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Actress Melissa Joan Hart was a teen icon in the '90s but nowadays, most teenagers have no idea who she is. Hart went from being the industry's sweetheart to moving out of the spotlight to pursue other passions which surely also affected her net worth.
Today, we're taking a closer look at just why Melissa Joan Hart's career in the film industry seemingly ended. Did the actress choose to prioritize other things over her career — or did Hollywood get enough of the teen star? Keep on scrolling to find out!
How Did Melissa Joan Hart Get Famous?
Melissa Joan Hart rose to fame in 1991 thanks to starring in the Nickelodeon sitcom Clarissa Explains It All. At the time, the actress was 15 years old. Hart portrayed Clarissa Darling until 1994 when the sitcom wrapped up.
After that, Melissa Joan Hart portrayed Sabrina Spellman in the ABC sitcom Sabrina the Teenage Witch which ran from 1996 until 2003.
In an interview with Forbes, Melissa Joan Heart opened up about how she decided to become an actress.
"I got into acting because I wanted to be on a show called Romper Room at the age of four," Hart said. "I realized that if I didn’t get on that show, they wouldn’t say my name in the Magic Mirror. I really wanted to be on TV just so they could say my name and that’s how it started."
For Entertainment Tonight, Melissa Joan Hart opened up about the two roles that ended up defining her career.
"Clarissa was this interesting show because it was so popular," she said, adding that Clarissa stood out because "at the same time she was really different, you know. She stood her ground, which was something you didn't see a lot of on television."
"I had this success that was still gaining heat after it wrapped. And my mother was handed a comic book on a playground in New York City and it was the Sabrina the Teenage Witch, which is an Archie comic," the actress revealed. "And they said we think this would be a great next role for Melissa. My mom took it, went to Archie Comics, bought the rights to it for a dollar."
Did Melissa Joan Hart Quit Acting?
While she was a huge part of '90s pop culture, in the 2000s, and 2010s, Melissa Joan Hart's career slowed down. Her most well-known recent work includes the sitcom Melissa & Joey which ran from 2010 until 2015, as well as the 2016 drama movie God's Not Dead 2 and the 2019 comedy-drama movie No Good Nick.
However, Melissa hasn't entirely left the industry. While she certainly doesn't act on a regular basis, Hart is often busy directing.
"I really love directing," the actress revealed to Entertainment Tonight. "I feel like I’m the most creative when I’m directing, I feel like I’m the most in control, I feel like I have the best energy, I'm the most useful."
Hart began directing in 2003 when she directed a couple of episodes of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and since then she has also directed episodes of shows like So Weird, Melissa & Joey, The Goldbergs, Young Sheldon, and iCarly.
For Glamour, Hart opened up about her career as a director. "I’m proud to say in the last year I directed more than I acted," she said. "Of course, naysayers say, 'You disappeared! You’re not working anymore!' I’m like, 'Well, actually, I’m doing exactly what I want to be doing, and what I always dreamt for myself at an older age in this industry."
Apart from directing, another reason why Melissa Joan Hart hasn't been acting regularly is her family. In 2003, Hart married musician Mark Wilkerson and together the couple has three sons — born in 2006, 2008, and 2012.
Today, Melissa Joan Hart lives in Nashville, and she makes sure that her family is her priority.
"We really like to be out in the outskirts. The kids like to be out in the woods and climbing trees and catching frogs. I grew up that way, so I want them to as well," Hart said to Glamour. "The industry has changed so much. I can be anywhere and work. I’m going to direct three episodes of Young Sheldon later this season, so I’ll fly to L.A. for those and then come back. I wanted to take the year off for family except for Lifetime Christmas movies and Young Sheldon. Those were my two goals, and I got them both
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