Actress Mischa Barton has been one of the hottest women on TV since starring as on The O.C., but her career had faded from the limelight since she asked for her iconic character Marissa Cooper to be killed off so she could leave the show. Meanwhile, her co-star Rachel Bilson has become the actress that everyone’s still talking about.

As many fallen stars have proven of late -- obscurity is nothing a little celebrity scandal can’t solve!

Mischa was arrested the day after Christmas for driving under the influence, a late gift from the authorities. According to TMZ.com, the 21-year-old hottie also faces charges for driving without a valid license and possession of illegal narcotics. She was allegedly carrying marijuana and prescription drugs that were not in her name. (Oops!) She was released on $10,000 bail.

… and voila! Back in the headlines. These celebrities aren’t stupid, ya know. It’s easy to see the benefits of being a bad girl when Paris, Britney and Lindsey get so much publicity everyone just wants to barf at the mention of them.

Perhaps Mischa can parlay her newfound notoriety into promoting the four movies she has coming out this year.

In You and I (Finding t.A.T.u), she plays a Russian teenager who falls in love with an American teenage girl after meeting at a t.A.T.u concert. In the film Walled In, she plays a demolition company agent who uncovers the “horrifying secrets” held within the building she’s having razed. She plays a run-of-the-mill love interest in Don’t Fade Away and a popular girl at a Catholic high school in Assassination of a High School President opposite Bruce Willis and Michael Rapaport.

With foresight such as hers, someday, we’re sure, she will play something other than high school lesbians. Not that we are complaining, mind you!

Mischa is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful celebrities on the planet. The only problem is we get the sense that she knows this because she doesn’t come across as very warm or attainable to the average Joe (could she be one of those shy girls who just comes across as conceited?). Who can blame her for wanting to kill-off her star-making character, Marissa, so she could hang out at fashion shows looking fabulous? Just look at that sculpted face and gorgeous, pear-shaped body!

We wish Mischa well in 2008 despite her new legal problems and entrance into the celebrity DUI club. If she fails to remain in the headlines, may we suggest leaking a celebrity sex tape? Need some help with that...?

Did You Know?

She was born January 24, 1986?

Her name is pronounced “Meesha”?

Mischa played the little dead girl in The Sixth Sense and was in the movie Notting Hill just before that?

Mischa has been in 10 movies since The Sixth Sense? They are Paranoid, Skipped Parts, Lost and Delirious, Julie Johnson, Tart, Octane, The Oh in Ohio, Closing the Ring, St. Trinian’s, and Virgin Territory? (Meanwhile, co-star Bilson has done shows like Chuck and movies like The Last Kiss…)

She’s set to star in the movie Malice in Wonderland, a modern take on the classic fairytale set in the North East of England?

She stands 5’9” (1.75 m)?

Before she was on The O.C., she was on the shows Once and Again, Fastlane and All My Children?

She won a Teen Choice Award for her work on The O.C. in 2004 and 2006?

Quotes

“A friend once said to me that it’s a big world and a lot of stuff happens, which really stuck with me because it’s true. Life can be transient, and if you’re ever bothered, it’s easy to get away from a situation — you have the power and the options to do what you want. People can become closed-minded about one thing and forget how much the rest of the world has to offer. I’d like to live abroad for a while. And I want to be working in films: my show has been such a great platform to be able to do that. I’m definitely 19 going on 30; all the responsibilities of buying a house and having a full-time job make you grow up quickly.”

“I don’t like unfairness. I get fired up if I see someone abusing a situation and being mean for no good reason. It’s about people’s morals for me, so that really bothers me. In general though, I’m pretty chilled about most things, so it does take a lot for me to get fired up about stuff.”

“It’s such a lucky profession that offers me so much, has given so much and has allowed me to be who I want to be. It can be very difficult for young girls to find what they want to do with their lives. The one thing that really helped me through high school and all the difficult years, was having a job. When everyone is freaking out about colleges, I have acting to fall back on.”