Emma Roberts Says She's 'Still Mad' Her Mom Wouldn’t Allow Her to Audition for Role as Marissa Cooper’s Sister onThe O.C.

Mar. 15, 2025

From left: Emma Roberts and Mischa Barton on The O.C.Photo:Monica Schipper/Getty; Alamy

Monica Schipper/Getty; Alamy

Emma Robertshasn’t gotten over her mom shutting down her opportunity to be part ofThe O.C.

While interviewingTell Me LiesstarGrace Van PattenforNYLON, the 33-year-old actress admitted that she had the opportunity to audition to be Marissa Cooper’s [Mischa Barton] little sister, Kaitlin, on the hit series, which ran for four seasons from 2003 to 2007.

“I used to rewatchThe O.C.before the next season dropped because I’m like, ‘I have to go back and understand every single thing,’ …I loveThe O.C.,” Roberts shared. “I wasn’t allowed to watch it when it aired. My mom wouldn’t let me watch it because she thought it was inappropriate.”

Tate Donovan, Rachel Bilson, Mischa Barton, Melinda Clarke, Benjamin McKenzie, Peter Gallagher, Kelly Rowan, Adam Brody, Chris Carmack on “The O.C.".Warner Bros Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock

Warner Bros Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock

She added: “I remember at one point, they wanted me to audition to play Marissa Cooper’s little sister, and my mom wouldn’t let me. I’m still mad at her.”

Woodley, now 32, explained that she looked too young for the part and therefore, was recast.

From left: Shailene Woodley and Willa Holland.Stefanie Keenan/Getty; Amy Sussman/Getty

Stefanie Keenan/Getty; Amy Sussman/Getty

“I was replaced when I was 13… because I hadn’t gone through puberty yet… I was a late bloomer, and it was fine,” she toldWiredin 2020.

As for Roberts, in addition to being an executive producer ofTell Me Lies, she is also working on a new showCalabasaswith herAmerican Horror Story: DelicatecostarKim Kardashian. She teased the show is a mix betweenThe O.C.and another hit teen series,Pretty Little Liars.

“Yes. Kim and I are executive producing a show for Netflix calledCalabasas,” Roberts said onSiriusXM’sThe Spotlight With Jessica Shaw. “We have the amazing Marlene King, who didPretty Little Liarsas our showrunner. I’m obsessed with her andPretty Little Liars. I remember seeing that show and being like, ‘I wish I was on that show.’ It was just so cool and so fun.”

From left: Troian Bellisario as Spencer Hastings, Lucy Hale as Aria Montgomery, Shay Mitchell as Emily Fields and Ashley Benson as Hanna Marin on “Pretty Little Liars”.Andrew Eccles/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Andrew Eccles/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

“I mean, there’s not really much I can share other than I just feel like I want, you know, the next,The O.C. and I think that if we do this right, it’ll be a littleThe O.C., a littlePretty Little Liars. Kim and I are just two Calabasas girls going back to our roots,” she added.

The O.C.ran for four seasons, following Ryan Atwood (Ben McKenzie), a troubled teen from Chino who moved to Newport Beach to live with his public defender’s family. Friendships and romances blossomed on the Fox series as its young cast was thrust into the spotlight.

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The O.C.andPretty Little Liarsare both available to stream on Max.

source: people.com