Peter Gallagher is so pleased with how far Mischa Barton has come since their time on The O.C.

“I’ve all the time felt very protecting of her,” Gallagher, 69, stated of Barton, 38, in an interview with The Impartial revealed on Sunday, October 27. “First fame is poisonous. First fame can kill you.”

Gallagher and Barton starred on The O.C. collectively within the early 2000s. The solid additionally included Ben McKenzie, Adam Brody, Rachel Bilson and extra. Gallagher performed Orange County lawyer Sandy Cohen, who welcomes troubled teen Ryan Atwood (Mackenzie) into his household. Barton starred as Marissa Cooper, who lived subsequent door to the Cohens and was Ryan’s love curiosity.

The O.C. ran for 4 seasons from 2003 to 2007. Whereas Gallagher remained on the drama till the finale, Barton exited the present in 2006 after her character was killed off within the stunning season 3 finale.

“She was 16 years previous when she began working with us,” Gallagher advised the outlet on Sunday. “So simply the truth that she’s nonetheless alive, I’m simply so grateful.”

One yr after her departure, Barton went by a collection of public struggles. In 2007, the actress was arrested in Los Angeles for drunk driving, marijuana possession and driving and not using a license. She pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 3 years of probation.

Years later, Barton shared that the extent of fame she achieved from the collection had an impression on her psychological well being.

“I’ve spoken earlier than about feeling actually indifferent and [about] what fame did to me in my 20s and feeling actually agoraphobic about issues,” she stated to Leisure Tonight in 2020. “It precipitated some despair and a few anxiousness and issues like that. I’ve handled that my complete life. I wish to be fairly open about it.”

Barton added that she sought out assist from a counselor to assist her work out her emotions and discover a path ahead.

“I discuss to lots of people about this type of stuff,” she continued. “I feel it’s all about being sincere about the best way that you simply really feel about issues. That’s the way you heal. While you’re making an attempt to cover issues, it will get worse.”

Earlier this yr, Barton opened up about how issues have been “sophisticated” for her whereas on set of The O.C. — particularly when she began relationship McKenzie, now 46, in actual life.

“Appearing with folks older than me was a bit like, ‘Oh, wow, they know what they’re doing. There’s going to be relationships on this present and also you’re going to want to play that half.’ I didn’t really feel actually prepared for that,” Barton stated throughout a February look on Alex Cooper’s “Name Her Daddy” podcast. “I used to be all the time a very late bloomer at school, and I hadn’t actually dated. I simply had no thought what I used to be doing, actually. So, I felt like I wanted to catch up.”