“The O.C.” alum Mischa Barton visitor starring on a reboot of long-running Australian cleaning soap opera “Neighbours” was most likely not on anyone’s 2023 bingo card. The present was cancelled final spring, however — in a twist that might rival the cleaning soap’s melodramatic storylines — it was introduced again from the useless by Amazon Freevee eight months later.
The reboot has given the present a brand new lease of life, and in addition to welcoming again most of the outdated solid members it has additionally embraced some new ones – together with Barton.
Forward of the “Neighbours’” launch on Sept. 18, Barton sat down with Selection to debate how she wound up becoming a member of the present, her subsequent venture and whether or not a reboot of “The O.C.” might additionally ever be within the playing cards.
How did you find yourself as a visitor star on “Neighbours”?
Through the years they’ve requested me a few occasions and tried to get me for various roles. Jason [Herbison, an executive producer] had been saying, “Oh, it’s not the primary time however this simply occurred to be the precise timing and the precise position.” So this character, Reece, felt like an excellent match for me. It was serendipitous. They’d requested me years in the past, most likely like in my mid-20s or one thing, and it hadn’t labored out then so I’m glad it did this time.
As a cleaning soap, “Neigbours” didn’t used to get a number of movie star visitors. Have been you intrigued by the supply?
It was intriguing. Clearly, that is totally different, it’s a reboot, so it makes much more sense. I most likely ought to have been much more cautious going into one thing that had been working for therefore lengthy however all people was so good to me. And it was really actually heartwarming and actually transferring to get to observe these folks get again collectively once they have been so satisfied that this was fully over — to the purpose the place a number of them had moved, offered their homes. After which to observe them deliver me into the combo and invite me in was a wild experience. It was very candy.
Xavier Molyneux (as Byron Stone) and Mischa Barton (as Reece Sinclair) on “Neighbours”
Ray Messner/Amazon Freevee
How did you put together for the half? Did you watch any earlier episodes?
I watched a few issues. However truthfully, I noticed fairly early on it wasn’t going to be that useful to me as a result of the storylines have been going to be choosing up in a totally totally different place. It’s nearly higher to not psych your self out making an attempt to know what these characters have been doing through the years, since their storylines transfer so quick, when actually I used to be simply concentrating on what Reece is doing, coming into the story and the way she introduces herself.
What are you able to inform us about Reece?
You don’t actually know precisely why she’s there at first and what her actual motive is, however she will get sidetracked by love after which wakes up and realizes that she most likely hasn’t been doing what she’s purported to be doing and must redirect her focus. And therein lies the drama.
Is her arc left open on the finish for a return?
Nothing loopy occurs to me so sure, it’s doable.
Loads of “Neighbours” alumni have gone on to work within the U.S., together with Kylie Minogue, Margot Robbie, Man Pearce. Did you get any recommendation from any of the present’s former stars about occurring the present?
Stefan [Dennis, a longtime “Neighbours” cast member] has been a guiding gentle by means of all of this and I came upon about his pop music profession far too late into filming. I want I had identified proper off the bat. However he actually helped me and guided me by means of what the expertise is like and what to anticipate and what’s modified now by way of the way in which that they movie it. Alan Davies [who played Mischa’s grandfather Caleb on “The OC”] was additionally on “Neighbours” and Stefan labored very carefully with him for years. So that they speak about me on a regular basis!
What else are you engaged on in the meanwhile?
“Invitation to a Homicide” got here out whereas I used to be in Australia filming earlier this yr, in order that was cool. None of us obtained to do actually any promotion for it but it surely was such a cute Thirties whodunnit, Agatha Christie-type of factor. And you’ll’t get me out of Australia now; I’m growing a rom-com. I play American however the different lead [will be] Australian. That will be enjoyable as a result of I haven’t actually performed romantic comedy.
Mischa Barton and Benjamin McKenzie on “The OC” in 2006 (© WB / Courtesy: Everett Assortment)
This yr is the twentieth anniversary of “The OC.” Are you marking it in any means?
We did the [“Welcome to the OC, Bitches!”] podcast lastly for everyone and that appeared to make folks blissful. And it’s candy [the cast] have been out picketing. I want I may very well be there with the entire fam. It’s a tough one with “The OC” as a result of it’s simply not that simple to revive. However I imply, I lastly agreed to take part within the e-book [“Welcome to the O.C.: The Oral History,” which comes out in November]. So there have been fairly a number of issues occurring marking the twentieth anniversary of it. However any particular likelihood for us to get again collectively proper this second with all that’s occurring with the strike? Most likely not.
It took you a very long time to comply with take part in these issues. Do you are feeling in another way concerning the present now as an grownup?
Positive. I imply, there’s much more time and area between the precise occasions of the time and like, we’ve all matured and grown up. I used to be speaking to Tate Donovan and a few of [the others] about it. All our attitudes have softened in direction of the entire thing. Now it does have a sure sense of nostalgia to it and also you’ve put a long way between the occasions of the time and now. I feel it’s simply actually heartwarming to see this era throughout lockdown watch it once more and see younger folks watching it. It’s good to know that individuals nonetheless get a kick out of it. And it was actually enjoyable to see [the cast] once more, and to go to dinner with them and get to reconnect in that sense with a few of them. It’s been good.
This interview has been edited and condensed for area and readability.
