Melissa Joan Hart Turns 30

James Joyner @ Gone Hollywood | Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Melissa Joan Hart, who literally grew up on television, starring in “Clarissa Explains It All” (1991-1994) and “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” (1996-2003) turns 30 today. She reflects on that fact in an interview with Entertainment Weekly’s Alix Strauss.

It’s been a big year for Melissa Joan Hart: The actress we once knew as Sabrina the Teenage Witch is now married, has a 3-month-old son, Mason, and turns 30 today (April 18). She’s also focused her attention and talent toward directing. Entertainment Weekly caught up with the birthday girl at the Sonoma Film Festival, where she was showing her 15-minute short, Mute, an edgy and disturbing look at sibling rivalry gone too far. Seems like the good witch of the West Coast has a few dark tricks up her directing sleeve.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: It’s so weird to think of you not only as married, but as a mom. I mean, you’re Sabrina, the Teenage Witch — you can’t be someone’s mother. Was it hard for you to adjust?
MELISSA JOAN HART When I first got pregnant, I freaked out. I thought, ”The press will have a field day with this; an underage actress having a baby.” Then I had to remind myself: I’m turning 30. I guess I still see myself as this little 16-year-old. And it took some adjusting. I have six sisters, so I assumed I’d have a girl. Learning I was having a boy was really weird.

What’s the scariest thing about turning 30?
I was Young Hollywood, and I’m not anymore. The cast and crew were always older than me, and now I’m one of the older people on a set of 18- and 19-year-olds. So that’s really strange.

[...]

What made you start directing?
It started on the set of Clarissa Explains It All. I loved anything that had to do with behind-the-scenes [work]. Often the directors would let me look through their books and explain them to me. When I started doing Sabrina, it was really a timing issue. It was so heavy with special effects, it took us three days to do one show with two rehearsal days, so it was like a little movie. The show ran for seven years with a different director every week. They’d ask, ”How does this work?” and I found myself explaining it to them. Eventually, everyone said, ”Why don’t you direct? It would save time.” And that’s how it started. It was convenient, and I got the cast and crew home on time.

So directing for you was all about timing and getting people home early?
No, not at all. I love directing. It’s where my heart is, and it’s the way my mind works. Besides having a baby, this was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. And it’s been the most rewarding in terms of my career. Every prop, every shot, every pearl that rolled across the floor was exactly how I wanted it to be. I’ve never trusted myself with anything in this business until I found directing. I don’t think I’m great at acting. I think I’m great at directing.

Already great at directing at age 30, with very little experience directing? That’s a bit much, perhaps. Still, she’s a bright, talented woman.

And, while it’s surprising that she has already hit 30, she has been grown up for quite some time. Remember those Maxim and Bikini photos? Here’s a reminder:

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Tags | Uncategorized Bikini, Interview, Melissa Joan Hart, Sting, Television, Underage

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Comments

Like how come you dress like that posing nude and stuff?…eww. I’m a big fan but I dont like it when you do that! your Sabrina. P.S what other shows do you do besides Sbrina and Clarissa?

Posted by Chelsea | March 3, 2007 | 10:25 am | Permalink

Brand is how the word alien feels these days. My eyes have never read that aliens are humans that are now dead, and had antropological traces that the present generations can not, can not, recognize. Even the military tell you that they travel in fancy ships through the skyes. Nothing but heavy airplanes has been built by mankind until now. There will be aliens in space when man and woman get to Mars. In a century from now teenagers will be speaking the truth if they say that they saw a UFO. But now! I am a male person who actually met aliens, hey they were humans, but not like my cousin.

Posted by Archichtectdog | November 2, 2007 | 05:06 pm | Permalink

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