Mischa Barton: 'I hate drunk drivers'

Mischa Barton has admitted that she was mortified by her DUI arrest last year - as she "hates" drunk drivers.

The former O.C. actress was sentenced to three years' probation in April after pleading guilty to the DUI charge. She had been arrested over the incident in December 2007.

Mischa revealed that other charges, such as marijuana possession, were dropped because she expressed genuine regret for her behaviour.

Barton told Marie Claire magazine: "The thing is, I hate drunk drivers. Living in L.A., I can't stand them, and that's why I was so disappointed in myself. I wanted to prove to the court that I would take it completely seriously, so I went to rehab to prove I was sober.

"It really helped in getting the more serious aspects of my case dropped because, you know, that's what they want to hear: you're not an alcoholic, and you don't have a problem."