From The O.C. to the A-list: How Olivia Wilde, Amber Heard and Shailene Woodley’s blink and you may miss it roles within the teen drama have been the launchpad for film megastardom

Time is usually a merciless mistress, as anybody who watched The O.C will inform you. 

Extremely, this as soon as common American teen drama, set inside the privileged environs of rural Southern California, celebrates its twentieth anniversary on August 5. 

Launched in 2003, the present grew to become a runaway success throughout 92 episodes, 4 seasons and 4 consecutive years earlier than signing off on February 22, 2007. 

And it might change the lives of its beforehand unknown younger solid ceaselessly, with many happening to get pleasure from vastly profitable careers on account of its enduring reputation.   

Certainly, whereas the times when low-rise denims, cargo pants and tube tops have been acceptable vogue selections are a factor of the previous, lots of its former stars are nonetheless current, and really a lot appropriate. 

Learn on to search out out who waved goodbye to Orange County and good day to the brilliant lights of Hollywood… 

1. AMBER HEARD 

Today she’s higher identified for her poisonous marriage to Johnny Depp and its two ensuing courtroom instances, performed out following their acrimonious – and extremely inevitable – divorce. 

However eighteen years in the past Amber Heard was an aspiring younger actress with a fleeting function on The O.C, by which she performed a stroppy salesgirl in season three instalment ‘The Mallpisode.’ 

Heard would not precisely win pals and affect individuals after the present’s characters inadvertently discover themselves locked in an area shopping center. 

However she would go on to get pleasure from greater Hollywood roles, notably in DC epic Aquaman and its sequel, Magic Mike XXL and naturally The Rum Diary – alongside future husband Depp. 

2. CHRIS PRATT 

Who would’ve thought Summer time Roberts’ easy-going hippie good friend would grow to be considered one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars? Properly, consider it or not, it actually did occur. 

Again in 2007, relative unknown Chris Pratt performed the unforgettably hapless Winchester ‘Che’ Prepare dinner for 9 episodes through the present’s third and fourth seasons. 

One in all Pratt’s extra memorable scenes noticed him go bare whereas singing a random tune about polar bears – a far cry from his present listing of achievements. 

Today the actor, now married to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s daughter Katherine, is best identified for his blockbuster roles in The Jurassic Park and Marvel franchises.  

3. SHAILENE WOODLEY

Her heart-wrenching efficiency in The Fault In Our Stars was nonetheless 10-years away when Shailene Woodley starred in six episodes of the favored teen drama.

The actress briefly performed Marissa Cooper’s youthful sister Kaitlin through the present’s inaugural season, however can be shipped off to boarding faculty earlier than returning with Willa Holland within the function. 

Whereas Holland would characteristic recurrently as Kaitlin, Woodley quickly moved on to greater and higher issues – amongst them a starring function alongside George Clooney in 2011 movie The Descendants. 

The function would earn her an Academy Award nomination in 2012, whereas a stand-out efficiency in tragic coming-of-age romance The Fault In Our Stars earned her wider commerical success in 2014. 

Extra just lately she has received reward for her starring function as Jane Chapman in US TV drama Huge Little Lies.

4. LOGAN MARSHALL-GREEN

Maybe not essentially the most acquainted identify on this listing, however Logan Marshall-Inexperienced has featured in his personal share of Hollywood blockbusters – notably Ridley Scott’s science-fiction epic Prometheus. 

Again in 2005, lengthy earlier than Hollywood got here calling, he earned an early TV function on The O.C as Trey Atwood, the wildly unpredictable and admittedly good-for-nothing brother of Ryan. 

That includes for simply 9 episodes, Trey ended up in a coma after being shot by Marissa, earlier than reinventing himself as a, um, blackjack seller. 

We have all been there, have not we?

5. OLIVIA WILDE

Harry Kinds was simply 10-years previous when future ex-girlfriend Olivia Wilde performed Alex Kelly throughout 13 episodes of The O.C. 

Now a longtime star in her personal proper, Wilde was an bold younger actress when she accepted a job on the present in 2004. 

And what a job it might be; Wilde would play main woman Mischa Barton’s lesbian girlfriend over the present’s first season, however very like Barton’s bi-curiosity it might show to be short-lived. 

The star later loved a recurring function in profitable medical drama Home earlier than re-emerging as a gifted director, having helmed 2019 comedy Booksmart and 2022 launch Do not Fear Darling – by which she co-starred alongside Kinds. 

6. RACHEL BILSON 

One of many present’s main stars, Rachel Bilson performed Summer time Roberts throughout all 4 of the present’s vastly profitable seasons. 

The actress went on to star in Hart of Dixie from 2011 to 2015, and likewise had stints on How I Met Your Mom and Nashville.

Her movie credit embrace futuristic 2008 blockbuster Jumper – by which she met her now ex-partner, Hayden Christensen. 

The couple courting on and off for 10 years, throughout which period they welcomed their daughter Briar Rose in 2014. 

In 2021, she started internet hosting a well-liked podcast, aptly titled – Welcome to the OC, B**ches – with former co-star Melinda Clarke, who performed Julie Cooper.

7.  NIKKI REED

Lengthy earlier than Twilight, the evident sunshine of Orange County beckoned as Nikki Reed performed a peripheral function in The O.C. 

The actress featured as Ryan’s girlfriend Sadie Campbell throughout six episodes of the present throughout its penultimate third season in 2006. 

However she would earn higher fame because of her later function as Rosalie Hale within the iconic Twilight Saga, by which she memorably starred alongside Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart. 

8. MAX GREENFIELD 

Having beforehand received roles in Veronica Mars, Gilmore Ladies and Fashionable Males, Max Greenfield had already established himself on the small display screen earlier than successful a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it function on The O.C in 2007. 

The actor performed a youthful model of Sandy Cohen – a job usually reserved for normal cast-member Peter Gallagher – in a flashback to the character’s previous. 

Greenfield would finally win greater roles in New Woman and cult anthology collection American Horror Story. 

9. MORENA BACCARIN 

Today she’s a Primetime Emmy Award nominated actress with a string of main TV and movie credit below her belt. 

However in 2006 Morena Baccarin was nonetheless carving out what would quickly grow to be a profitable profession, with The O.C incomes her an early display screen credit score. 

Then aged 27, the Brazilian actress performed Maya Griffin throughout three episodes of the present. 

Whereas it might be a fleeting look, she would win accolades for her small display screen roles in Gotham and Homeland, the place she performed the beleaguered spouse of Damian Lewis’s radicalised US Marine Sergeant. 

10 MISCHA BARTON 

Arguably the present’s greatest star, Mischa Barton performed central character Marissa Cooper for 76 episodes between 2003 and 2006. 

Marsissa was finally killed off through the present’s third season, however Mischa – already a star having featured in hit movies Notting Hill and The Sixth Sense – would tackle a string of TV and movie roles following her departure.  

Extra just lately she takes a lead function within the Stephen Shimek directed thriller Invitation to a Homicide.