Steven Spielberg Gave "The OC's" Willa Holland Her Big Break  3/29/06

The OC star Willa Holland decided to get into modeling and acting after family friend Steven Spielberg insisted she needed to be in front of a camera.

The 14-year-old actress, who plays Mischa Barton's character Marissa's younger sister Kaitlin on the show, admits that having famous connections in the industry helped her break into the business.

She explains, "I was at (Steven Spielberg's) house, playing with his kids, and when my mom came to pick me up, Steven answered the door and said, 'Oh my God, that child!'

"My mom automatically thought - since I am the clumsiest person on the planet - that I broke something.

"She said, 'Whatever it was, I'll pay for it.' And he was like, 'You've got to put her in front of a camera!'"

Holland, who was seven at the time, began modeling and acting, eventually landing her role on The OC when she was fourteen.

Spielberg isn't Holland's only famous connection - her uncle is famed Scarface director Brian De Palma.

The actress is thrilled to be on the popular teen drama, insisting, "I'm down with working on the show forever."