Melissa Joan Hart, 47, Astonishes Fans as She Takes on the Role of a Grandmother in Upcoming 2023 Lifetime Movie
Melissa Joan Hart, at 47, stuns fans as she embraces a new role in Lifetime's captivating film, 'Would You Kill for Me? The Mary Bailey Story,' portraying a grandmother Prepare to be captivated by her powerful performance in this thrilling movie
Melissa Joan Hart. Taylor Hill/Getty Images
Melissa Joan Hart, best known for her role as Sabrina the Teenage Witch, has surprised many fans by playing a grandmother in a recent film. In Lifetime's ripped from the headlines film, "Would You Kill for Me? The Mary Bailey Story," Hart, 47, portrays Ella. A viral clip from the movie revealed that Ella is the grandmother of two kids, including 11-year-old Mary Bailey, who committed a crime at the urging of her mother. The movie premiered in October and has generated a lot of buzz on social media.
“Oh, it’s ready,” exclaimed Hart’s Ella as she removed a beautifully cooked turkey from the oven for Christmas dinner in the video posted on TikTok on Tuesday, December 12. “It’s perfect, grandma,” her granddaughter Mary (Presley Allard) chimed in.
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Fans were shocked by the news that Melissa Joan Hart was cast as a grandma to an 11-year-old, with one fan commenting, "I feel attacked! Melissa Joan Hart is a grandmother? I'm pretty sure she's my age!" Another user chimed in, "Had to rush to the comments to make sure I was not alone. ... We are not subscribing to MJH as a grandma! — Signed every 90's kid." A third fan humorously remarked, "Ya'll. Melissa Joan Hart playing the grandma & JLo is still playing the bride in movies. I am dead." (Jennifer Lopez, 54, played a bride-to-be in two 2022 films.)
The viral clip prompted numerous reactions online, with fans expressing shock at Melissa Joan Hart playing a grandmother. One fan commented, "Melissa Joan Hart? Playing a grandmother? Now, I feel old af" on Wednesday, December 13, while another wrote, "I just saw a clip of Melissa Joan Hart playing a grandmother. Someone hold me I am unwell." Another user compared the casting choice to an episode of Jerry Springer, writing, "Uhhhhh, what in the @jerryspringer?? @MelissaJoanHart is 47 yrs old!! Is this a #TeenMom situation where the kid also had a child in high school?" on Thursday, December 14.
Hart has not addressed the fan backlash regarding her onscreen grandma title, but she did express gratitude to viewers in October for their support. "Thanks for watching! If you or someone you know is in a dangerous situation, please save this number and find help!" she posted on Instagram, acknowledging the film’s portrayal of violence and abuse.
Although fans have been vocal about Hart’s portrayal as a grandma, her real-life sons have opted to keep their distance from her career.
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In an exclusive interview last month, Hart shared with We that her children have no interest in pursuing acting. “They want nothing to do with it,” she said. “They think it’s weird. And you know what, I kind of get that. They’re like, ‘It’s just weird. I don’t want to watch you on TV and I don’t want to watch you kiss another man in a Christmas movie.’”
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Hart has three sons, Mason (17), Braydon (15), and Tucker (11), with her husband Mark Wilkerson. She revealed that her husband chooses to ignore her kissing scenes and rarely looks at her social media or anything related to her work.
