MISCHA BARTON - BARTON PREFERS A GOOD BOOK TO PARTYING

BARTON PREFERS A GOOD BOOK TO PARTYING

Former THE O.C. star MISCHA BARTON has laughed off her party girl persona, insisting she prefers to stay at home with a good book over a wild night out. The 21-year-old actress and model explains that her life bears little resemblance to the glitz and glamour the public expect. She says, "I know I look the part and people used to come up to me in the street and talk to me as if I was a crazy party girl. "But I don't go out clubbing because that whole scene is too claustrophobic. And Barton is keen to point out she's not like her Hollywood contemporaries such as PARIS HILTON. She explains, "I'm always being associated with the other girls, but we're not in the same crowd and it seems strange that just because we're all young actresses, people should lump us together. "I have only met Paris once, and that was in passing. That said, it's true that I am friendly with NICOLE RICHIE, and I also know her father LIONEL. But you know people see young celebrities at the same parties and assume that we all know each other. "I actually spend my evenings with a good book. DOSTOEVSKY and JOHN STEINBECK are my favourite authors and I'm currently reading PAULO COELHO's THE ALCHEMIST."