Exclusive Interview with Melissa Joan Hart
Melissa Joan Hart stole the hearts of a generation of kids, from playing the cool and rebellious Clarissa in the early 90’s kid show ‘Clarissa Explains it All’ and then onto her role as everyone’s favourite teenage witch ‘Sabrina the Teenage Witch’.
Growing up we all watched Melissa on early morning kids shows as the pint sized blonde pre-teen struggling with her dorky younger brother Ferguson and slightly odd parents. She faced up to the challenges of adolescent life with gusto and imagination and with the help of her window climbing best friend Sam, Clarissa was a girl that we all wished lived next door.
When we were preteens ourselves we watched Melissa transform into the role of everyone’s favourite young witch, Sabrina. Now a High School student Sabrina had to tackle all the same problems we faced in real life too – awkward crushes, annoying parental units and too much homework but to cap it all off Sabrina had to handle the responsibility of being a powerful witch. We watched as she fell hopelessly in love with Harvey (who didn’t!), went on adventures with Salem and tackled Mr. Craft and Jenny head on!
Since her work on some of the most popular kids shows ever made, Melissa has gone on to work both in front of and behind the camera as a producer and director. Now a mom of two, Melissa juggles her career as an actress, a producer, a writer and a parent and with the success of her film ‘Nine Dead’ this year and a new sitcom about to take off in the US, she finds some time in her hectic schedule to drop by the @rcade for a chat!
Millions of kids have grown up watching your television shows, what was it like playing two of the world’s favourite TV personalities?
I started acting when I was 4 in commercials and my career grew from there. I had done a tonne of theatre, film and TV by the time I was 13 and started Clarissa.
I had a blast playing both characters and it’s so nice to know that people all over the world enjoyed them too.
Sabrina the Teenage Witch was one of the biggest shows of the late 90’s, it won and was nominated for many awards – do you’ve any particular favourite memories from working on the show?
There are so many memories and we all knew it was a golden time in our lives. I’m still close with the whole crew and we try to work together at every opportunity. We had so many small but personal jokes that would take a lot of explanation. But my favorite episode was probably the one where I was addicted to pancakes.
I still see some of the cast here and there but I see the crew more often.
These days your work is taking you behind the camera as well as in front of it – you’re also a mom to two kids – how do you find the time to do it all?
It’s a tough balance and we have to take it day by day. I’ve had to cut back on work stuff and only do what I feel will help my career move forward so that I can continue to work but spend good time with my kids and husband.
Acting, writing, producing, directing, singing, you’ve worked in nearly all aspects of the media business – is there anything you still what to do and what are your plans for the future?
I want to keep doing it all.
Can you tell us a little about your role in the movie Nine Dead?
It was fabulous to play someone with such low morals and values. I was sleep deprived since I had just had my second son but that made me very raw to emotion so it felt great.
You’ve been able to maintain a great career from child actor to fully fledged star – is there any secret to staying as successful and popular as you are?
I think that the fun I have on screen comes across on camera and people enjoy watching me be silly. And silly is always in style.
You have a new show about to kick off with ABC ‘Melissa and Joey’, what can we expect from the show?
The audience will see me being my usual hammy self but this time in a much more grown up and slightly selfish way. It’s a fun, edgy show about an unconventional family.
Finally, if you were trapped in an Arcade for eternity, what one game would you play to pass the time?
I’m not a gamer at all but have recently discovered Flight Simulators.
“Melissa and Joey” will air on the ABC Network on August 17th, with ten episodes running for the first series, fingers crossed this makes its way to Ireland and Europe!
Editor-in-Chief, part-time super villain and hoarder of cats. If you can’t find me writing, I’m probably in the kitchen!
