This page is for Melissa's appearance in Tribute magazine, Fall 99.

Melissa appears on the cover of this magazine, and also in a reasonable article within.

From here

She's best known as Sabrina, television's most popular teenage witch. Now, Melissa Joan Hart is conjuring some big-screen magic in a new feature film, Drive Me Crazy. Her strong lead performance is sure to confirm Melissa as one of the most talented young actors around. Let's take a closer look at the spellbinding young star and her new movie. In Drive Me Crazy, a romantic comedy, Melissa plays Nicole, a pretty and popular high school student whose love life is becoming complicated. She has eyes on the school's star basketball player, but was dissed by him. To spark his jealousy, Nicole decides to date her neighbour, Chase (played by Adrian Grenier).

He's a dark and moody type, seemingly nothing like the vivacious Nicole. The film's director, John Schultz, describes their differences. "Nicole embraces the system, while Chase completely rejects it. He's sarcastic and doesn't take anything seriously. He calls himself 'disaffected youth.' " Of course, once the pair start hanging out together, they realize they do have things in common, and sparks start to fly.

Underneath the laughs, there's a positive social message in their relationship, as Melissa analyzes. "With Chase showing the way, Nicole gets a taste of the other side. Since she's a bright and open person, she comes to understand that everyone can't be defined as either 'cool' or 'geek.' She learns to think about what's inside a person as well as what's on the outside."

Such elements helped attract Hart to the role. "Drive Me Crazy has many levels, and so does my character. It's fun and romantic, but with some interesting ideas. A lot of teen films and TV shows distinguish between the 'smart girl' and 'pretty girl' roles. Nicole encompasses both; she's popular but also smart enough to know why she's popular."

The adjectives smart, pretty and popular apply equally to Melissa. Her favourite subjects include maths and algebra, and she's currently attending New York University.

Melissa is obviously experienced at balancing school and career. You see, she was acting even before she went to school. She appeared in her first national TV commercial at age four, and within a year had done 25 commercials. She hasn't stopped working since, in TV, film and theatre.

By age 10, she was appearing regularly on Saturday Night Live, and guest-starring in such TV series as The Equalizer, Kane and Abel and numerous made-for-TV movies. By the late '80s, Melissa was acting on the New York City stage. On Broadway, she starred alongside Martin Sheen in The Crucible, then with William Hurt in Beside Herself. Melissa was also made the youngest member of the highly respected Circle Repertory Lab Company.

A major career break came when Melissa landed the lead in the Nickelodeon TV comedy series, Clarissa Explains It All. The show became an international hit, and Melissa's work earned her a nomination for a Cable ACE Award for Best Comedy Actress. Clarissa's popularity has spawned a book, home videos, a board game and several albums.

From Clarissa to Sabrina. That was Hart's next move, as she scored the title role in Sabrina, the Teenage Witch in 1996. Based on an Archie Comics heroine, the comedy-adventure explores the dilemma of a 16 year old discovering she's a witch. The hit series is still going strong, now in its fourth season. The title's a little misleading now that Melissa is 23!

Sabrina is coproduced by Hartbreak Films, a company run by Melissa and her mother, Paula Hart.
Furthering the family connection is the animated spinoff version of the show. In this, Melissa takes the voices of the two aunts, while younger sister Emily is the new voice of Sabrina.

Born in Long Island, New York (April 18, 1976), Melissa spends time with her family in New Jersey between working in L.A. and studying in New York.

She doesn't make the gossip columns much, although it's been reported she's living with her boyfriend James Fields, whom she met while filming a guest spot on Touched by an Angel.
Hart is now close friends with pop superstar Britney Spears.

Drive Me Crazy takes its title from Britney's hit single, and it's featured prominently in the film. Melissa appears in the video for the song and Britney appears in Sabrina's season opener.
Melissa Joan Hart is, of course, very good at just about everything she attempts. And without resorting to witchcraft!