Actress Barton kept in hospital

Mischa Barton has starred in a string of films including The Sixth Sense

Actress Mischa Barton, best known for starring in the hit drama The OC, has been admitted to hospital in the US.

Los Angeles police said they removed the 23-year-old from her home on Wednesday afternoon for an undisclosed medical problem.

In a statement her publicist Craig Schneider said Barton had been "safely transferred" to hospital where she will remain under doctor's orders.

Barton's new film Homecoming opened in the US on Friday.

She rose to fame as Marissa Cooper in The OC, which was based around a group of wealthy teenagers living in California.

The London-born actress has also appeared in several movies, including The Sixth Sense and St Trinian's.

In December 2007 she was arrested and later pleaded no contest to a drunken driving charge.