People News

Director Morgan J. Freeman shocked by Mischa Barton's mental decline

By April MacIntyre Jul 17, 2009, 20:50 GMT

Mischa Barton has been hospitalized under involuntary psychiatric hold, Access Hollywood reported late 16 July 2009. The 23-year-old actress is at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, the report said. Police confirmed to People magazine that they removed her from her house but gave no further details. EPA/CHRISTOPHE KARABA

Actress Mischa Barton plays a former homecoming queen who goes berserk on her ex-boyfriend’s new girlfriend in her new movie, Homecoming, but she missed the New York premiere last night because she was taken to the psych ward at Cedars-Sinai.

The film’s director, Morgan J. Freeman, told Extra that it was not like life imitating art.

"No, I don’t think so. She was very professional on set in playing a character who got to lose her mind in the movie, but I don’t see that in having any relationship to her real life."

How Freeman heard about the news:

"I woke up yesterday to a chain of emails that said that Mischa would not be able to attend our premiere because of health reasons and that she'd been taken to the hospital. My first thought went from shock to hoping she was okay. There were no details about what had happened....Health first, movie second. And then in talking to the producers the decision was made to go forward with the premiere and show the movie and celebrate her performance and the film last night."

Freeman talks about Barton on set:

"She was always cheery....She was excited about some other job things happening...She was always funny. She brought a funny sense of humor to everything. It was nice to work with her."

When asked if Freeman had any problems working with Barton, he responded:

"None at all. She was 100% professional. Prompt. Showed up. Knew her lines. She was there, rolled up her sleeves. This news comes to a complete shock."

“Extra’s” interview with Morgan J. Freeman airs tonight .