(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Mischa Barton has opened up about her tumultuous year being diagnosed with depression and suffering a pretty reasonable breakdown.

The 24-year-old actress is best known for her role playing Marissa Cooper in the defunct American television series The O.C., although she hit the headlines last year when she checked into a psychiatric hospital.

Mischa feels in a far better place mentally now, and is happily dating British deejay Ali Love and looking forward to new career opportunities, saying she has put the pain of 2009 behind her.

That was a tumultuous year. It was one thing after another and it lead to a pretty reasonable breakdown, she confided to the British edition of OK! magazine.

I suffer from depression and thats the truth. Ive never told anybody that.

Mischa does accept she can be kooky sometimes, but explains that is no reflection of her mental health and is just her unique personality.

The beautiful star now feels in control of her emotions, and says she uses the arts to express her feelings. She also insists shes usually very happy and has a fantastic sense of humour.

I am by no means mentally unstable. Well I am pretty crazy and weird sometimes, but not mentally unstable, she explained.

I balance [depression] with positive things in my life and thats why I have my outlets of music and literature...As much as I get down, Im an upbeat person. People always think of me as kind of a light in a room I love to make people laugh. (C) Cover Media