Barton 'planning return to work'

London-born Barton rose to fame in US drama The OC

Actress Mischa Barton is "making improvements" in hospital and hopes to return to work later this month, her publicist has said.

The 23-year-old was taken to hospital last Wednesday after Los Angeles police removed her from her home for an undisclosed medical problem.

Publicist Craig Schneider would not elaborate on her condition but said she was "still seeking treatment".

She will play a pill-popping model in TV series The Beautiful Life.

The new show is scheduled to begin production on 31 July.

Last week, Barton missed the New York premiere of her new film Homecoming because of her illness.

In Homecoming, she plays a woman obsessed with her former high school sweetheart.