Mischa Barton’s friends were worried she was suicidal, it has been claimed.

Pals close to ‘The O.C.’ actress – who was sectioned on Wednesday (15.07.09) after being placed under a 5150 hold, a piece of US legislation which means she poses a danger to herself or others – were convinced she would try to commit suicide unless they forced her to get help.

A source told the New York Post newspaper: “She’s in very bad shape.

“She’s running out of money and can’t find love, so now she is looking for a good time to escape her misery. She is on a downward spiral. She is a mess. She is a suicidal, uninsurable mess.”

Under a 5150 hold order – which can also be used to detain someone who is gravely disabled or has a mental disorder – a person can only be held for up to 72 hours, but doctors can ask for an additional 14-day hold if they believe it is warranted.

The 23-year-old actress was taken to Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for psychiatric evaluation, with her publicist Craig Schneider recently confirming she is still at the hospital.

Friends of the actress – who did not attend the New York premiere of her new movie ‘Homecoming’ on Thursday (16.07.09) – recently claimed she was on a “destructive path” of drug use, and believe it will take her a long time to fully recover.

One said: “She is a tortured and troubled person. You can survive a bad review, but when you don’t show up for the premiere of your new film, it’s not a good sign of where your career is heading.”

A 5150 hold is the piece of legislation which was used to hold Britney Spears after she suffered a breakdown in 2008.

In April 2008, Mischa pleaded no contest to drink driving and later went to rehab to prove she “was sober”.

Mischa Barton has celebrated her new-found confidence in her body by stripping naked for Cosmopolitan magazine.

The OC beauty sparked health fears last year after she was pictured looking worryingly thin and gaunt.

But she appears to have put such concerns behind her and is eager to show off her new, healthy look.

Mischa said: “It’s human nature to be self-critical, but it’s possible to like the way you look.

“I’m happy now – I wouldn’t change my body, and I couldn’t anyway.

“The only way to be happy and be a more enjoyable person to be around is to embrace what you’ve got. Everyone has issues about their body, but I feel confident now. I’m healthy and happy.”

The Closing The Ring actress says she’ll never go under the knife to improve her appearance – not even to look like LIV TYLER.

Mischa told Cosmopolitan: “There are women I admire – I think Liv Tyler is beautiful. But that’s as far as it goes.

“I know I’m never going to look like her and I’m not into surgery, or changing the way I look.

“I think it’s better to embrace what you have and play on your good points.”

Mischa Barton tries to avoid the Hollywood lifestyle.

The former “O.C.” actress makes a deliberate effort not to be seen out and about in Tinseltown, because she doesn’t want to be known as a party girl.

She revealed: “I recommend taking Hollywood with a pinch of salt. I get to meet and work with a lot of interesting people and have opportunities to do quality work.

She continued: “I try to avoid getting too embedded in the ‘Hollywood’ lifestyle, I love to travel and I have my family and my life outside of work. Although Hollywood mainly offers me access to the industry, I also love the beach, boogie boarding and the weather.”

Mischa Barton, who is currently dating Rooney guitarist Taylor Locke, also revealed she would never date an actor, and prefers romancing men not involved in the movie industry.

She added: “I would rather date outside of the industry. I think actors are a special breed, it takes a specific personality to be an actor – there needs to be some kind of balance.”

Mischa Barton has decided to escape her troubles in Hollywood by moving to Paris.

The actress was sentenced to three years unsupervised probation in April after she was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, possession of marijuana and driving without a license.

The former “O.C.” star is currently attending the Cannes Film Festival. She has two films in the festival, including “You and I.”

The actress, which has attended People at the Chopard and Alberta Ferretti Opening Gala on Wednesday night, revealed, “I’m living in Paris right now so I thought I would come down for a few days. I’ve been coming down here since I was 12, so I know the deal. It’s always fun.”

When asked the reason why she moved to Paris, she answered, “No reason. I just always wanted to move there. I’m enjoying some time off.”

Mischa Barton has suffered three years’ probation and has ordered into an alcohol education program after she pleaded no contest to drunken driving.

The prosecutors agreed to dismiss her marijuana possession sentence and reduced a charge of driving without a license as a part of the plea deal.

The 22-year-old star was not present for the proceedings in a Beverly Hills court. Her lawyer entered her no contest plea, the functional equivalent of pleading guilty in California, on her behalf.

In addition to her probation, she was ordered to complete a three-month alcohol education program and was fined about $2,000.

Mischa Barton was previously arrested from December 27, who was best known for her role as Marissa Cooper on Fox network’s “The O.C.”

The police already said that they separated between two lines of traffic and failed to signal a turn while driving in West Hollywood, a community in the Los Angeles area.

They spent about seven hours in jail before being released on $10,000 bond after they appeared the following month on a Los Angeles radio talk show, saying, “100 percent responsible for my actions in this case.”

Mischa Barton, who is the former “O.C. star,” has started the rumors that she was dating Taylor Locke after the celebrity pair was caught holding hands in Dublin, Ireland.

The former “O.C. star” met with the guitarist on the band’s recent stop in Ireland. The five-member band has been supporting “Good Charlotte” with European tour.

The celebrity couple was seen having lunch together and strolling hand-in-hand through one of the city’s parks has previously dated Cisco Adler.

Princess Beatrice recently stepped up her hunt for the perfect base to live in while studying at London’s Goldsmiths College.

The Queen’s granddaughter, who started a textile and design course this autumn, was shown around the stucco-fronted, four-bedroom home in an exclusive street where David Blunkett used to live.

Princess Beatrice would not be worried about her student loan will go. Her west-facing family home, which is spacious, sun-filled rooms featuring high ceilings, would be perfect for entertaining new student friends.

Mischa Barton was sentenced on Thursday to three years’ probation and ordered into an alcohol education program after she pleaded no contest to drunken driving.

As part of the plea deal, which spared the London-born actress any jail time, prosecutors agreed to dismiss a marijuana possession charge and reduced a charge of driving without a license to an infraction.

22-year-old star was not present for the proceedings in a Beverly Hills court. Her lawyer entered her no contest plea, the functional equivalent of pleading guilty in California, on her behalf.

In addition to probation, she was ordered to complete a three-month alcohol education program and was fined about $2,000.

The case stems from the December 27 arrest of Barton, best known for her role as Marissa Cooper on Fox network’s “The O.C.”, who police said was weaving between two lanes of traffic and failing to signal a turn while driving in West Hollywood, a community in the Los Angeles area.

Mischa Barton spent about seven hours in jail before being released on $10,000 bond.

Appearing the following month on a Los Angeles radio talk show, Mischa Barton revealed, “100 percent responsible for my actions in this case.”

A representative for Mischa Barton’s family on Wednesday blasted a tabloid report that the actress’s sister was hospitalized for a drug overdose.

Howard Bragman, the representative, said, “Mischa understands that as an actress and a public person she needs to address her issues in a timely and appropriate manner. That being said, she’s the only public person in her family and we will not address these sleazy, tabloid reports. I think these pieces of s— who work at hospitals and sell private information are not only breaking the law, but they’re morally reprehensible. They’re selling people’s private information for the price of dinner for four at Lawry’s. And I hope they choke on their prime rib.”

According to a tabloid report, that 19-year-old Hania Barton was hospitalized over the holidays after overdosing on a muscle relaxer.

Mischa Barton had been smoking marijuana when she was arrested by police for driving under the influence on Thursday morning, according to reports.

West Hollywood cops pulled over the former “O.C.” star in the early hours of Thursday when she was spotted straddling two lanes of traffic. She was taken into custody on suspicion of DUI, but was also booked for possession of narcotics and driving on a suspended license.

And the 21-year-old star, who scored a 0.12 on a Breathalyzer test, was also found to have marijuana on her person, as well as prescription drugs which were not in her name, according to a report.

She is currently free on $10,000 bail after being released on Thursday night.

Mischa Barton was stopped in the early hours of Thursday in West Hollywood on suspicion of driving under the influence, possession of illegal narcotics and driving without a valid license.

The 21-year-old actress, who added to the list of celebrities who were arrested due to DUI offense, was stopped after being spotted weaving between two lanes in her Range Rover and not signaling for a turn.

The “O.C.” star was currently being held in custody on 10,000 dollars bail. But another report on December 27 indicated that the actress was released from the Sheriff’s department just after 10am.

She was seen covered up in the back of the Mercedes as she left the station, escorted by the police.

Though best known for “The O.C.,” London-born Barton’s film credits include cameos in hit movies “The Sixth Sense” and “Notting Hill.”