Benjamin McKenzie plays Ryan Atwood on 'The O.C.,' a series where almost everyone is rich and beautiful. Ryan, the brooding hunk from the wrong side of the tracks, isn't one of the sunny faces in Orange County's land of eternal sunshine. He's an angry loner, a loyal friend ready to step in and help his pals … but reluctant to reveal his own vulnerability. Born September 12, 1978 in Austin, Texas, Benjamin is almost a perfect fit for the part. The son of a lawyer and writer, he comes from a highly educated family and graduated from the University of Virginia after majoring in Foreign Affairs and Economics. His character Ryan is also bright, but he earned his smarts in the mean streets of L.A., not in the ivy-covered walls of a university campus. Benjamin, though, is a loner too. He's a careful Virgo, a serious-minded young man who was never part of the "in" crowd in high school.

Ryan views 'The O.C.'s gilded zone of magnificent homes, gorgeous people and golden beaches with cynicism, and this is no stretch for Benjamin as an actor. He was born with Mercury -- the planet of intellect -- in skeptical Virgo, alongside doubting Saturn. There is nothing frivolous here -- he has an incredibly high level of concentration that doesn't leave space for random thoughts. Benjamin's mental self-control is matched emotionally thanks to his Moon in mature and responsible Capricorn. This Saturn-ruled sign adds restraint to feelings, often denying them until they build up into an uncontrollable emotional explosion. The reserved qualities of the Moon in Capricorn lend themselves well to Ryan's moody character. It's a feeling of isolation, a sense of being an outsider who isn't dependent on anyone that makes him stand out on the show. Benjamin naturally identifies with those feelings: he's a self-reliant individual with an inner toughness who pushes away sentiment to deal with life's harsh realities.

The earthy Virgo Sun and Capricorn Moon in Benjamin's chart might give him a very solid base, but it's doubtful that he would have become a successful actor if that was the end of the story. His Venus -- the planet of attraction -- is in sexy Scorpio, which fits right in with his "bad boy" role, making him seem like forbidden (but highly desirable) fruit to his admiring fans. He shows that he has style and grace with active Mars in well-balanced Libra. This warrior planet in the sign of the diplomat suggests that Benjamin's moves are carefully measured in relation to those around him. He may be a loner, but he knows how to play well with others, making him an invaluable member of 'The O.C.' cast.