Mischa Barton Makes First Public Appearance After Hospital Stay - Pictures

Mischa Barton is all smiles as she faces photographers for the first time since being committed to a psychiatric ward at a Los Angeles hospital.

Looking healthier than she has in a very long time, the actress was snapped arriving at LAX airport, and then again on touching down at JFK in New York on Tuesday, pooch in tow.

Mischa at JFK on Tuesday

Gone was the pale and bloated Mischa that we've been used to seeing over the past few months, and in its place was a person more closely resembling the fresh-faced beauty from the OC.

She was later spotted smoking outside a building in SoHo so she hasn't given up all of her bad habits.

Mischa was taken from her home by police on July 16 and reportedly placed on involuntary psychiatric hold at Cedars Sinai Medical Centre.

It's been suggested the British-born star suffered meltdown following an extended period of 'hard-partying', but the official explanation is still that she sought treatment for a vague "medical issue".

Mischa partying in London before her hospital stay

On Monday, a spokeperson for Mischa confirmed she was out of hospital and "doing well."

Her rep Craig Schneider added that she is hoping to start work on new TV drama The Beautiful Life as planned later this month.

He said: "That's the intention, (but) it hasn't been in production yet."

Whatever the reason for her hospital stay, it appears to have done her the world of good, judging by these photos.

In The Beautiful Life Mischa is set to play Sonja Stone, a catwalk beauty addicted to pills.