Mischa Barton's new capsule collection of floaty dresses and fur gilets made its worldwide debut in Dubai Mall's Rivaage Boutique on Thursday. Rebecca McLaughlin-Duane caught up with the 26-year-old American actress, who shot to fame when The OC premiered in 2003
What pieces from your collections do you wear most?
I love the Doctors bags and the fringed side-satchels. They are PVC and also we're doing a small leather collection. I've always taken pride in the fact that some of the bags are vegan - animal friendly. And it also keeps the price point down. I'm making them accessible to all and not trying to do what Louis Vuitton does.
Are you vegan then?
No, I eat fish, meat - everything!
What film works are in the pipeline?
I've just completed a film that's now in post-production. It's called Into the Dark. It's about a boy and girl who fall deeply in love at first sight and the story unravels into a drama which ends in tragedy.
What's a secret people don't know about you?
I think people are always surprised to learn I am English and Irish. I'll be in Ireland this summer because Tom Petty is playing in Dublin and Cork, so we're going to chase him around! My grandfather also taught Gaelic at the University of Belfast. It's such a beautiful language; I wish I could speak it.
So where feels like home?
Well, it's really a mix of England, Ireland and the US, for me. I grew up in New York so I feel very much a New Yorker most of the time and I've really grown to love LA, I've got a good thing going there. I've got my little circle of friends and my three dogs; Charles Dickens, Ziggy Stardust and Harvey Barton. And London is definitely home, that's where I feel most comfortable and where my heart lies. I love going home, getting into bed, watching English telly or reading a good book and having cups of tea with biscuits.
