Melissa Joan Hart grew up in front of the cameras, becoming a superstar at the age of 15 as the protagonist of “Clarissa Explains It All.” A few years later, Hart made waves as the star of the fantasy comedy “Sabrina the Teenage Witch.”
During a new interview, Hart opened up about his experience as a child star, saying that being the face of TV shows “gave me a good work ethic.” In fact, Hart said growing up with added responsibilities “helped me grow up quickly, learn some things about myself in the world and take care of myself.”
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Melissa Joan Hart also experienced some struggles as a child star, revealing that being famous from a young age “kind of stunted my growth in other ways, socially.” Despite this, the “Melissa & Joey” star said she always had a “normal” childhood and wouldn’t change a thing.
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Melissa Joan Hart gets real about growing up as a child star
“I had a pretty normal childhood, although I had been acting since I was 4,” Hart told PEOPLE. “So I don’t regret anything.”
Hart said his family, his parents Paula and William Hart, did what they could to keep his life from being interrupted too much.
“I think my family did a really good job…I was in Girl Scouts, and we would go on family ski trips and things like that. So there was a lot of normal mixed into this weird, crazy world,” she said.
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Melissa Joan Hart experienced many of the same things as her peers
Expanding, Hart reflected on his experiences in the classroom, noting that most of his education took place on set with tutors.
Even then, Hart said her mother did what she could to make sure she had the same experiences as everyone around her.
One specific experience Hart remembered was going to her boyfriend’s prom. “It wasn’t my prom,” she said. “But I got to go to a prom to witness it. So I had a few moments.”
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Melissa Joan Hart says her kids aren’t looking for careers in entertainment
Elsewhere in the interview, Hart wondered if she wanted her three sons, Mason, Braydon and Tucker, to pursue careers in the entertainment industry.
For now, Hart said the three of them are staying away from the bright lights of Hollywood. But that doesn’t mean they weren’t always selfless, even if it was for the “wrong reasons.”
“It was for the money and the fame. It wasn’t because they love this job,” Hart said before praising his children, one of whom is a pilot, one is finishing college and the third is considering going into the trades.
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Hart Opens Up About Losing Nearly 20 Pounds Without Hollywood’s Quick Fix
According to a previous report from The Blast, Hart recently opened up about her dramatic weight loss, explaining that she lost nearly 20 pounds after realizing she “wanted to feel better” in her body.
The hard work hasn’t been in vain either, as Hart said focusing on her well-being has made her “feel stronger and better than I have in a very long time.”
Another reason why her weight loss was such a big accomplishment was because she previously thought she couldn’t lose weight due to being “in quarantine and perimenopause.” Despite the changes in her body, Hart said she found success after discovering “fasting, cutting down on sugars and cutting down on alcohol.”
This isn’t the first time Hart has talked about weight. In an interview in the early 2000s, the actress expressed her fear of losing her job if her body changed.
“I was extremely nervous about the weight because I had to get to the middle of pilot season and here I am trying to cast a new show,” she said. “I’ve heard before about people being fired from projects because they got pregnant, and I was really worried,” she said.
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Fans want more from Hart
Hart recently shared some snaps of herself at Jamie’s Fund event in early February 2026 on Instagram.
Hart is seen wearing a stunning black and silver dress with a bun in the photo carousel, garnering praise from many.
“Va va voom,” someone wrote, while another shared: “You look amazing, Melissa!! But you always are.”
“You look stunning and doing great,” wrote a third, while a fourth user shared: “Beautiful, darling.”
