Barton's 'TBL' role 'mirrors her life'

The executive producers of The Beautiful Life have suggested that Mischa Barton's role on the series will mirror her own life.

Talking to E! Online, Mike Kelley said that the writers will not shy away from 'close-to-home' stories, despite Barton's recent troubles.

"I had that conversation with Mischa, and those stories were going to be told with or without Mischa being the actress in that role, so I just said I didn't want to be insensitive with what was happening with her," he said. "But at the same time I didn't want to not tell interesting and dramatic stories, and she was so game."

Fellow executive producer Karey Burke added: "There are things that we had planned on doing with Sonya's character that we did not shy away from at all.

"It's dealing with a character that is living her life in the spotlight, being hounded by the paparazzi, who is at a massive turning point in her career, where it's sort of make-it-or-break-it time, and there are things thematically where it's exactly what's going on with Mischa's life, and she's embracing all of them."

Kelley continued: "She had a rough go of it for a bit there. She's a kid. She's 23-years-old, and she's growing. Things are behind her that were negative, and she's really focused on the positive. She looks great, and her acting is terrific. She's very positive and excited, and so are we.

"We feel really, really lucky to have gotten past this and to have her on the show. Her character is integral to all the stories, so her character is not going anywhere and neither is Mischa."

Last year, Barton was charged with driving under the influence. Recently, the former O.C. actress was hospitalised following a suspected three-day cocaine binge. It was later reported that she had been sectioned after friends feared she was on the brink of suicide.