rest of us?
Hmmm… when I got all four of my wisdom teeth out in high school, it wasn’t a picnic, either – I was out of school all the following week, sicker than a dog. I diligently did my post-op care and took my meds as prescribed. But it certainly didn’t send me to a psychiatric hospital. Perhaps she should’ve followed her doctor’s orders and taken the time to take care of herself first and put her job second. I hope she’s got her head on straight finally.
all i have to say is wow.
For those who dont experience Chronic Pain, it’s very hard for them to understand the amount if of stress it can put you through. Having a wisdom tooth surgery go wrong can be very traumatic, and her dealing with the pain without pain killers can only add to that. While I believe the pain may have been the catalyst for everything else that happened, I highly doubt it was the sole reason. Whatever the reason is I hope she finds a constructive outlet to deal with whatever she is going through and gets the help and support she needs.
oh PUHLEEASE…i had all four of my wisdom teeth out while i was wide awake with only Novocaine to numb my jaw. the surgery took 3 hours and they had to saw the bottom two in half and by the time he got around to the stitches the Novocaine had worn off and he couldn’t give me any more..ontop of that i could only take ibuprofen for the pain, plus i have bad migraines WEEKLY! i hate famous people. if that’s all it takes to make her have a panic attack she needs some real problems.
wow people….just a bit of tolerance and humanity, huh?!
Maybe she should hit rock bottom a couple of more times and maybe she’ll be normal or something? Just a thought.
that pictures reminds me of Skeletor! yikes!
Notice how she doesn’t answer the question about drugs. She didn’t go to rehab for a wisdom tooth break-down…how stupid does she think the public is? The girl has a drug problem.
Yikes, that photo. When was that taken?
-meream