Mischa Barton looked a bit out of it while out in the East Village on 5th October. 
Joined by a guy pal, the former “OC” star walked around aimlessly while “constantly rubbing her nose and looking very depressed” before hailing a cab. As previously reported by Gossip Center, MIss Barton had been working on the Ashton Kutcher production, “The Beautiful Life,” but the series was cancelled after two episodes due to low viewership.
Meanwhile, Miss Barton is still signed on to do promotional work for Tesco supermarket chain to boost their shop’s ranges in online sales.

Mischa Barton was spotted filming scenes for her new show “The Beautiful Life” in New York City on 11th August’09. The “O.C.” actress looked to be in fine form as she worked on the Manhattan set, looking fresh-faced and healthy and sporting a white blouse with light-wash distressed jeans and black leather boots. The sight of Miss Barton back to work is a welcome one for her fans who feared she was going off the deep end last month. Mischa spent a sizable amount of time under psychiatric care in July after admitting herself to a medical facility for a nervous breakdown.

Having just arrived to the Big Apple fresh from the hospital,  Mischa Barton was spotted on the set of her upcoming TV show “The Beautiful Life” in Manhattan on 30th July’09. Looking to be in high spirits, the former “OC” star walked along with her two canine companions as she geared up to start work on the new CW show which premieres in September. As previously reported by Gossip Center, Mischa was recently discharged from Cedars Sinai Medical Center after being in an “involuntary psychiatric hold”.
While the decision to jump straight into filming following her mental health meltdown has some friends worried, another source feels different and thinks it’s best for her to continue a normal life. “She’s obviously feeling better if she’s back to work. She’s excited to be a part of the show, and she’s very focused on it.” 

A week after being placed under psychiatric hold, Mischa Barton is "still seeking treatment but making improvements," her rep Craig Schneider said. Schneider would not elaborate, but said that the 23-year-old actress plans to report to work on her CW series, The Beautiful Life, later this month. A rep for the show, which stars Barton as a struggling supermodel, says shooting is slated to start on July 31. That’s two weeks later than planned. While the show says the delay was not due to Mischa Barton’s troubles, but to "problems with the sets," multiple sources say The Beautiful Life producers are working on a Plan B (i.e. a new character) in light of the actress’ hospitalization. The hard-partying Barton was placed under a 5150 involuntary psychiatric hold (a.k.a. the Britney Spears hold) at L.A.’s Cedars-Sinai Medical Center July 13. "She’s going through a rough patch," says Benji Kohn, producer of her new film Homecoming. "I hope Mischa is OK. My thoughts and prayers are with her." Barton is said to be coked up and suicidal. Hopefully not. Here’s hoping this once-promising actress gets better and that she stars on her show as planned. 

Is life imitating art for Mischa Barton? The 23-year-old plays a former homecoming queen who goes berserk on her ex-boyfriend’s current girlfriend in the new flick "Homecoming." Barton missed the New York premiere last night after being taken to the psych ward at Cedars-Sinai in L.A. The film’s director, Morgan J. Freeman, doesn’t believe Barton’s role played a part in the real-life drama. Freeman tells "Extra," "She was very professional on-set in playing a character who got to lose her mind in the movie, but I don’t see that in having any relationship to her real life." Freeman enjoyed working with Barton and says she was "cheery" and "funny" while on the set of "Homecoming." He adds, "She was excited about some other job things happening." He also says the former "The O.C." star was "100% professional" and "prompt," and that Barton knew her lines, and that the news of her hospitalization was a complete shock to him.