As the beloved Australian soap opera “Neighbours” returns to our screens, it brings back familiar faces like Mackenzie Hargreaves (Georgie Stone), Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis), and Dr Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher) after a year-long hiatus. However, the new era also introduces fresh faces, including American screen star Mischa Barton, renowned for her lead role as the troubled socialite Marissa Cooper in three seasons of the teen drama “The O.C.”
In her new stint on “Neighbours,” Mischa Barton portrays the character of Reece Sinclair, an incognito businesswoman who clashes with the devilish business tycoon Robinson and embarks on a passionate affair with Lassiters Hotel employee Byron Stone (Xavier Molyneux).
Barton expresses her excitement about joining the iconic show, stating, “It’s an iconic show, and so many people are hardcore fans. I felt this was a great role and a great opportunity.” She adds that Reece Sinclair was written with her in mind, and the production team was open to tailoring the character to suit her American background.
Barton holds a special place in the hearts of many in the LGBTQ+ community due to her groundbreaking role as Marissa Cooper in “The O.C.” During the show’s second season, Marissa shared a kiss and had a brief relationship with bisexual character Alex (Olivia Wilde).
Regarding her status as a gay icon, Barton says, “That’s awesome, that makes me really happy. I don’t know what to say except: as you get older, the more you realize that people hold a character like that so close to their hearts and genuinely still idolize it. It’s flattering and very nice to see.”
For LGBTQ+ fans tuning into “Neighbours,” Barton has a message: “This show does have a little bit of everything and some fun, crazy storylines. That’s lovely to hear, and I’m really excited.”
Co-star Stefan Dennis hints at the dynamic between Barton’s character and his own, saying, “It’s tense and anger-filled. I can’t give away too much more, but we’re at loggerheads quite a lot of the time.”
“Neighbours” airs Monday to Thursday on Channel 10 in Australia and on Amazon Freevee in the UK and US.
