Rachel Bilson's car crash wake up

Oct 10, 2006, 14:18 GMT

09/20/2006 - Rachel Bilson - Teen Vogue Young Hollywood Party - Sunset Tower - West Hollywood © David Gabber / Photorazzi

Rachel Bilson decided to become an actress after almost being killed in a car crash.

The 'Last Kiss' star had a self-destructive, rebellious period as a teenager and it was only when she was involved in a head-on collision that she knew she had to change her wild ways

She confessed to Britain's You magazine: "I had a few years from the age of 14 till about 16 when I was hanging out with people I probably shouldn't have been hanging out with, pretending to drink beer and acting cool.

"They were older than me, my brother's friends, so I can blame him. Then one day, we all got into a car accident.

"It was a head-on collision and everyone ended up in hospital. One guy was paralysed and I was unconscious for a day or two.

"The accident changed me. It made me go in a different direction to the self-destructive route. It woke me up and stopped me going down that road."

Bilson is still suffering from the effects of the horror smash and admits she will never forget what happened.

She added: "I still have scars under my hairline and I get headaches from time to time and my memory is not so good."

(C) BANG Media International