Mischa Barton's New Maxim Photo Shoot

You’ve got three big movies coming out this year. Are you excited to be back in the limelight, or is it daunting?
I’m happy that I’ve been working constantly since The O.C., and that my career has been going the way I want it. As an actor, all I wanted was creative freedom—to be able to pick and choose movies. I couldn’t be happier.

Is it true you were discovered when you performed a monologue about turtles at summer camp?
That’s how it happened. I remember going to camp with my older sister, who completely ditched me because she was 16 and I was eight and I was uncool to have around. I ended up doing all these monologues, and it paid off, because some agent came up to my mom and said I should try acting.

FOR MORE OF HER INTERVIEW AND HOT PHOTOS, CHECK OUT THE JANUARY ISSUE OF MAXIM ON NEWSSTANDS DECEMBER 18!