'O.C.' actor hits out at former co-stars

Former O.C. actor Tate Donovan has admitted that the show's younger stars were "incredibly difficult to work with".

Donovan, who played Jimmy Cooper on the Fox drama series, was unimpressed by the way Mischa Barton, Benjamin McKenzie, Rachel Bilson and Adam Brody conducted themselves on set.

"They were really tough," Donovan is quoted by The Canadian Press as saying. "Directors were leaving the set and saying 'I'm never going to work with [them again].'"

Tate has claimed that the young stars were most disruptive during filming for the show's fourth and final season.

"I think they all wanted movie careers and did not want to be on a television show," he explained. "All four of them were, like, 'This show is ruining my career."'

Donovan added: "They didn't know how good they had it. We tried to tell them, 'Hey guys, this is a rare experience, you're so fortunate.' "