NOT SO PRETTY: “She is sick.” That’s what Karey Burke, executive producer of Mischa Barton’s upcoming “The Beautiful Life,” CW series told WWD on the set of a shoot for the paper on Thursday. Barton had been scheduled for a photo shoot and interview, together with co-stars Sara Paxton and Ashley Madekwe, to promote the show. “Mischa wants very much to be a part of the piece and be interviewed later, but she has to get well so that she can be healthy in order to start actual production next week,” Burke said. Production for the show was scheduled to begin next Wednesday, although a CBS spokesperson later e-mailed she does not know when Barton will be in New York.

A rep for Barton had called WWD on Wednesday to say she would not be able to make the trip. Almost immediately thereafter, rumors started swirling on the Internet. Supposedly, on Wednesday Barton placed a call to the Los Angeles Police Department, and was subsequently admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. In “The Beautiful Life,” she is set to play a Kate Moss-esque model who resurfaces after a mysterious absence.

Paxton and Madekwe did arrive as scheduled for the WWD shoot. Though neither had spoken to Barton, at least Paxton was following the rumors. “I read on People.com that she’s under 5150 (involuntary psychiatric hold) à la Britney,” said Paxton. “I don’t know what’s going on. I hope she’s OK.”