According to FemaleFirst, the former star of the television series, The O.C., never wanted to be an actress. She started acting when she was picked to play the part of Marissa Cooper. The 22-year-old star appeared in many television shows and movies before getting the part in the television show for teens.
Barton left the show before the end of the 2007 season. She explained that if she had not been cast for The O.C. she would have done something completely different.
Barton stated, "There was a brief time when I was in my early teens when I considered dropping acting, and I wasn’t that into it. I was one of those kids who was willing to try other things, other careers, and go to college. I just happened to get cast on The O.C., but I was never set on it."