Mischa Barton regrets doing 'The O.C.'

LONDON, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- More than 10 years after Mischa Barton was launched to stardom on the Fox hit show The O.C. the British actress says she wouldn't do it over again if she could.

Barton's life famously spiraled out of control after she left the show during its third season following her driving without a valid license and a DUI charges and the time she was put under involuntary psychiatric hold 5150.

Her experiences from her time on and after the show have left Barton feeling somewhat jaded about the entertainment industry.

"It's something I came so close to not doing. I had a really great thing with film," she said according to Metro. "People say be grateful for what you have but it certainly not the kind of thing I was expecting it to be...I've kind of seen it all."

The Sixth Sense actress went on to admit that while she "clearly" doesn't care what people think, she just wants to be "be seen for the hard-working actress that I am and not for a bunch of extraneous press."

"It's tough. It's really tough when you are young in this business," she explained. "People blow a lot of hot air at you. That's the main thing. Keep your head on your shoulders -- even when you think your head is on your shoulders, sometimes it isn't!"

On the other hand, she added that people are often unaware about the fact that overnight successes come with "blood, sweat and tears and years of ground work."

"Which I find strange about society in general. They think it's an instant thing where you work really hard for these things," she added.

Barton has had a few minor roles in the U.K. since she left primetime television. She's also the face of VAPESTICK's Style Icon ads. Most recently, the actress made headlines after it was revealed her LA home is facing foreclosure.