‘The Invite’ Star Olivia Wilde Names Her Best Kisser From The O.C. After Years of Mystery

Olivia Wilde is looking back at her time on The O.C. and revealing which of her two famous co-stars she thought was the better kisser.

The actress joined the popular teen drama during its second season, playing Alex Kelly, a bisexual bar manager who became involved in two memorable storylines. During her time on the show, Alex had romantic relationships with both Marissa Cooper, played by Mischa Barton, and Seth Cohen, played by Adam Brody.

Years after the series ended, Wilde opened up about those famous moments during an appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast. When asked about her experience kissing both actors, Wilde chose between Barton and Brody and shared her thoughts on her former co-stars. According to Wilde, Mischa Barton stood out.

“Mischa was a great kisser,” Wilde said during the podcast. She also complimented Barton’s appearance, adding, “I remember she had really pretty lips. She had the most beautiful… She has the most extraordinary face.”

The kiss between Alex and Marissa became one of the most talked-about moments from The O.C. at the time. Wilde explained that the scene received a lot of attention because it happened during the show’s important “Sweeps” period, when television networks focused on attracting bigger audiences.

“I remember when Mischa and I did the kiss, it was like Sweeps week, which is when that was a big deal and the ratings would spike, and for that show it was like an event,” Wilde recalled.

However, she pointed out that the actual scene was much less dramatic than people expected.

“It was an event! And it was, like, the most tame kiss you’ve ever [seen]! It’s a peck! It’s like a greeting!” she explained.

Looking back, Wilde believes the reaction was not just about the kiss itself. She said the storyline was important because it showed a popular and traditionally admired female character exploring her sexuality, something that was still not common in mainstream television at the time.

“The idea of queerness at the time was still relegated to, like, the quirky, weird kids,” Wilde said. She added that seeing a character like Marissa experience that kind of relationship was something viewers were not used to seeing.

“It was not mainstream girls. It was not that girl. It was never the popular, pretty… and that I think the idea that this girl might be figuring out her sexuality, that was what people were really like, ‘Oh, my God!’” she continued.

Wilde also explained that the storyline had a lasting impact on many fans. She said she still hears from people who discovered something about themselves or started important conversations because of Alex and Marissa’s relationship.

“There were a lot of young people who saw that and started to ask themselves questions and have conversations with their parents,” Wilde said. “And that’s what I hear still to this day, which is amazing.”

Although The O.C. ended in 2007, the show continues to have a strong fan following. Wilde’s comments show that the series’ storylines, especially those involving identity and relationships, still mean a lot to viewers years later.

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