Lindsay Lohan is trying to "better herself" by going to India.

The "Mean Girls" actress wants to remove herself from her partying lifestyle in Los Angeles and is teaming up with the BBC to make a documentary about the trafficking of women and children in the country.

A source said: "Lindsay is trying to better herself and get away from her party girl image. She wants to be taken more seriously.

"She is excited about escaping the drama of Los Angeles and doing something real."

The 23-year-old star is due to fly out of Los Angeles Tuesday and will return on Monday where she plans to continue her good deeds by teaming up with local hospitals to give toys to sick children.

Lohan has previously claimed she can "help people" through her acting career. She said: "I love to act and write and be creative and I want to help people by playing characters that can send a positive message out to whomever may need it."

Lohan also wants to use her past experiences to help others, and hopes to start her own charity.

She added: "I've been through a lot in my life. I'd like to have my own charity, do work overseas, be in Oscar-nominated films, write movies, produce movies, shows and videos, design clothes, make music and write books."