ACTRESS'S DEATH RULED SUICIDE.

Byline: Mary Beth Alexander Daily News Staff Writer

Model-actress Margaux Hemingway committed suicide by overdosing on phenobarbitol, the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office said Tuesday.

Tests revealed high levels of the sedative in Hemingway's system, and ruled out an overdose of Klonopin, a drug the 41-year-old Santa Monica resident took to control her epilepsy, said coroner's spokesman Scott Carrier.

``The death is ruled a suicide,'' he said.

Hemingway's body was found July 1 inside her studio apartment by friends concerned that they hadn't heard from her in several days.

The discovery was made one day short of the 35th anniversary of the suicide of Hemingway's famous grandfather, novelist Ernest Hemingway.

Carrier said that like Klonopin, phenobarbitol can be prescribed to control seizures.

Hemingway's death came just as she seemed to be rebuilding her life and career after battling bulimia and alcoholism.

Launched into stardom in the early 1970s as the spokeswoman for Faberge's ``Babe'' fragrance, Hemingway made her Hollywood debut in ``Lipstick'' in 1976. Her career slipped with roles in obscure movies like ``Killer Fish'' in 1979 and ``Inner Sanctum'' in 1991.

Before her death, Hemingway shot a new nature TV series, ``Wild Guide,'' for the Westinghouse Broadcasting Group. Hemingway also was in the process of getting a new perfume and clothing line off the ground.