Mischa Barton moved to London to be a "regular" person.
Mischa Barton
The former 'O.C.' star turned her back on Hollywood and relocated shortly after her stint on the teen drama ended because she needed to take the time to "explore" who she was and wanted to be.
Mischa - who studied at Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) while in the UK - said: "It was one of those times that things culminated for better or worse.
"So I moved to Europe and was able to take time and really explore who I was and who I wanted to be.
"I needed that time for myself to really do that self-exploration and get back in touch with my roots.
"I just needed time to be me and be a regular person. That balance is important. I am nothing but happy to have had that time in my life."
Mischa - who was committed to a psychiatric ward in 2009 - joined 'The O.C.' when she was just 17 years old and admitted she struggled with life in the spotlight at such a young age.
She told People magazine: "I just got to this place where I needed space.
"I needed to rediscover what I loved about being an actress because, at a certain point, I was robbed of the fun aspects by being that much under the microscope."
But these days, Mischa looks back on her early years of fame with fondness.
She said: "I was 17 years old and fresh out of high school in New York when I got cast on 'The O.C.'
"It was a huge time in my life and I'm grateful for it. Now, I can embrace it and be happy about it."
The 30-year-old star was the second celebrity to be voted off 'Dancing With the Stars' last night (04.04.16).
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