Fans shocked as The O.C actress Mischa Barton joins cast of Neighbours in Amazon reboot

Mischa Barton has shocked fans as it was announced she will join the cast of Neighbours as a guest star in the Amazon reboot of the show. 

The actress, who is best known for her role as troubled teenager Marissa Cooper in noughties series The O.C, will play the character Reece. Mischa’s character is an American whose identity is not all it seems. Reece has just arrived on Ramsay Street, in the fictitious town of Erinsborough in Melbourne Australia. 

Misha’s character is aimed at drawing in an American audience as Neighbours will be streamed on the Amazon Freevee platform. 

In a statement from Sky News Misha said I'm excited to be part of this iconic show's next chapter, and I am really looking forward to being back in Australia – a place I know and love!'

Fans took to social media to share their shock and excitement. One person wrote “OMG! I definitely didn't have Mischa Barton appearing on Neighbours on my 2023 bingo card!” 

The hugely successful Australian soap first aired in 1986 on the BBC and launched the careers of Kylie Minogue, Margot Robbie, Chris and Liam Hemsworth. The show ran for over three decades before being cancelled in 2022. 

In a bizarre turn around production company Fremantle announced the show will be returning in 2023 after they secured Amazon Freevee and Prime Video.

Mischa began her acting career at the age of 12 in the blockbuster film The Sixth Sense and Notting Hill. But it was her lead role in teen drama The O.C that catapulted her into stardom. 

The show which aired between 2003 and 2007, was based on a group of friends in the wealthy, upper-class neighbourhood of Newport Beach, Orange County, California. 

Mischa was one of the ‘It Girl’s’ of the 00s but the actress struggled to secure major roles, faced cruel comments about her weight and battled growing up in the spotlight which led to multiple breakdowns and PTSD. 

A few years after quitting The O.C, Misha began on a downward spiral, she was hit with a 36 month probation after being caught Driving Under the Influence (DUI). 

She got a name for herself as being difficult to with after an outburst at a fashion show. Then in 2009, the actress was admitted to a Psych ward after according to ENews a source claimed she had “tried to kill herself.”

Mischa has since gotten back to being in a good place. She has featured in many films and TV shows such as Law and Order, The Hills: New Beginnings and also featured in Noel Gallagher's ‘Everybody's on the Run’ music video.

But nothing has been as successful for Mischa since The O.C. Could Neighbours be the perfect role to get Misha back to ‘It Girl’ status? We hope so.