Photo, courtesy of ABC.
by Nicki Gostin
Melissa Joan Hart was the Hannah Montana of the '90s. She debuted on the tween-fabulous Nickelodeon show Clarissa Explains it All, and she later became Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. Now Hart, 33, is about to slip on her dance shoes as one of the 16 contestants on the ninth season of Dancing With the Stars (the two-hour premiere begins Monday at 8 p.m. on ABC). She spoke to Pop Vox the day before her ballroom bow about all her jitters and her secret Twitter campaign strategy.
How many hours are you rehearsing now?
The most we rehearsed was six hours a day. Now we’re doing about an hour a day, because we had so much time to do the first dance, four or five weeks. We’ve got the footwork down and we’ve started to polish it up. With the polishing we just really want to do it a few times, rest, sleep on it, come back, and do it again. We’re looking at things like my posture and hands and fixing it.
Are you sore?
I’m not that sore. I’m just stiff because my weak point is the posture. I’ve always worked out really hard. My first dance is the Viennese waltz. My back and shoulders are a little achy from stress. I’ve to learn to relax my shoulders and back. My feet have really gotten used to the heels so now when I wear flip-flops my feet ache, they cramp up from being flat.
Are you worried about being voted off first?
Yes and no. I’m in it for the fun. I’m trying not to put too much pressure on myself. None of us are comfortable doing this. It’s not my normal career. I hope nobody is going to judge us on our careers based on what we do here. I just want to do the best I can do. I don’t want to clam up. I get really nervous, I get shaky. In the last few days I’ve learned that when people are watching me dance, I get nervous and I shake. It’s kind of hard to dance when you’re shaking!
You were signed for a previous season, but Heather Mills took your spot. Were you upset?
I’ve been asked every season. There was one when it got close to actually happening, and I’m not sure Heather Mills took my spot, but that’s what I gather from the situation. Yeah, there was a little sting for a second.
What made you say yes this season?
Well, I was pregnant for four of the seasons and one season I was under contract with another network and they wouldn’t release me from it. So it just didn’t work out timing wise. This is the first time it’s really worked out. Both of my kids are old enough where I can focus on something. My youngest is 1½, which is still a baby, but it’s a total of 10 weeks if I make it all the way, and they are going to come out here and visit me. I figured now is a good time to take a few weeks and do what I want to do.
Have you always watched the show?
No, I’ve actually never really watched it. So not only am I learning how to dance but I’m learning the whole process of the show and the format.
Will you vote for yourself?
Uh … yeah. I don’t know if I can actually, because the voting ends a half hour after we’ve done the show. Unless I run to my phone and do it really quickly. There are so many obligations after the show. If everybody else does it, I will.
Did you tell your friends and family to vote?
Oh, gosh yes. I sent out a huge e-mail last night. I went on Twitter and Facebook. Being a politician.
You used to be good friends with Britney Spears. Are you still in touch?
No, I haven’t spoken to her in years.
You were a child star. How did you avoid the pitfalls?
I think it’s different for everybody. Some people handle pressure better than others. I was raised to think of it as a career. I enjoyed it, but I never took it too seriously. I wasn’t pushed and pulled in so many directions. My mother really protected me and made sure I had a normal childhood, as well. I had dance classes and went to Girl Scouts. These days when you put out these teenage stars you make them franchises, everybody is developing these franchises around these little kids and that’s a lot of pressure. You can easily collapse under that pressure. I think you’ve got to have a good head on your shoulders, be surrounded by good people, and people protecting you.
Still you must have gone to clubs?
I think it’s because I’m what they call in A.A. a normie. People who don’t have addiction problems. But you know a lot of the people in Hollywood; you’ve got to remember Hollywood is an odd community. A lot of people who have brilliant minds are not very stable and they lean on substances and whatnot. They have self-esteem issues. Low self-esteem is a major side effect of being talented.
You did a reality wedding show. Were you worried it would affect your relationship?
Oh, no. My mother was the editor and producer, so I knew I was in good hands. That it wasn’t going to come off as trashy. There wasn’t going to be a whole lot of drama involved. It was going to be a nice, sweet story about our wedding. Also it was back in the days before reality TV was really big. Newlyweds hadn’t happened yet. It was just a way to fly my friends and family to Italy for a wedding! And to be able to share my moment with the world. If I had a beautiful, big wedding I wanted everyone to see it.
You just moved back East?
It’s amazing. It’s gorgeous, it just smells nice. The kids love it. I love the rainstorms we had, and I can’t wait for the snow.
Are you worried about your career not being in L.A?
No, no because you know what? Being in L.A. isn’t everything. It’s more about my quality of life with my children and my family and when I need to, I’ll fly to L.A. and work. I feel like being here in Hollywood, there’s so many piddly things that take over your life. I needed to get away from all that and figure out my priorities.
There were rumors that Paula Abdul would join Dancing With the Stars. Have you heard anything about that?
No, not at all.
Do you think she should be a contestant?
Uh, yeah maybe next season. I don’t know if should could. Well, I don’t think she has any ballroom experience but she has a lot of dance experience. They’re looking for people who don’t have a lot of dance experience.
Did you have any idea how hard ballroom dancing could be?
Right now, I’ve only learned two of them. But you know it’s fun, it’s dance. You’ve got to enjoy it otherwise there’s no point in being here. I wouldn’t leave my kids if it wasn’t a blast. I’m getting to dance everyday for hours and I’m getting paid for it. How amazing is that?
Have you lost any weight?
No, because I keep on eating, going, "Oh I’m dancing, I’m dancing," and my first dance is the waltz which is kind of slow. But I’ll be stepping it up next week with the jive, burning a lot of calories.
What’s your food weakness?
Pretzels, lots of starch and a lot of salt.
