Mischa Barton has been spotted on set of Neighbours for the very first time since it was announced she was joining the cast.
The British-born American actress, 37, was spotted arriving at the Nunawading film studios in Melbourne on Wednesday, as she prepared for her new role in the rebooted show.
The O.C. star made a low-key arrival, wearing a pair of stylish shades and a brown suede jacket as she hopped out of a car.
The former Hollywood socialite will play Reece, an American woman who has just arrived on Ramsay Street, but whose identity ‘is not what it seems’.
Her character is designed to appeal to American viewers, as Neighbours, which is set in the fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough, will screen in the U.S. on the ad-supported streaming platform Amazon Freevee.
Mischa Barton has been spotted on set of Neighbours for the very first time since it was announced she was joining the cast
‘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!’ Barton said in a statement.
‘I think the character of Reece is going to be a great role for me to explore and play with,’ she added.
Neighbours’ executive producer Jason Herbison said: ‘With Neighbours launching on Amazon Freevee in North America, we are beyond excited to have an actor of Mischa’s calibre join us for the beginning of this exciting new chapter.
The British-born American actress, 37, was spotted arriving at the Nunawading film studios in Melbourne on Wednesday, as she prepared for her new role in the reboot
The O.C. star made a low-key arrival, wearing a pair of stylish shades and a brown suede jacket as she hopped out of a car
‘Mischa’s character is dynamic and unpredictable, and will have an instant presence on Ramsay Street. Our loyal viewers are going to love her, locally and abroad.’
Neighbours fans from Australia and the UK have welcomed the casting for the most part, but some found the decision baffling.
‘OMG! I definitely didn’t have Mischa Barton appearing on Neighbours on my 2023 bingo card!’ one viewer tweeted after the announcement.
‘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!’ Barton said in a statement
Neighbours fans from Australia and the UK have welcomed the casting for the most part, but some found the decision baffling. Pictured: Cast and crew on set on Wednesday
Pictured is Alan Fletcher, who plays Karl Kennedy on the hit soap and Stefan Dennis, who plays businessman Paul Robinson
‘Micha Barton on Neighbours… WTF,’ another wrote.
Barton began her career as a child actress in Hollywood films like The Sixth Sense and Notting Hill, which were both released in 1999.
However, she became a bona fide superstar when she was cast as troubled teenager Marissa in the hit TV series The O.C., which ran from 2003 to 2007.
Her career foundered after she quit The O.C. at the end of the third season, and Barton publicly struggled with life in the spotlight.
She became a bona fide superstar when she was cast as troubled teenager Marissa in the hit TV series The O.C., which ran from 2003 to 2007
Barton’s troubles came to a head in 2017 when footage surfaced of her screaming about her mother and the end of the world in her her backyard in LA.
She is now in a better place and scored a role in the first season of The Hills: New Beginnings, which has since been cancelled by MTV.
Cameras began rolling for Amazon’s revived Neighbours on Monday, and the series should be back on screens by the end of this year.
The continuation of the long-running soap series follows the finale in 2022, which was watched by millions of fans.
Her career foundered after she quit The O.C. at the end of the third season, and Barton publicly struggled with life in the spotlight. Pictured with the cast in 2003
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