In A Resurfaced Interview From 2005, Mischa Barton Says She Was Told At 19 That Sleeping With Leonardo DiCaprio Would Be Good For Her Career

We all know Leonardo DiCaprio‘s motto is “Born after ’98? We can’t date!” because only “ladies” 25 and under are allowed to take that ride. We were reminded of his personal slogan when wondering if his newest daycare diva was 19-year-old model Eden Polani. Thankfully, it wasn’t true, or so Leo’s people want us to think. However, Mischa Barton was probably triggered by Leo’s alleged pairing with Eden since, in the pre-iPhone era of 2005, one of Misha’s reps suggested she sleep with Leo when she was 19 because it would have done wonders for her career.

According to NME Leo’s reputation for being the Pied Piper of Hollywood has been evident since 2005. During that time, 19-year-old Mischa was terrorizing the set of The O.C. as one of the hottest young messes on the planet. Naturally, 30-year-old Leo’s Lollipop Laser should have guided him towards the O.C. set on a daily basis with candy and coloring books to woo Mischa for a three-to-six-month stint as his new “lady.” But unluckily for Mischa she had someone else to try and broker that unwanted deal.

As reported by Buzzfeed, [Mischa] was interviewed by the UK arm of Harper’s Bazaar, which was known at the time as Harpers & Queens. Barton made a candid revelation in the interview. She remarked that she’d had a conversation with her publicist, Craig Schneider, during which, she said, she was told to use DiCaprio for the betterment of her career.

Barton was 19 at the time and starring in the teen drama hit, The O.C., while DiCaprio was around 30 at the time. The actor recounted how she and her publicist were out and about when they saw DiCaprio doing a photo shoot in Malibu, California.

Barton is said to have quoted her publicist as telling her: “For the sake of your career, go and sleep with that man.” However, Barton is said to have dismissed the idea of being with a man of his age, saying: “Isn’t Leo, like, 30 or something?”

Buzzfeed also linked back to a tweet from PopCultureDiedin2009 featuring the article that confirms Mischa’s Skeevy Senses were tingling after the weird request from her deplorable publicist.

this aged well pic.twitter.com/DpaNKvJe4T

— popculturediedin2009 (@pcd2009) February 7, 2023

To think, that article from 2005 aged, unlike Leonardo DiCaprio’s carousel of youngin’ girlfriends.

Pic: INSTARImages