Gone From The OC, Barton Sharpens Acting Chops

First, Mischa Barton was written out of The OC. (Her character, Marissa, now resides in Newport heaven hell.)

With free time suddenly on her hands, what's a rail thin, awful actress to do but attend acting classes in London?

The Gossip supposes it can give props to any thespian that takes a break from the LA and NY club scene in order to enroll at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

The lessons may even be paying off already. Barton has four feature films coming out, as she expands her resume beyond that of a spoiled California teen.

For the record, that's four more movies that Kevin Federline has in the works.