Actress Lindsay Lohan thanked a judge for lifting her formal probation after a long string of court appearances, but she was told to stop the nightclubbing and behave more maturely.

What you’ve done has really opened a lot of doors for me

The troubled American star told Judge Stephanie Sautner, whom she has seen repeatedly over the two years over a drunk-driving offence and a jewellery theft: “I just want to thank you for being fair.” She added: “What you’ve done has really opened a lot of doors for me.”

The 25-year-old, dressed in a light-blue trouser suit was making a brief appearance before the Los Angeles Superior Court judge.

The comments came after the judge said Ms Lohan “has done everything that this court has asked of her,” adding that she did not expect to see the actress again, despite leaving one informal probation sentence in place.

“Probation terminates today. Now,” she said, adding: “You don’t need to come to court anymore.” But the judge warned: “You need to live your life in a more mature way, stop the nightclubbing, and focus on the work. I know it’s hard when people are following you all over the place... but that’s the life you chose.”

Ms Lohan was sentenced to 35 days of house detention last May as part of a plea bargain over the alleged theft of a €1,800 necklace from a jewellery shop near her home in Venice Beach.