Melissa Joan Hart Says Growing Up on TV Taught Her Good 'Work Ethic' but 'Stunted My Growth' in Other Ways (Exclusive)
Melissa Joan Hart Says Growing Up on TV Taught Her Good 'Work Ethic' but 'Stunted My Growth' in Other Ways (Exclusive)
Tereza Shkurtaj, Nicole PajerSat, February 7, 2026 at 11:00 PM UTC
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Melissa Joan Hart.
Chad Salvador/Variety via Getty
On Feb. 1, 2026, Melissa Joan Hart hosted Steven Tyler’s 7th Annual Jam for Janie Grammy Awards Viewing Party
At the event, Hart tells PEOPLE that although growing up on television might have stunted her personal growth in some ways, her family tried their best to give her a “normal childhood”
Hart rose to fame at just 15 after landing the lead role in Nickelodeon's Clarissa Explains It All
Melissa Joan Hart says there are some pros and cons to growing up in the spotlight — but she is grateful for how everything turned out in the end.
On Feb. 1, 2026, while soaking in the music, philanthropy and star power at Steven Tyler’s 7th Annual Jam for Janie Grammy Awards Viewing Party, Hart chatted with PEOPLE about how growing up on television shaped her life.
“I think it gave me a good work ethic,” she tells PEOPLE exclusively. “I think it helped me kind of grow up quickly, learn some things about myself in the world, take care of myself and but also, in that way, it kind of stunted my growth in other ways, socially.”
Melissa Joan Hart in 'Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.'
George Lange/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Hart, who skyrocketed to fame at 15 after landing the lead in Clarissa Explains It All, says that despite spending much of her childhood on sets, her family worked hard to make sure she didn’t "miss out on" being a kid.
The Sabrina, the Teenage Witch actress credits her parents — producer Paula Hart and actor William Hart — for keeping her grounded.
“I pretty much had a normal childhood, even though I was acting since I was 4. So I don't regret anything,” she reveals. “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 up with this weird, crazy world.”
While her education took place largely through on-set tutoring, Melissa emphasizes that it was never isolating. Her mom made it a priority that she still experience milestones and everyday activities alongside her career.
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Although her graduation took place on the set of Nickelodeon, she says, “I went to my boyfriend's prom. It wasn’t my prom, but I did get to go to a prom to witness that. So I had some moments.”
Looking back, Melissa says she doesn’t regret her early start in the industry, noting that her upbringing blended typical childhood moments with the realities of a fast-paced entertainment world.
Melissa Joan Hart.
Chad Salvador/Variety via Getty
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Today, she admits that none of her three sons – Mason, Braydon and Tucker, whom she shares with husband Mark Wilkerson – are pursuing careers in entertainment.
“If they ever showed any entrance interest, it was for the wrong reasons. It was for money and fame. It wasn’t because they love the craft,” she tells PEOPLE, adding that she never pushed them toward acting.
Instead, Hart proudly notes that her eldest is a pilot, while her middle son has one year left of college and is considering joining the trades.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
