I guess it’s no myth that you’re really into fashion.
“I do love clothes–I get so obsessed with them. I don’t have a stylist, I pick all my own clothes, and I collect Chanel bags. I have so many friends back in New York who are into clothes. I’d love to work in Manhattan, but I’m also so glad I don’t in a way. You can’t put The O.C.in Manhattan!”

Why no stylist?
“It’s easy for me to pick out my own stuff. My mom’s got really good taste and so do my sisters. I’m interested in fashion, the way clothes look on a woman or make her feel. Fashion is an interesting extension of who someone is. My main thing is, I never wear an entire outfit that matches. I always think the best fashion is when you put your own spin on it. I wore a dress to the 2003 Teen Choice Awards that was made out of quilts.”

Part of your appeal seems to be your status as a fashion icon. Do you feel a lot of pressure from that?
“I like to try out different things and I think I have my own style when I’m mixing and matching clothes. I don’t try to look too sophisticated or too chic, I like something more natural although I’m always on the lookout for new things. I don’t want to feel that every time I’m out in public that I have to be wearing the latest or coolest designer dress. That just takes the fun out of enjoying clothes and trying to be yourself. Sometimes I like dressing up and looking sexy, but I’m not going to get trapped by being put in a position where I absolutely have to have the best outfit on. That’s ridiculous and young women should feel more free to try out different looks and not feel like they always have to follow one style or another.”

How does your sense of style compare to that of your character on The O.C., Marissa Cooper?
“Some of it I would definitely wear. Her Marc Jacobs and Missoni stuff. It differs from mine because mine’s a little bit more grungy with a more rock-and-roll, vintage vibe to it. Her wardrobe is more fashion-conscious than I am in real life. She’s very lucky and privileged and put together.”

What are your favourite jeans?
“I love D&G, Miss Sixty and Habitual. I only like slim bootcuts. And I love skinny-leg jeans, like my Miss Sixty pair. They have zippers.”

What are your favourite shoes?
“I like to wear a lot of flat shoes because I don’t need to be any taller than I am. So I wear Sigerson Morrison — and Tod’s makes really great ones. And Miu Miu makes really cute, nice flats. I went to Italy over Christmas and picked up all kinds of brands. I’m also a big fan of Stella McCartney’s and Jimmy Choo’s.”

Who are your favourite designers?
“Matthew Williamson made me my Golden Globes dress. I love him, I wear a lot of his clothes. And there’s Petro Zillia. It’s really bright and young, very colorful. I’ve worn Tom Ford dresses, I love Roberto Cavalli, Chanel jackets and coats, and I also wear a lot of thrift shop stuff that is kind of retro. There are also a lot of up and coming designers who I wear because I just like to experiment. I get to borrow designer clothes, but I never keep them long.”

What beauty products can you not live without?
“I love the Neutrogena Deep Clean Gentle Scrub. And the Neutrogena Moisturiser for Sensitive Skin, it’s the most amazing stuff. It’s non-greasy and goes on really dry, it’s almost powdery. And I always use sunblock. I’m very careful about putting my face in sunlight.”

What are your favourite beauty products?
“I’m more of a Chap Stick girl, so I use Neutrogena’s. And I think they make the best glosses. But I love Chanel lipsticks and glosses, too.”

Neutrogena always picks people with perfect skin to do its campaigns–as if your skin needed any help!
“I don’t have perfect skin–that’s for sure! I’m always freaking out before we shoot the commercials. My skin’s gotta be perfect and I get crazy about it. I’m totally the girl who sleeps in her makeup, so it’s funny that I’m in a skincare campaign!”