Melissa Joan Hart is a name everyone can remember as she has been in entertainment since she was young, having starred in such shows including Clarissa Explains It All, Sabrina The Teenage Witch and later on appearing in Melissa & Joey.
Not only is she a talented actress, Hart is also an author and an entrepreneur. Along with her husband Mark Wilkerson, they launched a successful venture in creating a boys clothing line called King of Harts.
After its success, the couple decided to expand their brand and come out with a girls line with the collection appropriately titled Queen of Hearts. Included in the collection are graphic tees that take inspiration from words that allow girls to feel empowered, but also from her love of horses.
You can learn more about the collection from their website. Less than a year after speaking with her about parenting, TheCelebrityCafe.com had the chance to interview Hart about her clothing line, her inspiration for both the girls and boys collection and what is next in her career.
TheCelebrityCafe.com: What inspired the decision to venture into the creation of "King of Harts" clothing line?
Melissa Joan Hart: I was tired of my boys wearing the same old licensed characters that all their friends had on their tees. Mark and I wanted to create something new and cool to give moms and their boys something to get excited about.
TCC: Can you tell us some details about your new line, “Queen of Harts” that’s being launched and where to purchase it?
MJH: We launched Queen of Harts for many reasons but my main inspiration was my friends with girls who like to dress in boys clothes. I know so many tough girls that don’t want to wear pink and frills so it seemed like the natural progression from King of Harts to make sure their sisters had something cool to wear too. Right now, we are sticking with graphic t-shirt designs. My favorite is the black short sleeve tee with the gold foil that says Free to Be Me. It’s the perfect balance of tough but feminine. But I can’t resist the Spirit Animal with the spray painted horse on the neon baseball tee. I would have gone nuts when I was little if my mom bought that for me!
TCC: Do you have your hand in any designing of the clothing?
MJH: Mark and I pick the inspiration city that leads the group in the right direction to design. Our current city is Detroit. We often pass off some of our own boys favorite pieces to the design team to use as guidance for the quality of a garment. Then, of course, we add our 62 cents to the products all along the way. We also enjoy doing our own quality control - after the professionals get their round, of course, to make sure we are completely happy with the final product before it is shipped to our customers.
TCC: You and your husband Mark say that ”Queen of Harts” defines tough girls. Would you classify yourself as the tough girl growing up?
MJH: I was a real mix of a girl who liked to try to keep up with the boys by frog hunting, tree climbing and snowboarding. But, I also loved pastel colors and lots of ruffles! If I had had an older brother, I probably would have been much more of a tomboy.
TCC: Is there an adult line in the works?
MJH: We want to keep it to the kids and make sure they get what they need. But every once in a while I do like to don a size 12 myself!
TCC: We all see how family oriented you are and how you love being a mom, do you foresee plans of another child in the future?
MJH: We are currently having a lot of debates about whether another child is right for our family. I would love to have 4 but I don’t want to take any attention away from the 3 wonderful boys we have now. It’s a tough decision and rest assured if another comes around, it was a very conscious decision.
TCC: What are some of the best memories you made while starring in Clarissa Explains it All? Sabrina the Teenage Witch? And Melissa & Joey?
MJH: So many good times and each one was so special. Clarissa was an incredible character to play but it was during my teen years and I was away from my family and friends while filming in Orlando. It was long hours and a little lonely. Sabrina was a great time with a busy schedule. I loved every minute though I didn’t relate to the character as much. With Mel from Melissa and Joey, it was a fantastically fun show and fabulous character. But, again, I was working away from my family on the west coast while my husband and kids were on the east coast most of the time.
TCC: Who has been your biggest mentor in life and why?
MJH: My mom! She always has my back and has produced most of my shows and some of my movies which makes for a stronger relationship. My husband is a real guiding light for me too. He keeps me grounded and feeling safe. Shirley Temple and Audrey Hepburn were always my favorite actors who seemed to be able to separate their professional and personal lives. They were women who really knew how to balance life and success. I had the amazing opportunity to be invited to Shirley’s house when I was 22. In fact, she gave me the rights to her life story that we produced as a Disney movie back in 1998.
TCC: You have done quite a bit of traveling as you mentioned on your blog. What are three places you want to go to that you haven't been to yet and you must exclude Punta Cana because that’s an upcoming trip?
MJH: I would love to see Kobe, Japan, the Maldives and the northern lights in Scandinavia.
TCC: Do you have any upcoming TV and Film projects?
MJH: My movie God’s Not Dead 2 just released in theaters around the world. It was #4 opening weekend which was amazing and unexpected! I have a movie I will be directing this summer and a potential reality show in the works with my sisters and brother later this year. Right now, I am getting ready to celebrate turning 40 and enjoying my family at home.