MISCHA BARTON BLAMES NEW YORK CITY

Mischa Barton

Hollywood star Mischa Barton partly blames her New York upbringing for her driving under the influence arrest in Los Angeles last month. The former The O.C. actress was busted for driving under the influence of alcohol, possessing marijuana and driving without a license in Los Angeles just before Christmas. She was released on bail and now admits she’s ashamed of her actions. She accepts she was wrong to attempt to drive home after partying with pals, and insists she would never have made such a decision in her native New York. She says, "I grew up in New York, the land of people who don’t have to drive. It’s always been the toughest thing about living in L.A. for me… I usually try not to get behind the wheel." And the 21-year-old actress admits she doesn’t have a driving license because she rarely gets behind the wheel.