'God's Not Dead' Actress Melissa Joan Hart Discusses New Role in Faith-Based Film

Veronica Neffinger | iBelieve Contributor | Updated: Apr 07, 2016

'God's Not Dead' Actress Melissa Joan Hart Discusses New Role in Faith-Based Film

In a recent interview with “Good Morning America” actress Melissa Joan Hart discussed the challenges of her new role in the Christian film “God’s Not Dead,” as well as the milestone of turning 40.

Hart is known for playing a sarcastic and funny teenager on “Clarissa Explains It All” and a teenager with magical powers on “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” but in the new film “God’s Not Dead,” Hart takes on a more serious role.

In "God's Not Dead," Hart plays a high school history teacher who becomes embroiled in controversy after she answers a student’s question about Jesus. Hart’s character must then stand up for her faith in a fierce court battle.

While discussing her role in “God’s Not Dead” with Paula Faris of “Good Morning America,” Hart said the role is very different from her previous roles.

While she had previously played outgoing, funny characters, “In this case, she's an introvert ... a woman who stands by her faith,” Hart said of the high school teacher she plays.

“She wasn't raised with a faith and so she comes to her own beliefs and grows her own faith and then she has to stand by that conviction and kind of unwavering,” Hart added.

Hart said that the movie has a message of tolerance for those of all faiths. While she maintained that Christianity shouldn’t be elevated above any other religion in public schools, she said that neither should Christians be specifically targeted.

“There shouldn't be one religion represented in anything, but at the same time we need to be tolerant to all religions,” Hart said. “I think it's just really about tolerance all across the board for everyone.”

Hart also commented on her upcoming fortieth birthday.

“I think the opportunity to watch my kids get older and really be a part of their life,” she said in response to what she is most looking forward to in the future. “Just finding new adventures and watching them grow and change and mold and seeing the little men they become.”

Publication date: April 7, 2016



'God's Not Dead' Actress Melissa Joan Hart Discusses New Role in Faith-Based Film